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A quarrelsome and intimidating man, Royal
killed one of his employees after the two got into a dispute. Despite the
killing and his personality, Royal was elected Pecos County Sheriff in
1892. A controversial figure from the start, area citizens were initially
split in their opinions. While some thought he was a tough lawman who
worked hard to establish law and order, others thought he abused his power
as sheriff, often terrorizing those who disagreed with him.
During his short two-year term as sheriff, his
time in the position was certainly not uneventful. One story tells of how
he won the Koehler Saloon in a card game, but the owner died before
signing it over.
Another tale, which occurred in 1893, relates
a story of a man who was accused of stealing a watermelon. As Royal was
taking the man to jail, he tried to escape but, was quickly recaptured.
After the thief spent three days in jail and was released, the sheriff and
another man, most likely his infamous deputy,
Barney Riggs, were said to
have taken him outside of town where Royal horsewhipped him and told the
man never to return to Pecos County.
Royal got more aggressive and intimidating the
longer he was in his sheriff’s role. He began make threats toward several
leading citizens in the community including County Judge O.W. Williams;
merchants, Frank and James Rooney; and County Clerk, W.P. Matthews. All
these men had backed his opponent R.B. Neighbors in the 1892 election and
were planning to back him again in the upcoming election to be held in
October, 1894.
On August 4, 1894, while drinking in his
saloon, he sent word to the two Rooney brothers and Matthews, who were in
Koeler's Store that he was going to "wipe them out." The sheriff would
later deny sending the message, but, it was confirmed that the threat was
delivered.
Later, the sheriff went to Koeler's Store
looking for the Rooney brothers However, as he walked in with a cocked
pistol he was spied by James Rooney, who was in a small room in adjoining
the saloon. After Royal found no one in the store and turned to go back
out, Rooney confronted him with a shotgun. The sheriff began to shoot and
Rooney also fired, but, no one was hit and Royal fled.
Royal then gathered up his deputies and some
friends, who surrounded the store, threatening to burn it. The Rooney
brothers and W.P. Matthews, who was also in the saloon, soon surrendered
to Sheriff Royal, who arrested them and marched them to the Justice of the
Peace for preliminary examination. However, the three arrested men, sure
they would not be guaranteed safety in the city court, waved the
examination, stating they wished to appear before the grand jury.
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Discoveries
America Texas DVD