Captain Trumbull readily gave his permission for Blawcyzk, McCue, and Flores to remain at Fort Griffin and testify at the courts-martial of the surviving members of Major Saunders’ renegade band of cavalry soldiers. In addition, the captain further ordered them to remain in Fort Griffin until the arrival of Sergeant Jim Huggins and his group of hand-picked Rangers from Company C.
Smoky and Rudy went out on some routine patrols while waiting for the Army trials to begin, and in the course of those made several arrests. Jim, unable to ride due to his wounds, spent the time caring for Sam or lazing in a chair in front of the hotel, soaking up the sunshine, chafing with impatience and becoming more frustrated at being laid up with each passing day. By the time the courts-martial began, Jim was champing at the bit to be back in the saddle.
With the testimony of the Rangers, Detective Wehner of the Texas Northern Railroad and Marshal Wood of Graham, along with that of several of the passengers from the last attempted train robbery, the outcome of the trials was a foregone conclusion.
Under oath, Corporal Sam Grestini related Major Thaddeus Saunders’ reason for turning outlaw.
“The major needed lots of money because he wanted to stake a big claim down along the Mexican border,” the cleanshaven young corporal explained to the spectators in the hushed chamber, as he sat with his back ramrod straight and his eyes staring straight ahead. “He said there’d be a place for each of us, and a good-sized share of some real big profits.”
“Profits from what?” Captain Robert Steele, the prosecutor from the judge advocate general’s office, queried.
“Running guns, moving stolen cattle, smuggling all sorts of contraband across the border .in both directions,” Grestini clarified. “Our jobs would be to guard and hold this ford across the Rio Grande which the major had scouted out. He said it was the best crossing for a hundred miles in all directions, and it was right in line with a hidden pass up into the Balcones. He claimed the spot was made to order for smuggling, and there’d be plenty of money in it for all of us.”
Colonel Thomas looked across the courtroom from where he sat behind a table, idly turning a stub of pencil in his hands. When he caught Blawcyzk’s gaze, he shook his head slightly as he pursed his lips. Almost imperceptibly Jim nodded at Thomas. He and the colonel evidently had the same thought, that it was far more likely once Major Saunders had amassed sufficient wealth he would have disposed of most, if not all, of the men he’d duped into following him and disappear into Mexico, or perhaps even somewhere in South America. Obviously Saunders had never had any intention of retiring on the small income a government pension would provide.
“Thank you, Corporal. That will be all,” Steele softly answered as Grestini concluded his testimony.
With the overwhelming evidence against them, none of the convicted men chose to appeal the guilty verdicts they received. Due to the enormity of their crimes, the judges of the military tribunal who had conducted the courts-martial sentenced each man to death by firing squad. One week after the trial, under a steady rain that turned Fort Griffin’s parade ground into a muddy quagmire, the sentences were carried out.