Customer Reviews

Getting Away with Murder on the Texas Frontier: Notorious Killings and Celebrated Trials

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If you want to complain about the criminal justice system of today - you should read this well-researched and plainly written book about justice on the Texas Frontier. You will learn that but for a murder, Texas Tech University may have went to Quanah, Texas. Moreover, this book will show, in Mr. Neal's clear style and dry humor, that murder then, as now, comes down to pride, passion, and greed. Our perception of the "old West" being a time and place where good-guys win and justice prevails will be dispelled with the realization that the human-animal has not changed that much in the last century or so. The stories flow well and you will find it difficult to not proceed to the next one. Mr. Neal's insight as a long-time prosecutor in this same part of Texas provides the reader with an understanding of the no-nonsense attitudes of the people who settled what has been described as a "hard-scrabble" land.

Boring and repetitive and maybe a bit plageristic with all the footnotes that make it hard to read. I skip over a lot of the chapter to get it over with. Hope the other two books fare better.

Everyone knows justice in the Old West adapted to the situation. Those of us who have researched the West find many, many instances of continuances, changes of venue, or lost, dead or absent witnesses. But Bill Neal goes one step further: he gets into classic instances of defense brilliance and court ineptitude.
Take, for example, the defense attorney who pulled a gun and fired blanks at the madly scrambling jury! Then, calmly, he asked for a mistrial since the previously sequestered jury had mingled with spectators as they ran out of the courthouse. What a strategy ... but it's only one of many in this interesting book.
This is not all, however, that makes this book interesting. I personally found the author's "Off the Record" comments at the end of each episode to be very fascinating. Texas' "Unwritten Law," "Law of Parties," and other peculiar legal instruments are discussed as they were ... and as they are today. I learned a lot.
Well written, fun, and thoughtful, the book is a must-read for history buffs, legal historians ... and defense attorneys!
Good job, Bill Neal!

Getting Away with Murder on the Texas Frontier: Notorious Killings and Celebrated Trials. By Bill Neal, Introduction by Gordon Morris Bakken. Lubbock: Texas Tech University Press, 2006. xix, 308 pages. 49 b/w photos, 3 illustrations, 1 map. ISBN 0896725790

Bill Neal tells us how they did it. Neal has been a prosecuting and defense attorney for decades in West Texas, out where the lawless Wild West is still warm. He's not the Bill O'Neal of a similar topic.
Laws are one thing, but the rules of popular justice, vigilantism, absconding witnesses, a quick getaway, fear of retribution, financial interests of the jury, race, the statute of limitations, personal friendship, the Victorian code, inexperienced prosecutors, lynching before justice ran its course, and, well, "didn't the victim deserve it anyway" all played their roles. Neal focuses on legal matters, especially in the courtroom, generally cases you've not heard of before - they're outrageous.

Neal populates his book with bank robbers, sheriff murderers, knife-wielders, gamblers, poison artists, angry mothers, and mail-order brides. In amongst them are lawyers, judges, and sheriffs trying to bring community stability.

Friendship goes a long way. Bill Richards in 1891 aided the legal "organization" of Cottle County, so his friend could get a friendlier trial environment in the new county.

Imagine in 1916, the guy who entered a crowded courtroom, shot and killed another guy on trial for murder, and wounded a witness and defense attorney for good measure. After four trails, he was scot-free. Neal brings us forward. Even in 1940, after a car thief- murderer confessed and was convicted, an appellate judge reversed the matter because he was not so sure that kicking and stomping somebody (namely Mrs. McHenry) to death was not based on too much inference.

You shake you head today over some outrageous dismissal, but that's along tradition.

Neal's examples are fresh and well written.

Bill Neal did a great job writing this novel. With his background in the legal system and "top-notch" research, his book was excellent in both reading and historical accuracy. When I found out that one of the novel's character's was my grandfather, I was intrigued even further! I hope that Bill Neal will write other books similar to this one. The WILD Frontier is truly an understatement!

I recommend Amazon.com highly. They are fast with delivery, and I have never been disapointed with their service. Keep up the good work.

The book was a very interesting read and gave much insight into how justice was in the early days of Texas.