About this item
When the gun smoke cleared, four men were found dead at the hardware store in a rural East Texas town. But this December 1934 shootout was no anomaly. San Augustine County had seen at least three others in the previous three years, and these murders in broad daylight were only the latest development in the decade-long rule of the criminal McClanahan-Burleson gang. Armed with handguns, Jim Crow regulations, and corrupt special Ranger commissions from infamous governors "Ma" and "Pa" Ferguson, the gang racketeered and bootlegged its way into power in San Augustine County, where it took up robbing and extorting local black sharecroppers as its main activity. After the hardware store shootings, white community leaders, formerly silenced by fear of the gang's retribution, finally sought state intervention.
About the Author
Dr. Jody Edward Ginn is the Executive Director of the Texas Rangers Heritage Center in Fredericksburg, a project of the Former Texas Rangers Association and Foundation--the oldest and official Texas Rangers alumni organization. Prior to becoming a professional historian, Ginn served in the U.S. Army and Reserves and spent fifteen years in the profession of law enforcement, serving as a patrol, civil, and warrants officer, investigator, and administrator. Ginn holds a Doctor of Philosophy in History from the University of North Texas, in addition to a Master of Arts in History (with a specialization in Public History) and a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice from Texas State University. Ginn received the Fred White, Jr. Research Fellowship in Texas History from the Texas State Historical Association in 2001 and 2002 and has produced several refereed publications, including one journal article, two anthology chapters, a co-authored book, and his first solo book that launched in July 2019. Ginn also works as a contract historical consultant, writer, and researcher on a variety of projects, including museums, books, educational and promotional films, and as an adjunct associate professor of history at Austin Community College. Most recently, he served as historical consultant for publicity on the blockbuster new Netflix Original Film, "The Highwaymen" (starring Kevin Costner, Woody Harrelson, Kathy Bates, and Kim Dickens) and has been quoted in USAToday, Time Magazine, the UK Daily Mirror, and Bustle.com.Read a recent article by Dr. Ginn: http://www.john-fusco.com/grapvine-the-easter-sunday-murders/
