{"id":3671,"date":"2022-10-11T14:04:53","date_gmt":"2022-10-11T14:04:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/garisonfitch.com\/?p=3671"},"modified":"2024-08-03T19:34:29","modified_gmt":"2024-08-03T19:34:29","slug":"six-men-dead-an-ira-doc-pearson-story","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/garisonfitch.com\/?p=3671","title":{"rendered":"Six Men Dead (an Ira “Doc” Pearson story)"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"\"
That murder was done is clear to all. But who was murdered? And will anyone be brought to justice or will a whole town look the other way?<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Published by Outlaws Publishing and available on <\/em>ebook (in many formats) and<\/em> in<\/em> paperback!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Six men rode into the west Texas town of Rook in December of 1895. Moments later, all six men lay dead in the street, shot to death by the good citizens of the town.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ira \u201cDoc\u201d Pearson is sent by the Texas Rangers to investigate, expected to just rubber stamp the proceedings for the dead men were known as the Lawrence Gang: wanted in Texas and New Mexico for bank robberies, rustling and murder.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ira knows, however, that one of the members of the Lawrence Gang was in jail in Lubbock at the time of the massacre. So who was the sixth man who died that day?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Official Texas is satisfied that justice was done, but Ira can\u2019t let it go.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Also available on Audible<\/a> and iTunes, narrated by Tom Lusty!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Follow the rest of Ira\u2019s story in The Anson-Parker War<\/a> and Shootout at the Federal Courthouse<\/a> and The Body in the Floor<\/a>!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

…<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sample Passage<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Prologue<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Six men rode into the Texas panhandle town of Rook. By the looks of them, six hard men, five of them on fine horses such as only an outlaw could afford, all wearing guns that had seen some use.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The people of Rook took all this in in a moment, and that was all they took.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rifles, six-shooters and shot-guns seemed to appear as if by magic from every upstairs window on the dusty street. No signal had been heard or seen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

All fired at once and six men went down. Only two were even able to get their guns out of their holsters, but neither got off an effectual shot before scratching their last sign in the dirt of the street.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

No horses were hurt more than a couple grazes, for the men (and maybe some women, if the rumors were true) of the west in general and Rook in particular thought a lot of horse flesh and had taken great care not to hit any of the animals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

All six riders died quickly. Nobody was gut-shot and writhing in the dirt, for the people of Rook were good shots<\/p>\n\n\n\n

and toasted each other later in the saloons and each other\u2019s houses that there had been no suffering. Not like the banker these men had made die slowly down in Banderas, or that parson who\u2019d just been in the bank at Dimmit at the wrong time and had taken a month to die.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Nope, just six clean deaths.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

One couldn\u2019t say it was just six shots, though. Someone counted up later and found that most of a hundred Rook bullets had struck the six bodies. It was a wonder they hadn\u2019t more than grazed the horses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

No one from Rook had so much as a scratch on them. Maybe some red eyes or sore throats from the smoke of the gunpowder, but nothing more. It had just been a few seconds of red-laced hell and then it was over. Six lay dead and a lot of people across west Texas and eastern New Mexico started sleeping easier again.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The worthies of Rook buried the six bodies in a single grave out at the town cemetery and the Campbellite parson said some words over them. A marker was put up but all it said was, \u201cLawrence Gang\u201d and, below that, \u201cPut here by the good citizens of Rook on 4 December, 1895\u201c.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Chapter One<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Folks took notice<\/p>\n\n\n\n

when the stranger rode into town on the sorrel horse of his. It wasn\u2019t quite like the old days, when every stranger who passed through Rook was noted, though, for mor<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And this stranger wasn\u2019t an especially striking specimen. A shade over six foot, with short light hair and beat-up clothes\u2014though of tough cloth\u2014nice boots, and a saddle that had seen some miles. Nor did his gun catch anyone\u2019s eye, for while things were starting to get civilized, there were still quite a few men who wore guns, especially if they were traveling for civilization hadn\u2019t completely caught up with the road agents. The stranger\u2019s horse was a good-looking animal, one that looked like it could go all day and night, but it wasn\u2019t a \u201cshow horse\u201d for all that. Just a good-looking horse anyone would be proud to have, but not the kind that made people say to themselves, \u201cI want that horse!\u201de people traveled anymore. On any given day, a dozen strangers might ride through, stopping only for water or a meal, before making their way back onto the road to Hereford or maybe McKeon. Most of the time, they drew no more notice than if a local had ridden through.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What got people\u2019s attention, and set the tongues to wagging and brought the whispers to a dull roar was the silver on the man\u2019s chest, for he wore the badge of a Texas Ranger. The badge was polished and glinted in the bright Texas sun, catching the eye of everyone who even glanced that way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Soon, Sheriff Montgomery was hustling out of his office and greeting the stranger even as the man was tying his horse to the hitching rail in front of the jail. Extending his hand in a manner that seemed to be forced friendliness over an underlying nervousness, he said, \u201cHowdy. I\u2019m Sheriff Montgomery. I, um, I figured one of you would come.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cDid you now?\u201d the stranger replied, taking off his riding gloves then taking the sheriff\u2019s hand. \u201cPearson\u2019s my name. Ira Pearson. I reckon you already realized I\u2019m a Ranger.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cUh, yes sir,\u201d said the sheriff, even though he was probably a good fifteen years older than the Ranger. \u201cWon\u2019t you come inside?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThank you,\u201d the Ranger said politely.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sheriff Montgomery watched with keen interest as the Ranger took off a Stetson that had seen some miles but was well-taken care off. The Ranger brushed some dust off the hat and then hung it on a peg just inside the door. The Sheriff saw then that the Ranger had the most grey eyes he had ever seen. Somehow both piercing and bland at the same time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cCoffee?\u201d the sheriff offered.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cDon\u2019t mind if I do,\u201d Ira Pearson replied. He took the cup gratefully, then sat in the offered seat. He waited a beat for the sheriff to sit down behind his desk, then said, \u201cYou probably know why I\u2019m here.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cTo give the town a medal?\u201d the sheriff tried to joke.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ira Pearson chuckled, shaking his head. \u201cThere are some in Austin who have already suggested that. The citizens of some of your nearby towns would probably go along with that idea. But no, Sheriff,\u201d he said, suddenly becoming more stern, \u201cI don\u2019t think anyone is going to try to argue that the Lawrence Gang didn\u2019t have some retribution coming. However, six men shot down in a street with no provocation does look a lot like murder to the courts.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMurder?\u201d the sheriff demanded. \u201cAfter what they did in Monahans, or to them sheepherders down by\u2014\u201c<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Ranger held up his hand to forestall further talk from the sheriff and said, \u201cWe know those things. The whole state knows those things. And I have access to crimes I daresay you haven\u2019t even heard of save in rumor, Sheriff. But there are laws in this state and murder is at the top of the list\u2014even when the person murdered deserved what they got by every known set of rules.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cSo what are you going to do, Ranger?\u201d The last word was said with something less than admiration in its tone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMy orders are to investigate exactly what happened and turn in a report to my superiors. I can make recommendations, but it will be up to the Attorney General what is to be done ultimately.\u201d He smiled then and asked affably, \u201cMay I assume that I will have the full cooperation of this office, Sheriff?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cUm, uh,\u201d the sheriff fumbled, taken off guard by the sudden friendliness, \u201cSure. Absolutely.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThank you.\u201d The Ranger reached into a vest pocket, pulled out a little notebook such as most ranchers carried for tallying up stock, and a pencil that was already sharp and said, \u201cFor starters, I\u2019d like to hear your account of what transpired on Wednesday of last week.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The sheriff cleared his throat, looked around for help where there was none, then began, \u201cWell, it really started before last Wednesday.\u201d Steeling his will, he said, \u201cHere\u2019s what happened, Ranger\u2014wait, ain\u2019t you the one they call \u2018Doc\u2019 Pearson?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Ranger hesitated, chagrin on his face, then replied, \u201cYes. But I prefer Ira, or Pearson, or Ranger or \u2018Hey You\u2019 for that matter.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAll righty,\u201d the sheriff agreed, wondering what the story might be behind both the nickname and the obvious dislike the wearer had for it. Still, he shrugged then began, \u201cI\u2019m sure you know all about the Lawrence Gang. Well, I know it, too, and I may know more than you think I do. But that\u2019s no never mind. What I do know is that in the last week of November they stuck up a stage over by Lubbock. Shot the driver and the express man. Beat up the passengers\u2014three men and a woman\u2014and left them beside the road. One of the men is still laid up, they tell me.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cFrom there, they drunk up half the liquor in Littlefield and shot out most of the windows. Beat a bank teller half to death \u2018cause he didn\u2019t have but twenty dollars to give them. Y\u2019know, Ranger, they used to just rob a bank now and then. But somethin\u2019 went wrong with that Frank Lawrence up here,\u201d he gestured toward his own head. \u201cI ain\u2019t saying they didn\u2019t deserve jail or death for the robbin\u2019, but here lately they just went plumb crazy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAfter Lubbock, and then being in Littlefield, I didn\u2019t worry none \u2018cause I figured they was headin\u2019s away from us. Next thing I know, they\u2019re in Olton, then somebody east of Hart said he thought he saw them on the trail to Tulia. Everybody in this town had heard that, too, Ranger, so they got up the citizen\u2019s committee and started asking what they should do.\u201d He looked furtively toward the door, as if hoping someone would come in and interrupt his proceedings, before continuing, \u201cNow I, um, I told them what we\u2019d have to do was arrest them Lawrences and then get word to you\u2014the Rangers, I mean, not just you personal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cSudden like, ever\u2019body in town\u2019s walkin\u2019 on eggshells. Men wearing Colts strapped to their pants that hadn\u2019t been fired in ten years. I was, I tell you, I was worried about a accident\u2014\u201c<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAccident?\u201d Pearson questioned.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYou know how it is,\u201d the sheriff explained, somewhat plaintively. \u201cEver\u2019body\u2019s on edge and, first thing you know, one fella\u2019s bumped into another in the saloon and all of a sudden ever\u2019body\u2019s firin\u2019 guns and somebody lays dead.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAnd that\u2019s not what you wanted? Dead men in the street?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhat? No sir!\u201d Sheriff Montgomery objected forcefully. \u201cI never wanted no such of a thing! But I tell ya: when it happened, the people of Rook handled it like men.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAnd how was that?\u201d the Ranger asked calmly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The sheriff was sweating, even though it was a cold panhandle day outside and the pot-bellied stove was only putting a dent in the chill. He suddenly blurted out, \u201cWell, you remember back a couple years ago when that posse caught up with the Lawrences down hear Odessa, don\u2019t you? Had \u2018em chained up and everything. But ol\u2019 Pete Lawrence, he had him a cousin there in Odessa who got a file to \u2018em. They slipped out slick as whistles in the night and have been raising\u2014well, you done told me you know what they been doin\u2019.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He stopped for a moment, formulating his words, then offered, \u201cI told ever\u2019body that we needed to catch them Lawrences legal and hold \u2018em tight! I was goin\u2019 to swear in a passel of deputies and we was goin\u2019 to watch over them like new mothers over a baby \u2018til you could get here.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWise plan. What happened to it?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201c\u2019It\u2019?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe plan. What happened to the plan?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWent all to pieces,\u201d the sheriff said with a laugh. Suddenly enjoying himself, he explained, \u201cWord had somehow got out that our bank had took delivery of a large sum of money, so I was on edge anyway. Then, we heard about the Lawrences coming. Then, that morning, Collin Warner\u2014he runs a little dairy operation just south of town\u2014he wakes me up and says he seen a bunch of men hiding out in a draw on his place. He said he seen their fire, then snuck up on \u2018em knowin\u2019 nobody honest would be a camped out like that without saying \u2018hey\u2019 to the owner. Collin, he used to be in the Army and he injunned his way up there and said he seen Pete and Frank big as life\u2014\u201c<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cHow\u2019d he know it was them?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWanted posters, I reckon. Ever\u2019body knows\u2014knew\u2014Frank had that scarred-up nose from when that feller bit him down in Abilene. And Pete was so skinny he had to stand twice to cast a shadow. And ol\u2019 Onion Taylor, we all knowed what he looked like on account of the stories told about him. And they was true, let me tell you. Must\u2019a took thirty shots hisself before he went down.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Six men rode into the west Texas town of Rook in December of 1895. Moments later, all six men lay dead in the street, shot to death by the good citizens of the town. Ira knows, however, that one of the members of the Lawrence Gang was in jail in Lubbock at the time of the massacre. So who was the sixth man who died that day?<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":3977,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[1997,1998,1993],"tags":[1606,1292,1999,1075,1073,1291,2010,1327,1277,1017,1076,1123,1074],"class_list":["post-3671","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-detective","category-mystery","category-western","tag-adventure","tag-audio","tag-detective","tag-fiction","tag-iradocpearson","tag-irapearson","tag-minapearson","tag-murder","tag-mystery","tag-texas","tag-texasranger","tag-texasrangers","tag-western-2"],"yoast_head":"\nSix Men Dead (an Ira "Doc" Pearson story) - After Time Ends<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/garisonfitch.com\/?p=3671\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Six Men Dead (an Ira "Doc" Pearson story) - After Time Ends\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Six men rode into the west Texas town of Rook in December of 1895. Moments later, all six men lay dead in the street, shot to death by the good citizens of the town. Ira knows, however, that one of the members of the Lawrence Gang was in jail in Lubbock at the time of the massacre. 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