Those names just keep changing around as well as the place names. Sandburg in his American Songbag (1927) gives 2 versions one has "T Bently will arrest you" & "Judge Nelson'll sentence you". That would go back before Leadbelly's time. It was common practice for the singers to use the names that had personnal ties to their own situation. I've seen it as Sheriff Denton among others too. The Bud Russel that keeps coming up in various versions was a Transfer Agent for the State of Texas, he's probably the only 'consistent' real name (not saying the other's aren't real) that keeps coming up that has any long time connection with the song. He worked in the systen for over 40 yrs transfering over 115,000 men, starting in 1908.

"Yonder come Bud Russel, "how in the world do you know"
Well I know him by his wagon & the chains he wore

Big pistol on his shoulder, big knife in his hand
He's comin' to carry you back to Sugarland

Barry