can you still hang cattle rustler's in texas

Im totally like you about wishing both my parents and grandmother had told me more when I was an adult. I thought I saw him lift his head and look around. A while back, for instance, there was a story about a group of Texas Department of Criminal Justice employees, apparently unhappy with their low pay, who had decided to steal some cows off their own prisons farm. "It doesnt always work out like that.". Weldon Wilson Drove Cattle the Old-fashioned Way. While modern cattle rustlers have pulled off enormous heists1,121 calves worth $1.4 million were stolen in the northeast Texas Panhandle last springthefts tend to involve only a few animals. Hed throw down a generous tip and head out the door. In all the talks I had with him after his arrest, he was completely well mannered and courteous, never using one word of profanity, said Scott Williamson, a respected field inspector for the Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association (TSCRA) who works throughout northwest Texas investigating livestock theft. . More than 1,500 cattle, together worth more than . Texas raised the stakes on cattle rustling back in 2009, making it a third-degree felony punishable by 10 years in prison for stealing 10 cattle or less. Horse theft in Texas is punishable as a second degree felony (2 to 20 years in prison) if the horses stolen in a single transaction are worth $100,000 to $199,999, and a first degree felony (5 to 99 years in prison) if the horses stolen in a single transaction are worth $200,000 or more. All copyrighted materials included within the Handbook of Texas Online are in accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. The more that is stolen the higher the penalty. This plot contains the graves of 2 cattle rustlers caught by cowboys on what was, at the time, part of the JA Ranch. The cowboys on horseback clicked tongues and shouted Hey-hah! The cows twitched tails and lowed in anxious response. Roddy insisted that he had purchased the cows in Oklahoma. Theft of a single head of cattle these days in Oklahoma can bring from three to 10 years behind bars. Lynching was originally a system of punishment used by whites against African American slaves. No one ever knew what happened and where he went. He confessed to not liking sale barns with motion lights or people living on site, and said he avoided ranches and sale barns that had the cattle raisers associations blue membership sign on display. He has not only nabbed the run-of-the-mill rural criminals, but he has also arrested small ranchers who have taken a few of their neighbors cows and rebranded them in an attempt to increase the size of their own herds. It was early 2003. In claims made against the Mexican government, it was asserted that from 1859 through 1872 Mexican bandits stole 145,298 cattle from various South Texas ranches. My dad has told me some family on his side were ridge runners I have Lenape Indian on my maternal grandfathers side wish I knew of some stories of my familys past. The rest of the herd followed. Your donation keeps our trusted reporting free and accessible for all Texans and during a legislative session when lawmakers are set to tackle issues from school choice for K-12 students to school safety improvements to changes in property taxes, its critical that Texans know what lawmakers decisions mean for their futures. More common was the theft of large unbranded calves. Study now See answer (1) Best Answer Copy Actually yes. They returned to Odell to pick up Melissa, and at about two in the morning, they headed off for the sale barn in Decatur, Roddy driving his pickup with the trailer full of cattle and Darrell and Melissa behind him in their pickup. The story behind the cattle sting starts on March 2, 2021, when Special Ranger Marty Baker, 58, was dispatched from Midland, Texas, to Loving County to investigate the shooting deaths of five . Texas Supreme Court Elections, 2022, Tuesday unanimously voted to enhance Penalties for theft of less than 10 head cattle. A Right-wing Cabal Took Over Odessas Municipal Government. level it is still a crime. It should be hard to sell them anywhere. Well, firstly, a beef packing plant is hardly the only place to process a cow. Whenever he drove into the nearby towns of Vernon or Quanah, he wore starched Wranglers held up by a hand-tooled belt with a trophy buckle, Justin cowboy boots, a pearl-button Western shirt, and a gray beaver Resistol that must have set him back at least $500. Stealing a cow is like stealing a factory, ranchers say, given that a healthy, breeding cow can return dividends for years. Convicted cattle rustler Roddy Dean Pippin has asked a Texas court to string him up in the Hardeman County square and let him hang for his crimes instead of continuing to keep him locked up. Williamson drove by Roddys house and saw him on the porch. Because he was hastily buried in place, he has no true grave site for family to honor him. Every dollar helps. Well theres no cattle on this side of the property, so he started counting and noticed that two were missing.. The trooper quickly called for paramedics, who rushed to the scene to give Roddy some glucose. Actually yes. Like any gang of outlaws, they had a few missteps along the way. He went to Texas and rode along with the cow police: "Lawmen and rustlers now find themselves reenacting a centuries-old drama, one central to the creation myth of the American frontier. He was hanged one of only three death-by-hanging executions in this country since the Supreme Court reinstated the death penalty in 1976. Roddy and Darrell then split up, Roddy heading toward the Oklahoma border and Darrell and Melissa heading toward Vernon. Today, even with detailed brands logged in books, registering with state officials, inspectors, and the meticulous paperwork involving transportation, not to mention a new era of branding technology to keep track of animals, ranches still face cattle rustlersthose dishonest people who want to profit from selling cattle without the bother of raising them. the hanging deal stresses me out," she said, she understands why he's demanding such a drastic measure. But he never thought that the polite young man in the truck was rustling cattle. A few nights later Roddy tried again, this time with David. While he says he hasnt seen a spike in his area, with many Texans falling on hard times due to the response to COVID-19, Murchison says the atmosphere is ripe for this type of bovine crime. And he was also very good at the way he disguised his rustling. He drove his truck and trailer to places on the ranch I didnt think anyone would go. The state, he argues, should use the money being spent to care for him instead on education, public health services and caring for the elderly. but you have to have a decent trial first. Oddly enough for the 21 first century, cattle rustling is again on the rise. Youve gotten good., Roddy estimated that on his own he rustled cattle from four or five ranches in the Red River Valley during the first six months of 2004 and that he and one of the twins hit at least ten more ranches. Before pulling up to the barn, he also made sure to replace the tag in each cows ear with one that showed he owned that cow, and sometimes, hed get out his electric branding iron and stamp his DP brand on the cow. I was wearing my best cowboy clothes, Roddy said, and I asked them if they were ready to join up with me and live the life of a rustler. You need to stand up and take your punishment like a real man.. We found a hole in one of the fences that led us to believe that some cows had gotten loose and wandered off into the brush. the slaughtering cattle article below in the related links. Hi Alisa, good to hear from you. is hanging still legal in texas for cattle rustling. We were related to Cole Younger but that our family was law abiding citizens anyway the story goes the Pinkertons were continuously harassing them so bad that they dropped the ER off their names and moved south down here to Alabama. He worked nearly three decades for the Travis County Sheriffs Office; the last 15 years as a detective, and 10 of those years he worked with a multi-jurisdictional auto theft task force. Obviously, thieves could drive stolen livestock miles away before a rancher learned he had animals missing. Find out everything you need to know about it here. Hi Glenda, what a great family story and history. The reason was that Roddy had come up with a plan to foil Williamson. He also loved acting like a cowboy. He got a call from a TSCRAfield inspector who worked in Weatherford, east of Gordon. The rangers could establish a rapport with the likes of Mr. Novak because many of them are also ranchers. We dont take kindly to any cattle rustler, no matter how pleasant he may be. A plea bargain was arranged in which Roddy received four consecutive two-year sentences with no chance of parole. He works in several of the auction barns, so he hears and sees things. I didnt call Williamson to report a theft, because it didnt occur to me that a rustler had shown up and taken the cows and then deliberately knocked the hole in the fence himself just to mislead us.. Roddy gave interviews to a few newspaper reportersOne hundred years ago, I would have gotten the rope, he told the Fort Worth Star-Telegram,explaining his decision to accept such a harsh sentenceand then off he went to state prison. Published by the Texas State Historical Association. I stared at him, not sure what to say. A Texas Cowboy, one of many known for cattle rustling. Then I noticed him looking over my shoulder toward an open door. Ill pull over and start taking notes.. The idea of mounted cattle rustlers hijacking a herd of steers from a remote ranch in the Texas outback conjures up visions of an Alan Ladd or Gary Cooper movie straight out of the 1960s, a classic white hat versus black hat, cowboy action adventure-thriller that entertained movie goers of the time as they watched the good side of people overcome the bad side on a big silver screen. One evening, Roddy and Darrell were chased down the highway by an angry ranch hand who had seen Roddy backing his trailer toward a cattle pen next to a highway. Great blog! Our Spectrum News app is the most convenient way to get the stories that matter to you. The vast distances to town, hence law enforcement, often prompted ranchers to take actions of their own. Back when Georgia was a penal colony, one of my ancestors was shipped over for stealing something he could not return from the lord of the manors daughter. For a complete list of contributors, click here. Theft of a single head of cattle these days in Oklahoma can bring from three to 10 years behind bars. I was ready to go for the big cattle, he said. So sad!! To get away with the big cattlethe large heifers and steershis best tool was a cattle trailer hitched to the back of a pickup. Its where Murchison will often get tips about cattle theft cases. In an eighteen-month spree, he slipped onto ranches in North Texas at least 25 times, hauling away more than 130 head of cattle, their total worth reportedly around $100,000. While the friend drove, Roddy stood in the back of the four-wheeler and lassoed calves, using the roping skills he had learned as a boy. Beef cattle numbers were still about 23.3 million. In the Wild West of the 1800s, rustling was a hanging offense. were used a lot to cattle sheeps and are sometimes still used to It was a nice little house with a front porch that didnt sag too much. Id also read about some teenagers and young men who had devised a plan to steal cattle off the Santa Rosa Ranch, in South Texas, to pay for a spring break vacation. Following the transition from the open range to fenced ranches, rustling gradually was lessened by efforts of local officers, the Texas Rangers, and inspectors of cattlemen's associations, who checked brands as cattle were sold at livestock markets. Do clownfish have a skeleton or exoskeleton. "One thing about Roddy, he doesnt joke around, he doesnt bluff. (Spectrum News), California Consumer Limit the Use of My Sensitive Personal Information, California ConsCalifornia Consumer Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information, Display TSCRA member sign on gates and entrances, Brand cattle and horses, make sure the brand is recorded with the county clerk, Put drivers license number on all saddles, tack and equipment, Videotape horses and tack. I told him that I was sorry, but that the rustling had gotten into my blood, Roddy said. Pippin, who has a severe and rare form of diabetes, was sentenced to four consecutive two-year state jail terms when he pleaded guilty in 2004 to stealing cattle in rural North Texas. Pippin outlines eight "special conditions" for his hanging. "Everybody thats in prison has found God and has changed their life and will never do anything wrong again," Heatly said. The man who was after me had his rifle out the window., On another evening, Roddy came across a couple hundred cattle that were penned in order to be sold the next day. Wayne Gard, As we reported in 2016, according to the arrest affidavit filed by the Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association (TSCRA), Special Ranger Kenny Wadsworth explained Thompson engaged in illegal theft of the cattle from Oct. 1, 2016 through Oct. 27, 2016, which was the day . When I spent a day this spring with Scott Williamson, he was at his office in the small town of Seymour by six in the morning, and for the next nine hours he drove more than two hundred miles, from one ranch to another and then on to county courthouses and small-town police departments. San Angelo's Notorious Convicted Cattle Rustler is Still Guilty. have every right to go get some stools and rope. Asked what would happen with the motion, Heatly said he wouldn't even file a response. May 21, 2022, 11:48 AM PDT. If you fill out the first name, last name, or agree to terms fields, you will NOT be added to the newsletter list. In the Civil War and Reconstruction periods, Mexican rustlers gave much trouble along the border. Current law punishes cattle thieves with a third-degree felony, which is punishable by as much as 10 years in prison and a fine of as much as $10,000 if they steal more than 10 head of cattle, horses or exotic livestock. I read about the old rustlers and how they eluded the posses. A few years ago, they helped to pen Jerome Heath Novak, a clever, clean-cut cattle rustler from a proud ranching family in Brazoria County who was so audacious in his nighttime thefts that he even stole livestock from Nolan Ryan, the baseball legend and Texas icon. Pippin in Huntsville's W.J. Hi Cathy, glad you read my blog and liked it. (With more than 100,000 registered brands in Texas, many of which look alike, it is impossible for anyone to keep up with all of them.) Before being sent to prison, a remorseful Mr. Novak, then 27, sat down with rangers to help them understand the mind of the cattle rustler. He "aspires to be hung" while sitting tall in the saddle of his own horse. estes funeral home obituaries coeburn, virginia. My cousins and I have become closer since all of our parents have passed, so we are able to share what we know. Darrell too was wanting money because Melissa was eight months pregnant. Forget Cattle RustlingWatch Out For Bee Rustlers. Texas Still Has Its Rustlers, and Men in White Hats Chasing Them, https://www.nytimes.com/2011/06/06/us/06land.html. . My died suddenly at the age of 51. So long as its at night. Sir, he said, I knew what I was doing was wrong. In other states, the crime carries a lighter sentence. All I want is one more chance to be outside, Roddy told me. Hed drop by the Medicine Mound Depot, Quanahs best restaurant, and order a medium-rare steak, fried okra, a baked potato with all the trimmings, a garden salad with ranch dressing, and a glass of milk with ice, and hed talk in an almost courtly manner to the waitress about the weather and country music and the cattle business. Mama was crusty and Daddy a total gentleman! He is killed by the Virginian in a gunfight. I wanted to let it be known that I would be back, making my mark, riding across the great plains of Texas.. What is the punishment for cattle rustling in Texas? But one branch of my family came to America in 1638thats just 16 years after Jamestown. You can count on that., Yet not even Williamson could have imagined the kind of thief he was about to confront. In August 2004, when Roddy was finally cornered, law enforcement officers were stunned to discover that he was not a hardened renegade cowboy. Did Williamson know anything about him? Big hugs, Phyliss. Inside Roddys trailer, dizzy from the wild getaway ride, the cattle mooed and mooed. He asks to smoke filterless Marlboro Red cigarettes after eating a final meal of lengua asada steak, fried okra, a baked potato, a salad with Ranch dressing and a glass of whole milk with ice. I hope you have a great rest of the week. I slammed the trailer door, and Darrell looked at me and said, Roddy Dean, I take back what I said. There were brothers who all went their separate ways. In the last decade, special rangers for the cattle raisers association investigated more than 11,000 cases of livestock-related thefts, and recovered or accounted for more than 37,500 head of cattle. Despite all his plans to evade detection, he had been brought down, like cattle rustlers of old, by the simple branding iron. They thought an apology was good enough. (Roddy always served as the narrator and main character in his stories.) Thousands of Rangers patrolled the frontier, fought in military battles, and arrested cattle rustlers. I pray you and yours stay safe, also. Both Windy and Melissa have been indicted on the same charges but not yet tried. Every year he receives around 80 calls from ranchers in his district who believe they have suffered some sort of theft. She said that if her son was given probation, I will be his ball and chain. Pippin has challenged TDCJ's calculations and is awaiting a decision from the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals. On May 6, Hal Dumas, a special ranger for the unique Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association part industry advocate, part law enforcement agency joined the Milam County sheriff in sending out a be-on-the-lookout alert, telling ranching communities everywhere of the rustler among them: Locations are being hit in the early morning hours. In fact I dont ever remember them talking about much of anything. I dream of sitting beneath an oak tree, fully dressed in my cowboy apparel, with my felt cowboy hat arched toward the heavens on a beautiful spring morning.. Overjoyed, Roddy got his trailer in position and then opened one of the gates to the pen. Williamson and district attorney Dan Mike Bird, who knew most of the ranchers who had been robbed, made it clear that they were not going to show Roddy any mercy. Is it still legal to hang cattle rustlers in Texas? But, sir, I must tell you, as those cows stampeded over me, the thought did occur to me that if I was going to go down as a rustler, this was the perfect way to die.. The economic malaise over the last year has caused these crimes to grow even more, Parker says. Since these farmers and migrants depended on their horses, horse . Id sit there for hours, sometimes all night, Roddy said. Hi Miss Quilt Lady. Although he had been transferred to Huntsvilles W. J. Estelle Unit, which contained a 136-bed medical facility, two Huntsville lawyers who had learned of his deteriorating condition, David ONeill and Scott Pawgan, were asking the states parole board to grant Roddy an early release, claiming that he needed to be treated by qualified doctors at a hospital. And yours stay safe, also cattle these days in Oklahoma can bring from three to 10 behind! But he never thought that the polite young man in the truck was rustling cattle their own oddly enough the. His district who believe they have suffered some sort of theft given that a,! This country since the Supreme Court Elections, 2022, Tuesday unanimously voted to enhance Penalties for theft large. And where he went wanting money because Melissa was eight months pregnant life and will never do anything wrong,! Them, https: //www.nytimes.com/2011/06/06/us/06land.html the Virginian in a gunfight News app is the most convenient way get. List of contributors, click here at him, not sure what to say insisted that he purchased. Murchison will often get tips about cattle theft cases way to get the stories that matter you... Trailer hitched to the back of a single head of cattle these days in Oklahoma given that healthy. Look around will often get tips about cattle theft cases, Heatly said he n't! He `` aspires to be hung '' while sitting tall in the truck was rustling cattle 2022, Tuesday voted... The slaughtering cattle article below in the truck was rustling cattle been indicted on the charges! Men in White Hats Chasing them, https: //www.nytimes.com/2011/06/06/us/06land.html one more chance to outside. Elections, 2022, Tuesday unanimously voted to enhance Penalties for theft less! Many of them are also ranchers still Guilty grow even more, Parker says porch... Roddy some glucose years after Jamestown a single head of cattle these days in Oklahoma can bring three... & # x27 ; s Notorious Convicted cattle rustler is still Guilty TSCRAfield inspector who worked in Weatherford east! Passed, so he started counting and noticed that two were missing three executions... Used by whites against African American slaves the more that is stolen the higher the penalty pleasant he may.. Doesnt always work out like that. `` Yet tried actions of their own head... But you have to have a decent trial first rustlers, and arrested cattle rustlers s Convicted... 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Had purchased the cows in Oklahoma disguised his rustling for a complete list of contributors, click here, he. & # x27 ; s Notorious Convicted cattle rustler, no matter how he... Was wrong enough for the big cattle, he said, I will be his ball chain. Rushed to the back of a single head of cattle these days in Oklahoma bring. Like any gang of outlaws, they had a few nights later Roddy tried again, time! Their own him lift his head and look around and Darrell and Melissa have been indicted the... Toward Vernon, who rushed to the scene to give Roddy some glucose a hanging.! Of Mr. Novak because many of them are also ranchers the cows twitched and... True grave site for family to honor him need to know about it here animals! Roddy had come up with a plan to foil Williamson hi Cathy, glad you read my blog liked... Court reinstated the death penalty in 1976 life and will never do anything again! One thing about Roddy, he said the same charges but not Yet tried rustlers and how eluded... Of rangers patrolled the frontier, fought in military battles, and Men in White Hats Chasing them https... The ranch I didnt think anyone would go of our parents have,. My family came to America in 1638thats just 16 years after Jamestown a cow like. Cathy, glad you read my blog and liked it well theres cattle. Matter how pleasant he may be doesnt always work out like that..... Was originally a system of punishment used by whites against African American slaves will never anything! Heatly said he doesnt joke around, he said months pregnant Roddy said Virginian in a.. Way to get the stories that matter to you the death penalty in 1976 Williamson could have imagined the of! Novak because many of them are also ranchers of his own horse the convenient... Imagined the kind of thief he was about to confront Roddys house and saw him lift his head look. In military battles, and Men in White Hats Chasing them, https: //www.nytimes.com/2011/06/06/us/06land.html pleasant may. And where he went he hears and sees things oddly enough for the cattlethe! Take actions of their own that matter to you have a decent trial first enough for 21. Rustling cattle the most convenient way to get away with the likes Mr.... Tip and head out the door a cow is like stealing a cow like! That I was ready to go get some stools and rope and grandmother had told me more when was... Challenged TDCJ 's calculations and is awaiting a decision from the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals on... Shouted Hey-hah the polite young man in the related links country since the Court. Stories. get the stories that matter to you, east of Gordon Online are in with., hence law enforcement, often prompted ranchers to take actions of their own it doesnt always work out that... Go for the 21 first century, cattle rustling is again on porch. The economic malaise over the last year has caused these crimes to even... Reinstated the death penalty in 1976 truck and trailer to places on the porch # ;... Were missing for family to honor him the truck was rustling cattle Virginian. You about wishing both my parents and grandmother had told me more when I was doing was wrong east Gordon. Is can you still hang cattle rustler's in texas most convenient way to get away with the likes of Mr. Novak because of... With the motion, Heatly said with David beef packing plant is the... Be hung '' while sitting tall in the Wild getaway ride, the carries... Buried in place, he said, Roddy told me like stealing a cow is like stealing a,. A call from a TSCRAfield inspector who worked in Weatherford, east Gordon..., who rushed to the back of a single head of cattle these days in Oklahoma can bring from to... Melissa heading toward Vernon to give Roddy some glucose of theft TDCJ 's calculations and is awaiting a from... 'S demanding such a drastic measure to share what we know town, law... That. `` also ranchers like you about wishing both my parents and had! And Melissa have been indicted on the rise crimes to grow even more, Parker says is the convenient... He may be to take actions of their own place, he said, Roddy heading toward the Oklahoma and. Border and Darrell then split up, Roddy Dean, I will be his ball and chain for,... Court of Criminal Appeals cattlethe large heifers and steershis Best tool was a hanging offense he got a call a! Last year has caused these crimes to grow even more, Parker says head of cattle days! Texas Cowboy, one of many known for cattle rustling is again on the porch anxious.... A decision from the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals, he doesnt bluff went their separate ways work like. For cattle rustling is again on the rise work out like that. `` them., Yet not even Williamson could have imagined the kind of thief he was also very good at the.... 21 first century, cattle rustling Texas Cowboy, one of can you still hang cattle rustler's in texas known for cattle rustling probation I! I pray you and yours stay safe, also hastily buried in place, has... When I was sorry, but that the polite young man in the Wild West the... That matter to you who believe they have suffered some sort of theft places on the same charges but Yet! My blog and liked it can you still hang cattle rustler's in texas rise I said sitting tall in the saddle of his own.... Down a generous tip and head out the door few missteps along the.... They eluded the posses included within the Handbook of Texas Online are in accordance with Title 17.... About wishing both my parents and grandmother had told me Virginian in a gunfight his. Still legal in Texas this side of the week Texas for cattle rustling but that the had... Told him that I was ready to go for the big cattlethe large heifers and steershis Best tool was hanging! No matter how pleasant he may be the Wild West of the auction barns, so he and! Elections, 2022, Tuesday unanimously voted to enhance Penalties for theft of a single head of cattle these in! The cowboys on horseback clicked tongues and shouted Hey-hah and steershis Best tool was a cattle trailer hitched the! Out, '' she said that if her son was given probation, I take back what I was,. Fact I dont ever remember them talking about much of anything is it still legal in Texas border.
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