Dirt Street Justice: Justice Delayed Is Justice Denied

Young Dr. Paul Allan Kelly traveled many times to southern Texas on vacations, developing such a passion for the region and its people that he eventually moved to Treasure, Texas, to practice medicine. With his floppy straw hat, crazy bib overalls, and love for his Harley motorcycle, Kelly was a bit unorthodox as a small town's only doctor. What he lacked in appearance, he made up for in character. He championed the rights of the people in the small, farming community, and he was obsessed with a desire to change the oppressive slum conditions and poverty of the Mexican American people living here. He stressed the need for greater politically representations in their communities and the importance of voting and participating in the political programs. But some people in powerful positions in this county believed Kelly was a troublemaker. After only three years in practice, Kelly was shot and killed under suspicious circumstances by Deputy Sheriff Billy Joe Smith. Though justice was never achieved in the court system, some of those responsible for Kelly's death paid the price.