and Sheriff Clark, resulting in the death of Beard. Cooley's men, including Johnny Ringo, then killed Cheney at his home, who had led Beard and Gladden into the ambush. Hoerster was killed as he rode past the Mason barber shop by Scott Cooley, Gladden and Bill Coke. The next day, Coke was captured and killed by a Mason posse at John Gamel's. Texas Rangers arrive Under orders from Governor Richard Coke, Major Jones of the Texas Rangers arrived on September 28, with ten men from Company D (Cooley's old unit) and thirty men from Company A, his escort under Captain Ira Long. Jones promptly sent scouts looking for Cooley but without result after two weeks. The remaining justice of the peace, Wilson Hey, issued warrants for Sheriff Clark and others, who were arrested, and although the charges did not stick, Clark did resign his office and was never seen again. Major Jones' scouts continued to seek Cooley and his gang to no avail, which prompted Jones to confront his Rangers with the opportunity for those in sympathy with Cooley to "step out of the ranks", of which fifteen did. The remaining Rangers captured Gladden and Ringo. In November, Scott Cooley's gang killed Charley Bader at his place, and Peter Bader soon met the same fate. At the end of December 1875, Cooley and Ringo were arrested by Sheriff A.J. Strickland for threatening the life of Burnet County Deputy Sheriff John J. Strickland. They later escaped from the Lampasas County jail with the help of forty "Helping Hands". Aftermath The summer of 1876 was another period of terror and lawlessness before Cooley died, either by poison after dining at the Nimitz Hotel in Fredericksburg or by "brain fever" or due to previous wounds. Johnny Ringo left the state for the Arizona Territory, where he again earned a reputation as a cattle rustler and criminal, and George Gladden was imprisoned for the murder of Peter Bader. On January 21, 1877, the Mason County Courthouse was burned to the ground and the official records of the Mason County War were destroyed. References External links The Mason County War Mason County War The Mason County War, Mason County, Texas Mason County War, Texas Online Feuds in Texas 1875 in the United States Mason County, Texas Internal wars of the United States