The following article is from Old West Magazine: Summer, 1974, Publisher: Western Publications Inc., USA., by Chris Weatherby.
The Rangers that Solved the Case
Editor's Note: Part IV of this series was inadvertently combined with Part III, which was published in the February 10th edition. My apologies for any inconvenience this may have caused readers.
The Texas Rangers were institutionally birthed in 1874 with the formation of the Frontier Battalion. They were tasked with interdicting Indian incursions into the frontier settlements and dealing with the lawlessness running rampant throughout Texas. To illustrate how bad the crime situation was in those days, the State of Texas legally executed 101 men between 1890 and 1899 by hanging. Of course, this does not include those victims of mob justice or clandestine hangings.
For a better understanding of the times, there is a book titled, Winchester Warriors, Texas Rangers Co. D 1874 – 1901, written by Bob Alexander. In one chapter, "Rock and a Rope," Bob Alexander tells the story about Richard Duncan of San Saba. The book also is an evenhanded and impartial assessment of Company D and its colorful cadre of Rangers. Their laudable deeds are explored in detail, but by the same token some of their shameful misadventures are not whitewashed. The Rangers were simply people, good and bad— and sometimes indifferent.