History of 'Billy the Kid' Part 4

After the battle at Blazer's mill, the Coe brothers joined issues with "Billy the Kid" and fought other battles against the Murphy-Dolan faction.

In one battle Frank Coe was arrested and taken to the Lincoln jail.

Through the aid of friends he made his escape.

Now that their lawful leader, d.i.c.k Bruer, was in his grave, the posse returned to Lincoln. Here they formed themselves into a band, without lawful authority, to avenge the murder of Tunstall, until not one was left alive. By common consent, "Billy the Kid" was appointed their leader.

In Lincoln, lived one of "Billy the Kid's" enemies, J. B. Mathews, known as Billy Mathews. While he had taken no part in the killing of Tunstall, he had openly expressed himself in favor of Jimmie Dolan and Murphy, and against the other faction.

On the 28th day of March, Billy Mathews, unarmed, met the "Kid" on the street by accident. Mathews started into a doorway, just as the "Kid" cut down on him with a rifle. The bullet shattered the door frame above his head.

Major William Brady, a brave and honest man, was the sheriff of Lincoln County. He was partial to the Murphy-Dolan faction, and this offended the opposition. He held warrants for "Billy the Kid" and his a.s.sociates, for the killing of Morton, Baker, and Roberts.

On the first day of April, 1878, Sheriff Brady left the Murphy-Dolan store, accompanied by George Hindman and J. B. Mathews to go to the Court House and announce that no term of court would be held at the regular April term.

The sheriff and his two companions carried rifles in their hands, as in those days every male citizen who had grown to manhood, went well armed.

The Tunstall and McSween store stood about midway between the Murphy-Dolan store and the Court House.

In the rear of the Tunstall-McSween store, there was an adobe corral, the east side of which projected beyond the store building, and commanded a view of the street, over which the sheriff had to pa.s.s. On the top of this corral wall, "Billy the Kid" and his "warriors" had cut grooves in which to rest their rifles.

As the sheriff and party came in sight, a volley was fired at them from the adobe fence. Brady and Hindman fell mortally wounded, and Mathews found shelter behind a house on the south side of the street.

Ike Stockton, who afterwards became a killer of men, and a bold desperado, in northwestern New Mexico, and southwestern Colorado, and who was killed in Durango, Colorado, at that time kept a saloon in Lincoln, and was a friend of the "Kid's." He ran out of his saloon to the wounded officers.

Hindman called for water; Stockton ran to the Bonita river, nearby, and brought him a drink in his hat.

About this time, "Billy the Kid" leaped over the adobe wall and ran to the fallen officers. As he raised Sheriff Brady's rifle from the ground, J. B.

Mathews fired at him from his hiding place. The ball shattered the stock of the sheriff's rifle and plowed a furrow through the "Kid's" side, but it proved not to be a dangerous wound.

Now "Billy the Kid" broke for shelter at the McSween home. Some say that he fired a parting shot into Sheriff Brady's head. Others dispute it. At any rate both Brady and Hindman lay dead on the main street of Lincoln.

This cold-blooded murder angered many citizens of Lincoln against the "Kid" and his crowd. Now they became outlaws in every sense of the word.

From now on the "Kid" and his "warriors" made their headquarters at McSween's residence, when not scouting over the country searching for enemies, who sanctioned the killing of Tunstall.

Often this little band of "warriors" would ride through the streets of Lincoln to defy their enemies, and be royally treated by their friends.

Finally, George W. Peppin was appointed Sheriff of the County, and he appointed a dozen or more deputies to help uphold the law. Still bloodshed and anarchy continued throughout the County, as the "Kid's" crowd were not idle.

San Patricio, a Mexican plaza on the Ruidoso river, about eight miles below Lincoln, was a favorite hangout for the "Kid" and his "warriors," as most of the natives there were their sympathizers.

One morning, before breakfast, in San Patricio, Jose Miguel Sedillo brought the "Kid" news that Jesse Evans and a crowd of "Seven River Warriors" were prowling around in the hills, near the old Bruer ranch, where a band of the Chisum-McSween horses were being kept.

Thinking that their intentions were to steal these horses, the "Kid" and party started without eating breakfast. In the party, besides the "Kid,"

were Charlie Bowdre, Henry Brown, J. G. Skerlock, John Middleton, and a young Texan by the name of Tom O'Phalliard, who had lately joined the gang.

On reaching the hills, the party split, the "Kid" taking Henry Brown with him.

Soon the "Kid" heard shooting in the direction taken by the balance of his party. Putting spurs to his mount, he dashed up to Jesse Evans and four of his "warriors," who had captured Charlie Bowdre, and was joking him about his leader, the "Kid." He remarked: "We are hungry, and thought we would roast the 'Kid' for breakfast. We want to hear him bleat."

At that moment a horseman dashed up among them from an arroyo. With a smile, Charlie Bowdre said, pointing at the "Kid;" "There comes your breakfast, Jesse!"

With drawn pistol, "Old Gray" was checked up in front of his former chum in crime, Jesse Evans.

With a smile, Jesse remarked: "Well, Billy, this is a h--l of a way to introduce yourself to a private picnic party."

The "Kid" replied: "How are you, Jesse? It's a long time since we met."

Jesse said: "I understand you are after the men who killed that Englishman. I, nor none of my men were there."

"I know you wasn't, Jesse," replied the "Kid." "If you had been, the ball would have been opened before now."

Soon the "Kid" was joined by the rest of his party and both bands separated in peace.

CHAPTER VI.

"BILLY THE KID" AND GANG STAND OFF A POSSE AT THE CHISUM RANCH. A b.l.o.o.d.y BATTLE IN LINCOLN, WHICH LASTED THREE DAYS.

As time went on, Sheriff Peppin appointed new deputies on whom he could depend. Among these being Marion Turner, of the firm of Turner & Jones, merchants at Roswell, on the Pecos river.

For several years, Turner had been employed by cattle king John Chisum, and up to May, 1878 had helped to fight his battles, but for some reason he had seceded and became Chisum's bitter enemy.

Marion Turner was put in charge of the Sheriff's forces in the Pecos valley, and soon had about forty daring cowboys and cattlemen under his command. Roswell was their headquarters.

Early in July, "Billy the Kid" and fourteen of his followers rode up to the Chisum headquarters ranch, five miles from Roswell, to make that their rendezvous.

Turner with his force tried to oust the "Kid" and gang from their stronghold, but found it impossible, owing to the house being built like a fort to stand off Indians, but he kept out spies to catch the "Kid"

napping.

One morning, Turner received word that the "Kid" and party had left for Fort Sumner on the upper Pecos river. The trail was followed about twenty miles up the river, where it switched off towards Lincoln, a distance of about eighty or ninety miles.

The trail was followed to Lincoln, where it was found that "Billy the Kid" and gang had taken possession of McSween's fine eleven-room residence, and were prepared to stand off an army.

On arriving in Lincoln with his posse, Turner was joined by Sheriff Peppin and his deputies, and they made the "Big House," as the Murphy-Dolan store was called, their headquarters.

For three days shots were fired back and forth from the buildings, which were far apart.

On the morning of July 19th, 1878, Marion Turner concluded to take some of his men to the McSween residence and demand the surrender of the "Kid" and his "warriors." With Turner were his business partner, John A. Jones and eight other fearless men.

At that moment the "Kid" and party were in a rear room holding a consultation, otherwise some of the advancing party might have been killed.

On reaching the thick adobe wall of the building, through which portholes had been cut, Turner and his men found protection against the wall between these openings.

When the "Kid" and party returned to the port-holes they were hailed by Turner, who demanded their surrender, as he had warrants for their arrest.

The "Kid" replied: "We, too, hold warrants for you and your gang, which we will serve on you, hot from the muzzles of our guns."