The following is a partial account of the life and times of Edgar T. Neal. This story will be the final chapter or Part III of the book, The Texas Rangers & the San Saba Mob. This series is the narrative for the application of a new Texas Historical Subject Marker for San Saba County. Endnotes are available upon request. Ross J. Cox, Sr.
Part 4.
The critical turning point in the history of the county was the election of 1898. The voters were so disgusted with all the bad publicity and dark drama of the Mob that every county official was thrown out of office. The new sheriff was Edgar T. Neal, who quickly went to work. He was a man of action who brought some measure of law to a lawless land. As the several Mob trials were winding down, Neal was busy arresting other criminals in the county. On May 17, 1899, his letter to the Adjutant General requested a list of former known criminals. 15
Although the leaders of the Mob were tied up in court, the rank and file of the organization were still a threat. In his letter he wrote:
“… Some of the Mob who are under indictment Made [sic] an attack on District Atty Linden one Evening but no serious results. I had a shooting scrape Saturday night with a fellow shot him in the arm and put him in jail. He is an old freighter here and pretended to be drunk and was shooting up the town and I can’t tell what these fellows mean to do. He shot at me twice with a double barrel shotgun. I shot him three times with a Winchester shot him in the right arm and shot his gunstock. He dropped his gun and hollered [sic] and I took him to jail. Send me list of fugitives I will be in Austin June 5, 1899, and will call on you.” 16
Under the steady influence of Sheriff Neal, law and order slowly began to return. Neal was a good example - he did not drink, gamble, curse, or smoke. He was soft spoken and had a phenomenal ability to inspire trust in people. He could smell trouble and was a good investigator. He settled into domestic life and began raising a family. His marriage produced six children: Frances, 1898; Edgar Calvin, 1901; Tomas Elwood, 1903; Jackson Leroy, 1905; Damon Slater, 1908; and Ellie, 1910. More likely than not they were born in the San Saba County Jail, as it was the custom at the time for the sheriff (or jailer) and his family to live on the lower floor. 17
Neal also became involved in the community. In 1900, he moved his Masonic membership from Floresville Lodge and affiliated with San Saba Lodge No. 612. He was also active in York Right Masonry as he belonged to San Saba Chapter No. 223 and San Saba Council No. 332. On March 28, 1903, he and his wife signed the petition to organize an Order of Eastern Star chapter in San Saba, and by April 2, 1903, the dispensation was granted, and Chapter No. 191 set to work. 18
Neal was easily re-elected three more consecutive terms as Sheriff and Tax Collector - November 6, 1900; November 4, 1902; November 8, 1904 - and would serve until November 6, 1906. Feeling that he needed to provide for his ever-growing family’s welfare and seeking greater financial opportunities, he moved his family to Fort Worth and entered the real estate and oil investment fields. Neal made a moderate fortune. However, he lost his fortune and his wife. 19
On November 19, 1913, his wife filed for divorce in district court. The allegations of the divorce were ugly. Neal never bothered to appear in court and the suit was granted in her favor January 8, 1914. Neal was a broken man, but the best years of his life were still ahead. 20
Eventually, he moved back to San Saba; as he had deep connections in the county. His membership in the Masonic fraternity, real estate interests, and relationships with the people were still intact. Even his messy divorce did not seem to affect his reputation. Persuaded by his friends to run again for sheriff, Neal was elected in November 1916, having no opponent. The next year, he married his second wife, Maid J. Allen (christened Mary Judith Allen), at her brother’s home in Georgetown on June 30, 1917. Her brother, Lee O. Allen, was sheriff of Williamson County. Known as the “The Bartlett Peach,” she would be the best thing to happen in Edgar T. Neal’s life. 21