In lieu of an abstract, here is a brief excerpt of the content:

250 Chapter 14 “Compelled to do some killing” The case had been closed on Gus Jones, too. Although it troubled him, Captain Jones fired his cousin along with Private J. L. Faubin. The fellows had failed to properly maintain respective nighttime watches, leaving the camp unguarded. There were excuses of course, but they fell on deaf ears.1 The booming reports of Winchesters, however, were heard by Captain Jones. January 1892 was a killing month for men of Company D. At Shafter mining executives were beside themselves. Ore was mysteriously and systematically being stolen—by the pack train load, no doubt crossed into Mexico for refinement. The losses, dollar wise, had been staggering. Corporal John Hughes was tasked with putting a cap, or popping a cap, on the problem. On the sly Hughes contacted Ernest St. Leon, the ex-Texas Ranger, who was then living and working at Shafter. Either operating undercover, which St. Leon excelled at, or through the deft cultivation of a confidential informant with key information, Ernest learned who the thieves were and when they would strike next. The crucial intelligence was passed to Hughes. On the night of January 12 Corporal Hughes, riding his eight-year-old dun branded IVP, and twenty-seven-year-old Private Alonzo Van “Lon” Oden, atop his $60 bay marked AD, warily and silently picked their way through the rocks to a prearranged spot, secretly picketed their horses—and then waited.2 Around midnight the surveillance paid its premium. Easing their way through the darkness came Matilde Carrasco, Jose Villeto, and Quinlino Chaves, cajoling a string of mules loaded with stolen ore. There is a little fuzz as to whether Ernest St. Leon was bringing up the rear, Winchester in hand, playing the part of a thief, or was already furtively entrenched with the Texas Rangers, but unquestionably he was there. For the times, and in the vernacular of police talk, these guys “were bought and paid for,” which meant killing them on the spot would not be inappropriate, and that’s what happened. Whether it “Compelled to do some killing” 251 was “Halt,” and then gunfire, or shooting and then “Alto” will never be known—for sure. With just a touch of emphasis added, Captain Frank Jones simply appraised the adjutant general: “….he [Hughes] and his party were fired on by the Mexicans and they returned the fire Killing three.”3 January was but half gone. On the twenty-third, a three-man Company D unit were scouting the Glass Mountains in hopes of finding Jose Blanco, Pedro Eureto, and a fugitive only identified as Eduardo, all wanted for Conspiracy to Murder. Riding with this Texas Ranger detachment was Private M. R. Danniel (sometimes Daniel), an untamed lawman Captain Jones described as “most ungovernable” and “a man of no discretion.” Even the captain did not “feel secure” in this Texas Ranger’s presence. Nevertheless, Private Danniel was on the scout, and when the three fugitives were sighted and ordered to surrender, one didn’t. Danniel killed Pedro Eureto on the spot—for “resisting arrest.”4 Company D Texas Rangers killing four folks within two weeks was not unnoticed, and it was worrying Captain Jones: We have been compelled to do some Killing which I regret. I have no desire whatever to get up a “bloody record” and have always considered it far more creditable to capture than to Kill.5 Perceptibly, Captain Jones was troubled with the string of Texas Ranger shootings, but his reaction to another matter is buried, his innermost feelings reserved for himself. Corporal Hughes wanted to pay a favor back. Aware of Jones’ intransigent mind-set he jumped the chain of command and personally wrote a letter to Adjutant General Mabry recommending that Ernest St. Leon be appointed a Special Ranger. Hughes made no bones about it: “He has assisted me in detecting a lot of Mexican ore thieves and is in danger of being killed at any time in this country and wishes to carry his pistol for self defense.”6 Grudgingly Captain Jones acknowledged that Ernest St. Leon had “been very useful” but still maintained that he was a “low character,” and that if he was placed on the Muster Roll as a Special it should be only for the time he stayed in Shafter employed by the mining company—if he quit that job he should be dropped from the Company D roster.7 Per headquarters St. Leon was put on the books...

Share