present had not expected that he would walk straight among them. Here
he was--they could kill him and put an end to all this trouble in short
order. But somehow they didn't do it. There seemed no good moment to
begin. Captain Bill walked over and faced Ogle.
"Come outside," he said quietly, "I want to talk to you."
Ogle hesitated.
"What do you want to say?" he asked sullenly.
Captain Bill laid his hand on Ogle's shoulder.
"I want to say some things that you might not want your friends
to hear," he said--and a quaver in his voice then would have been
death--"Come outside!"
He applied a firm pressure to Ogle's shoulder and steered him for the
door. The others, as silent as death, made no move. They did not offer
to interfere--they did not attempt to shoot. They simply looked on,
wondering.
Outside, Captain Bill led Ogle to the middle of the street. It was
blazing hot and the sand burned through his boots, but he could talk to
Ogle out there and keep an eye on the others, too.
"Now, Bill Ogle," he said, in his deliberate calm way--"I know all
about you. I know how you and your outfit murdered Jim Brown--just how
you planned it, and how you did it. I've got all the proof and I'm
going to hang you if there is any law in this country to hang a man for
a foul murder like that. That's what I'm here for, and I am not afraid
of you, nor of any of the men over there in that store that helped you
do your killing. You are all a lot of cowardly murderers that only
shoot defenseless men from ambush, and I'm going to stay here until I
break up your gang if I have to put you every one on the gallows or
behind the bars, and I'm going to begin with you."
As Captain Bill talked the sweat began to pour off of Ogle and his
knees seemed to weaken. Presently they could no longer support his
stout body and he sat heavily down in the hot sand, trying weakly to
make some defense.
"Get up," said Captain Bill, "haven't you got your gun?"
"No, sir, Captain, I haven't."
"Well, you'd better get one if you're going to go hunting for me. And
there's the men over there who helped you kill Jim Brown, and your
Greaser-lookin' constable and your sorry sheriff. Get your whole crowd
together, and get ready and then I'll gather in the whole bunch. Go on,
now, and see what you can do."
"Yes, sir, Captain."
Ogle made several attempts to get on his feet, finally succeeded, and
went back to his friends. Captain Bill immediately set about getting
out a warrant for his arrest, but after some delay, found he could
not get the papers until next morning. Ogle, meantime, had been to his
friend, the District Judge, who now appeared before the Ranger Captain
with the statement that Ogle, whom he believed to be a square man, had
said he wanted to leave the country for fear McDonald would kill him;
McDonald, he said, having the reputation of being a killer and a bad
man generally.
"Yes, Judge," said Captain Bill, "that's the proper reputation to give
me, so that some of your crowd of murderers can assassinate me and
your court can deliver a verdict that I was a bad citizen and ought to
have been killed sooner, the way you've done about all the rest of the
forty-three that have been murdered and no one tried for it in this
section. Now, I intend to see that he don't leave this country, unless
he leaves it in shackles. He committed this murder, and I can prove it.
I've got one of the members of the mob as a witness."
"You will stir up old trouble and get things in worse shape than ever,"
protested the judge.
"If I can't get things in better shape, I'll lay down my hand," said
McDonald.
A little later, on the street, Captain Bill saw Ogle approaching. He
was armed this time--with a big watermelon. He approached humbly.
"Captain," he said, "you've done me a great wrong, and I want you to
accept this watermelon."
Captain Bill did not know whether to laugh or to swear. Presently he
said:
"You scoundrel! I suppose that thing is poisoned. I believe I'll make
you eat it, rind and all."
Ogle backed away with his melon and presently set out for home. Fearing
now that he would escape before the warrant could be issued, Captain
McDonald instructed Rangers McCauley, Barker, Neil and Bell, members
of his camp, to keep watch, and if Ogle attempted to leave the county
to hold him until he (McDonald) could arrive with the proper papers.
These were obtained next morning, about ten o 'clock, and Captain Bill
starting out with them, met his Rangers with Ogle, who had, in fact,
attempted to escape. He was taken to jail and a strong guard was set.
Consternation now prevailed among the society and its friends; in
the cowboy term they were "milling." Members of the mob were to turn
State's evidence; one Josh McCormick, who had been made a member by
compulsion--having run into one of their meetings--had been brought
from an adjoining county and would testify; a grand jury composed of
exemplary citizens had been secured.
And that was not all. Captain Bill one day went to the District Judge,
ostensibly for advice.
"Judge," he said, "I want some legal information."
The judge was attentive, and took him to a quiet place.
"Now, Judge," said Captain Bill, "you know that the Buzzard Water
Hole mob holds its meetings over there once a month, and the monthly
meeting is about due. You know that they meet there to decide to kill
somebody or to run him out of the country and take his property, and
that they've already done such deviltry as that here for years."
The judge assented uneasily.
"Well, then," continued the Ranger Captain, "I want to know if it will
be all right for me to charge in there on that meeting with my Rangers
and kill any of them that might make any resistance, and round up the
rest and drive them into town and put them in jail--just drive them
afoot like a lot of cattle and let their horses be sent for, later;
would that be all right, Judge?"
The District Judge was a good deal disturbed.
"No, Captain," he said, "I don't think you'd better undertake that, I
should advise against such a move."
"Well, Judge," said Captain Bill, "that's exactly what I propose to do.
I'll take chances on the results and I'll bring in the prettiest bunch
of murderers you'll find anywhere. Good-day, Judge, and thank you for
the advice."
However, this program was not carried out--not in full. There was no
material with which to make it complete. Within a brief time from his
talk with the District Judge, Captain Bill's purpose was known to every
member of the mob. It was a time to take to tall timber and high trees.
The society adjourned _sine die_.
The Rangers did, however, visit the Buzzard's Water Hole at the time
when the mob meeting was due. Not a soul was to be found anywhere. Then
knowing certain members of the gang, and having learned the society
signals, Captain Bill and his men went riding over the country from
house to house, halting outside to call "Hello!----Hello! Hello!"
which was a signal call between members of the society. In reply to
each such call a door opened and a man came out quickly, only to find
the Rangers, who inquired if he were going to attend the meeting at
Buzzard's Water Hole; whereupon, as Captain Bill put it later, "they
like to died," and vigorously pretended ignorance of the meaning of the
"Hello" signal. Next morning the Rangers were back in San Saba, and
when the news came in that they had been around calling on mob members
there was not only anxiety, but mystery, for some of these members of
the society lived a distance of twenty-five miles away. But a fifty or
seventy-five mile ride in a night on an errand of that kind was merely
a little diversion, to a Ranger.
The grand jury's work was difficult. It found indictments against many
of the assassins, but the district judge made an effort to annul most
of these actions on one ground and another, and to trump up charges
against the Rangers. McDonald finally gave this official a lecture
which he probably remembers yet, if he is alive. About the same time
one of the gang leveled a Winchester at Ranger Barker, who with his
revolver shot him five times before he could pull the trigger, and was
promptly cleared--all of which had a wholesome effect on the community
as a whole.
With the arrest of Ogle, the anonymous letters became very terrible
indeed. Captain Bill had brought his wife to the San Saba camp for the
winter, and one morning appeared before her with one of these letters
in his hand.
"Well, I've got to leave San Saba," he said.
"Why," she asked. "Has the Governor ordered you away?"
"No, the Governor hasn't, but read this."
He handed her the letter which informed him that if he did not leave
San Saba in two days he would be filled so full of lead that it would
require a freight train to haul him to the graveyard. Rhoda McDonald
read the communication through. Then she said:
"Bill Jess, if you leave here on account of a thing like that, _I'll_
leave _you_."
"Well," said Captain Bill, sorrowfully, "I seem to be in a mighty bad
fix. If I stay, I'll be filled with bullets, and if I go, I'll lose my
wife. I s'pose I'll have to stay."
The examining trial of Bill Ogle was an event in San Saba. Josh
McCormick was chief witness for the State, and was a badly scared man,
in spite of the fact that the Rangers had taken him to their camp and
guaranteed him protection from the members of the Buzzard's Water Hole
crowd. Other witnesses on both sides were frightened enough, for nobody
knew what might happen before this thing ended. It was the program
of the mob forces, of which Ogle and his lawyers were the acting
principals, to impeach the State's witnesses and thus break down their
evidence before the court, as was their custom. Unfortunately for them
they selected as one of their perjurers old Jeff McCarthy, father of
Brown's wife, himself accessory to the crime for which Ogle was being
tried. Captain Bill knew of McCarthy's relation to the affair, though
the evidence had not been sufficient for his indictment. Furthermore,
Captain Bill believed that the old man, like McCormick, whose uncle
he was, had been forced into the band, and had acted under compulsion
throughout.
McCormick was placed on the stand, and told what he knew about the
society and its crimes in general, and about the killing of Jim Brown
in particular. His absolute knowledge did not extend to the connection
of the two McCarthy's with the killing, and they were not mentioned in
his evidence. When he left the stand, a number of nervous witnesses
were called by the other side to swear that they would not believe him
on oath. Finally old Jeff McCarthy was reached. He was frightened and
trembling and in a wretched state altogether. Captain Bill watched him
closely while he was making his statement concerning the worthless
character of his nephew, McCormick, and the old man shifted and
twisted to evade those eyes that were piercing his very soul. Now and
then the Ranger Captain leaned toward him and lifted his finger like
the index of fate, prompting the District Attorney meantime as to what
questions to put to the witness. The old man became more and more
confused and miserable, and when at last he was excused he tottered
from the stand. He lingered about the place, however, seemingly unable
to leave, and by and by, when court adjourned for the day, McDonald
found him just outside the door, with others of his kind.
"Jeff," Captain Bill said in his calm drawl, "you did not tell the
truth on the stand; you know every word you said was a lie."
Old Jeff McCarthy gasped, tried to get his words, gasped again and
failed.
"I don't blame you so much," Captain Bill went on, "for you were afraid
this mob would kill you if you didn't testify according to orders--now,
wasn't you?"
Again the wretched old man made an effort to reply, but he was past
speech.
Captain Bill's finger was pinning him fast.
"They frightened you and made you join their gang, didn't they? And now
you would like to get out, but you don't know how--ain't that so?"
The old man was on the verge of utter collapse. He backed off and slunk
away. After that Old Jeff haunted the Ranger Camp and finally when he
could stand it no longer made full confession to Captain Bill of his
connection with the mob, revealing the mob's secrets, its signs and
passwords, the names of its members and its gruesome oath.
"They will kill me," he said, "but I don't care. I'm happier now than
I've been for years!"
"I don't reckon they'll try that," said Captain Bill. "That thing's
about over, around here."
They formed a guard, and escorted the old man home, for he was full of
fear.
When the court of examination adjourned, Ogle was held without bail.
Through the efforts of District Attorney Lynden it was decided to
transfer Ogle's case to Llano County for final trial, Lynden making
his fight for this change on the grounds that no fair trial could be
obtained in the San Saba court.
In Llano County, Ogle's case was fairly tried, and he received a life
sentence. Two accessories to the killing of Brown, were arrested, but
just then war was declared with Spain; the Rangers were hastily ordered
off to protect the Rio Grande frontier, where a Mexican incursion was
expected, and without Captain Bill to keep up the vigorous action, and
a sharp oversight on the witness stand, convictions were not obtainable.
However, the San Saba campaign was a success. The society that murdered
men for spite, or gain, or pastime, no longer existed. When the next
election of county officials came around the old lot was wiped out
clean, and men of character and probity came into power. The roads
that led to the Bad Lands were kept dusty with the emigration of men
who had formerly gathered at Buzzard's Water Hole, and in their stead
came those who would give to San Saba nobler enterprise and worthier
fame. Eight Rangers were among the new blood that came to rehabilitate
San Saba County. That long winter of '97-98 had not been altogether
spent in chasing criminals. These eight had found wives, or rumors of
wives; in due time they were all married, and with eight established
resident Rangers, how could any county help becoming as serene and safe
as a Sunday-school? Ranger Edgar Neil was elected sheriff; Ollie Perry
was chosen constable; Dud Barker, Ed. Donnelly, Forest Edwards and Bob
McClure also settled in San Saba, and caused Company B to go recruiting
for Rangers.
Bill Ogle is still in the Penitentiary at Huntsville, Texas. As late as
May, 1908, he wrote to Captain McDonald as follows:
"Huntsville, Texas, 5/21/08.
"Capt. W.J. McDonald,
"Austin, Texas.
"Dear Sir:
"It has come to my ears from some of my friends, who have recently
visited Austin in my behalf, that you are bitterly opposed to my
being released from the Penitentiary. I regret very much that you are
taking this stand against me. My friends also told me that one of your
reasons of being in opposition to my release was, that you had fears
of your own life, should I be pardoned.
"Capt. McDonald, I want to assure you that I have no feeling of
bitterness against you, and you may rest assured, that I would never
harm you in the least or try to injure you in any way, should I regain
my liberty. I feel that in doing what you did, you were doing your
duty as an officer.
"My conduct in the Penitentiary ought to be a guarantee to you of my
intention to lead a correct life, when I get out, and I feel, that if
you will investigate my standing here, and find out what the officers
here think about me, you will be convinced of this.
"I trust that you will reconsider this matter, and soften your heart
in my case, and you may rest assured, that I will appreciate anything
you will do for me as long as life shall last.
"I would be pleased to hear from you, and I hope that you will give me
some little encouragement.
"Thanking you in advance for anything you may say or do for me, I am,
"Yours respectfully,
"WILL OGLE."
Captain McDonald's reply to Ogle's letter was, in part, as follows:
"Austin, Texas, June 4, 1908.
"Mr. Bill Ogle,
"Huntsville, Penitentiary.
"Dear Sir:
"Your letter of the 21st inst. received, and contents duly and
carefully noted.
"I note what you say in regard to what your friends say about my
opposing your pardon, claiming that in case of your release I had
fears of my own life. Now, Bill, ... my advice to you is to make a
clear truthful statement, giving all the facts connected with numerous
murders committed by this mob, and thereby secure your liberty.
"You know I'm not in the Ranger service now, and it makes no
difference to me who is released, and I so notified the Board of
Pardons.
"You say you have no feeling of bitterness against me, and that you
would not attempt to harm me. You can rest assured that I have no
fears in that line. I only did my duty as an officer, as you say I
did, and I have no animosity against you; and would not have gone
before the Board of Pardons, had I not been sent for.
"I understand your conduct has been all right while in jail, and in
the Penitentiary, and I am sorry that your conduct wasn't better
before you got into that mob, because you know that was an awful
thing. Now, don't you?
"You asked me to consider this matter, and that you will appreciate it
as long as life shall last. I certainly will not utter any protest,
unless the Governor asks me what I know about it, and I'll then tell
the truth about it.
"Very respectfully,
W.J. MCDONALD."
What Captain Bill had said before the Board of Pardons was:
"I don't know the gentleman that is presenting this petition and
making this talk to you, but I do know the names of a good many of
those signers, and I know Bill Ogle is guilty of this murder, and I
know that a good many of these other fellows ought to be where Bill is
now."
XXX
Quieting a Texas Feud
THE REECE-TOWNSEND TROUBLE, AND HOW THE FACTIONS WERE ONCE DISMISSED BY
CAPTAIN MCDONALD
As the old century drew near its end, a wave of disorder and crime that
amounted to an inundation swept over the eastern and south-eastern
portion of Texas. Murders, lynchings, mobs and rumors of mobs, were
reported daily. The Pan-handle, even in its palmiest days, had been
a Young Men's Christian Association as compared with the older, more
thickly settled portions of the State. In the Pan-handle, crime was
likely to be of a primitive, elemental kind-the sort of crime that
flourished in the old, old days when the Patriarchs pastured their
flocks on a hundred hills and protected them with a club.
In the long-settled districts to the eastward, crime had ripened,
as it were, and manifested itself in more finished forms. Feuds had
developed, and race prejudice. Communities had been established which
found it necessary to hang their only respectable citizens in order
to preserve peace. In other places old ladies, supposed to have a few
hundred dollars, were murdered by relatives who could not wait for them
to die. These are the things that come only with long settlement, and
where certain human impulses have been carefully bred and nourished.
The Reece-Townsend feud in Colorado County gave the State no end of
trouble. The Reece and Townsend families killed one another in the
regulation way, when good opportunities offered. They had a fashion
of gathering in the streets of Columbus, the county seat, for their
demonstrations, and sometimes on a field-day like that they killed
members of other families, by mistake. But errors of this sort were not
allowed to interfere with the central idea of the feud; they apologized
and went on killing one another, just the same.
It was when a boy who belonged to neither faction was shot and killed,
at one of these reunions, that Captain Bill McDonald and his Rangers
were ordered to Columbus to put down what seemed about to become a
general war.
Captain Bill failed to receive the order in time to get his men the
same day, but did not wait. He wired two to follow him on first train
and set out for Columbus alone. Arriving on the streets of Columbus he
saw detachments of armed men gathered here and there--the streets being
otherwise deserted. He set out at once for the home of District Judge
Kennon to whom he had been ordered to report. After the exchange of
greetings, McDonald said:
"We haven't much time, Judge, from appearances. I saw a lot of armed
men as I came along, and it looks like we're going to have war."
"You are right," Judge Kennon said, "we are expecting it any minute.
Where are your men, and how many have you?"
"None, Judge. I came alone, but I expect two in the morning."
"In the morning! Why, man, by that time the fight will be over! And
what can you do with two men here? Nothing less than twenty-five or
thirty will help this case."
"Judge," said Captain Bill, in his deliberate way, "I believe I can
stop this thing if you will come down to the court-house with me.
Anyhow, it's my duty to try; and we'd better be getting over there,
now, Judge, for this ain't going to wait long. If we can't stop it we
can see a mighty good fight, anyhow."
They set out together. The court-house in Columbus stands in the middle
of a big square, with a street on each of its four sides. On one corner
of the square, was gathered the Reece faction, and near another corner
the Townsend crowd had assembled. Both were fully armed. They were
making no active demonstrations as yet, but were evidently organizing
for business. It was a still, sunny summer day, and both crowds were in
easy calling distance of the court-house.
"Now, Judge," said Captain Bill, when they had arrived at the
court-house, "who is your sheriff, and where is he."
"His name is Burford, J.C. Burford, and he's over there with the
Townsend crowd. He belongs to that faction."
Captain Bill stepped to the window and called in the strong official
manner of a witness summons: "J.C. Burford," repeated three times.
There was a movement in the Townsend crowd and a man crossed over and
ascended the court-house stair. McDonald introduced himself, as the
sheriff entered, and added:
"Now, Mr. Burford, why don't you stop this row? Looks as if we're going
to have a killing match here, right away."
"Captain, I can't. I'm powerless to do anything with these men. If I
undertake to disarm them, it will start a fight that nobody can stop."
"Well, Burford, if you'll do as I tell you, I'll stop it in thirty
minutes or I'll resign my job as Ranger."
"All right, Captain, I'll do whatever you say," assented Burford.
"Then call your crowd over here. I want to talk to them."
Sheriff Burford stepped to the window and signed to the Townsend
faction. They trooped over and ascended the court-house stair, carrying
their guns.
"Mr. Burford," said McDonald, "which are your regular deputies here?"
The sheriff indicated his three deputy officers. Captain Bill motioned
them to stand apart from the others.
"Now, Sheriff," he said, "disarm the rest of these men."
The officer looked a little bewildered.
"I don't know about that," he began.
"Didn't you agree to do what I ordered?" Then, to Kennon--"Didn't he,
Judge?"
The judge nodded. The sheriff still hesitated.
"Never mind," said McDonald, "I'll do it myself. Here, boys," he went
on in his mild friendly drawl, "come in here and stack your guns in
this wardrobe. It's a good safe place for them. They won't be likely to
go off and hurt anybody, in there."
What was it about the manner of the man that made men obey? Those
aroused, bloodthirsty Texans, full of an old deep hatred and the spirit
of revenge, marched in and put away their guns at his direction, with
scarcely a word of dissent.
"I don't blame you-all for having your guns until now," Captain Bill
went on, as he locked the wardrobe and took the key. "But we want to
stop this war if we can. It ain't good for the population. Now, I'll
just go over and look after the other crowd."
He went out of the court-house, and crossed the street to where the
Reece crowd was gathered. He carried his Winchester and the faction
watched him curiously as he approached.
"I guess you boys are going to war, ain't you?" he said cheerfully as
he came nearer.
Nobody replied, and Captain Bill came up close.
"Boys," he said, "your guns are all right, up till now, but the
Governor has sent me down here to stop this trouble, and I want you-all
to help me."
"How can we help you?" asked one of the Reece faction.
"Like them boys did over yonder, just now--by giving up your guns. Then
by going quietly home."
There was a little murmur of dissent and one big husky fellow said:
"Well, you'll play hell getting my gun!"
In less than an instant, a Winchester was under his nose and Captain
Bill was crisply saying: