Albert Gallatin Boyce, Jr.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boyce%E2%80%93Sneed_Feud

http://untpress.unt.edu/catalog/3083

The Boyce–Sneed Feud was a conflict in early twentieth century Texas between two wealthy cattlemen: John Beal Sneed and Albert Boyce, Jr. It began in late 1911, when Mrs. Lena Snyder Sneed left her husband, John, for a relationship with Boyce. Sneed sought revenge for the sake of his honor and his home, which resulted in the deaths of eight men in less than one year.

On September 14, 1912, Sneed attacked Boyce in front of the Polk Street Methodist Church, shooting him three times with a shotgun. Boyce was killed before he could defend himself. Sneed then walked to the courthouse and surrendered to the Potter County sheriff. One of the witnesses who watched as Sneed surrendered was the young school teacher Georgia O'Keeffe.

Sneed was retried for killing Boyce, Sr. before also being tried for killing the latter's son. He was acquitted both times, with the juries declaring the shootings justifiable homicides. Sneed became somewhat of a folk hero among Texans, but newspaper reporters from outside of the state regarded the shootings as cold-blooded murder. When reporters demanded a reason for the acquittal in the murder of Al Boyce, Jr., the jury foreman, James D. Crane, responded by saying; "The best answer is because this is Texas. We believe [that] in Texas a man has the right and the obligation to safeguard the honor of his home, even if he must kill the person responsible."