Wilson was a child born probably in the mid to late sixties. There were siblings I remember hearing, but I’m unsure how they faired in life. Wilson ended up at the Austin State School. A ward of the state.

My Granny Ruby worked there for many years in 60s and 70s and maybe even a little in the early 1980s. She took a special interest in Wilson. No one ever came to see him, so she took him under her wing. It was easy to tell that Wilson never really developed physically or mentally, but he had a sweet disposition about him. I know this because she was able to get permission to check him out and bring him home with her on holidays and at other times as well. He could talk, but didn’t speak often.

His head was very mis-shapened. It reminded me of a double bit axe, the way the forehead and the back of his head came to a narrow edge. I know that sounds crazy, but that’s what it looked like. He was really skinny too. He was very small, a real scrawny kid. Probably just over feet tall.

Granny Ruby kept him in underwear, socks and warm pajamas. She was so sweet to him and he could not have adored anyone the way he did her. He always called her Miss Waggoner, always. Maybe that was proper protocol at the school. She continued to see after his needs as he became adult age. She didn’t bring him home with her after he got to be a teenager.

During the push the deinstitutionalize the mentally ill, which started in the 70s I think, but really ramped up in the 80s, Wilson was sent to a group home, in south Austin. She pretty well lost touch with Wilson at that time.

Sometime in the early 90s, Wilson walked away from his group home and was wandering around in a fog I suppose. He made his way to Dripping Springs, some 25 miles away. An elderly man saw him and convinced him to come to his apartment, which was some low cost housing right along US 290 on the west side of town. For whatever reason the old man started giving Wilson alcohol of various types. Supposedly Wilson had never consumed any alcohol in his life. Then he tried to make Wilson perform sex acts.

By the next morning a bloodied Wilson was found once again wandering along the highway. He had bludgeoned the old man to death. As small and frail as Wilson was, he must have been really terrified, to do what he did.

It was obvious that Wilson was unable to comprehend what all had happened and I think he was returned to a group home, hopefully with better security, to live out his life.

It was so unbelievable to Granny Ruby that her Little Wilson could have had that happen to him. She blamed the system for ever turning him and others out. She always said that he never stood a chance, and I guess she was right.

I looked to see if I could find a story about that happening, or if Wilson is still alive, or if he is buried some place. I never found anything about Wilson. It’s like he never existed. I don’t think there was an actual trial.

Grannie Ruby went to her grave concerned for Little Wilson.