Captain John R. Hughes: Lone Star Ranger

12. Capt. John R. Hughes - Lone Star Ranger

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12  Capt. John R. Hughes— Lone Star Ranger “I have endeavored to perform my full duty to my state, to my God, and to myself . . . —John R. Hughes to Miss B. Mathews, February 3, 1915 W ith such frequent visits to Brownsville, some 800 miles down the river from El Paso, at times Hughes must have considered other opportunities to earn his livelihood. He had been in the dangerous work of being a Ranger since 1887, and was now nearing the age of sixty in 1914. The position of county sheriff attracted him. In June Cameron County voters were excited about the possibility of who would become sheriff if former Ranger Carl T. Ryan, the incumbent, chose not to run. Ryan had served five years under Capt. W. J. “Bill” McDonald prior to running for sheriff. Captain Hughes would make the sheriff’s race very interesting if he threw his hat in the ring: he certainly had the name recognition as well as the experience behind him to be a strong candidate . If Sheriff Ryan announced his intended resignation at the end of the year, the field would be open for the primaries. On June 7, 1914, Hughes arrived in Brownsville and checked into the San Carlos Hotel “for a few days.” He gave a brief interview to a reporter of the Brownsville Daily Herald, stating that there was still considerable cattle and horse stealing along the border, and that “it was particularly bad at the last new moon.” This the reporter must have already realized, but Captain Hughes always proved to be good copy.1 Capt. John R. Hughes—Lone Star Ranger 237 What Hughes did not state explicitly to the Herald reporter was that he was considering a run for the office of Cameron County sheriff. He only hinted at this possibility and it quickly became headline news. The initial headline read that he might run; a smaller headline pointed out that the “famous ranger captain” would announce his intention John R. Hughes in his later years, in 1935 still wearing his six-gun. Courtesy Robert G. McCubbin Collection. CAP TAI N JOHN R . H U GHES : LONE STAR RANG ER 238 on or before the following Saturday. The article briefly reviewed his career, that he had been a Ranger for twenty-seven years and a captain for twenty-one of those years. He had the matter “under consideration ” and informed the Herald that he would announce within a few days. Further, Hughes revealed, “a number of influential citizens” of the town and the county had spoken with him and encouraged him to enter the race. The Herald pointed out that if he devoted himself to the race for sheriff he would necessarily have to give up his position as Ranger. Hughes had a “wide and varied experience in dealing with the border criminal” and that, assured the Herald, in stating the obvious, would assure the law-abiding that if elected he would “make Cameron county an excellent officer.”2 Now the race did indeed become interesting, when the Herald announced that William T. Vann, now a deputy U.S. marshal, was a candidate. Vann was an experienced lawman, having served six terms as sheriff of Leon County, Texas. On June 12 Vann announced that he was “going to be in the race to the finish regardless of the number of candidates.” That number included Sheriff Carl T. Ryan, apparently changing his mind about resigning, Frank E. Hill, and Frank Carr. Now the Herald reported that Captain Hughes had decided he would not be a candidate. In spite of these reports, which must have confused some voters, the Herald two days later printed the names of all seeking election to the various county officers: sheriff, tax collector, tax assessor, surveyor, county commissioners, and justices of the peace as well as constable. The list for sheriff included besides the name of John R. Hughes, W. T. Vann, Frank E. Hill, J. F. Carr, C. T. Ryan, and J. D. Scrivner.3 By July the Herald was openly stating that Vann would receive the full support of the Democratic Party, and that the other candidates would probably withdraw their names very soon. The race for the sheriff ’s office attracted much attention, more than any other office.The two leaders at that point were Vann and Ryan. The Herald failed to cover the political “back room” maneuverings...