See No Evil, Speak No Evil, A History of Mob Violence in the Texas Heartland, 1869-1904 Foreword by Elmer Kelton, noted western author of more than 60 books.
From Kelton's foreword: Mob violence was rampant in several Central Texas counties from the end of the Civil War to about the turn of the century. For decades it laid a
blanket of fear over the people, for even to talk about it was to tempt death. The movement usually was started by prominent citizens as an extra-legal way to punish cattle and horse thieves, robbers, and murderers when law enforcement was broken down, intimidated, or in many cases implicated. In time, however, these mob actions almost always became corrupted, falling under control of people whose agendas had little to do with enforcing the law but much to do with breaking it.
What Ross McSwain has uncovered is a startling view of Texas at its wildest and most violent, a time when hardened men thought no more ofcold-blooded murder than of blowing out a lamp . . . For those who believe Old West violence is sometimes exaggerated, check the mob's body count.
Perry Flippin, Editor Emeritus (retired) San Angelo Standard-Times, San Angelo, Texas "A good job describing the horrific conditions of the frontier before law enforcement gained a foothold. People living in fear are capable of committing awful acts against their neighbors."
