I don't think he was pulling my leg. I don't think it was any kind of mafia type organization either. Texas was highly partisan Democrat at the time and it would have been like pulling out a copy of Mein Kampf in a synagogue. Those boys could and did play rough, though. There were counties where there were no blacks allowed at all.
Well, I'm talking Grass Valley, CA. And I was told hush, hush! And remember my Aunt had to order the book and it came under brown wrapper.