Posted on: San Saba Co., TX Queries<br> with Automated Mailing List Posting Reply Here: http://cgi.rootsweb.com/~genbbs/genbbs.cgi/USA/Tx/SanSaba/656 Surname: ------------------------- If you're interested in the mob, I can suggest a few books: "I'll Die Before I'll Run" by C. L. Sonichsen (Chapter called 'The Pious Assassins') In my opinion, this is the best account of the Mob's activities. Mr. Sonichsen interviewed a number of the people who had a role in the business, and who knew those involved. Another account is given in the book, "Captain Bill McDonald: Texas Ranger," by Albert Bigelow Paine (Chapter 24, 'The Buzzard's Water Hole Gang') This book is somewhat sensationalistic, but interesting nonetheless. There is also a mention of the Mob in "Triggernometry," by Eugene Cunningham, starting on page 325. But it's brief. All three books are old, but have been reprinted within the last few years, so if they're not on the shelves, you can definitely have your local book store order them for you. To answer your questions: The Mob began as a sort of posse that convened as necessary to run rough men out of town or to dispense "justice" to cattle thieves, since there were few lawmen available, and the criminal element took advantage of the situation. At some point in the mid- to late 1880s, things got completely out of hand. The men began killing people against whom they had a grudge, and some say people were killed so that their land could be bought up by members of the mob. Many who were not killed were run out of town through scare tactics. The identity of members was kept secret, and people who "talked" were killed. People who were not in the Mob were killed for openly discussing the behavior of the Mob, or for stating whom they believed to be members. By 1897, the whole problem was so bad that citizens began writing to the Governor, begging him to send the Rangers. He did. By 1899, several members had been put on trial and the District Attorney ran the rest out of San Saba County. (He said he would close the open cases if the members moved on to other areas and kept their dealings honest.) To my knowledge, my GG Grandfather was the only member of the Mob that was convicted of murder. (My GG Grandfather is recorded in one of the above books as having been the "mastermind" of the group. I doubt that, but he was definitely deeply involved.) He never had any property or land to speak of, so what he "gained" by participating, I cannot guess. He spent 10 years in prison before he was pardoned by the Governor, largely through the efforts of the District Attorney who convicted him. There were other trials, but several ended in mis-trial, and I think the DA eventually gave up by 1903 or so. In the 1960s, my great aunt went to San Saba and tried to look at the court records relative to her Grandfather's conviction. She was followed to the county line by the Sherriff -- literally. I doubt many would be so touchy now, but even then, people recalled what had happened, and people didn't "talk" about it.