The Lincoln County leader. [volume] (White Oaks, Lincoln County, N.M.) 1882-189?, 1888-09-08
GOOD-COOPER WAR.

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bout three o'cloek, lying OH tn,
White Sands. by his father and tn,
company of fifteen men who have
for the last two weeks been scour
ing the country in what seemed {
most discOuraglng and fruItless en-
deavor. When found it was hard
! ly recognizable having laid for two
weeks bleaching in the rays OF the
sun on the hot Hands, and eaten by
the coyotes until unrecognizable
there beng little lett but the skele-
ton, but identifable from the
height, Good being six feet six
inches, and the clothing and jewel
ry worn. His shirt was torn into
threads and his hat was missing.
Two bullet hales in the left temple
told the sad story of how he met his
uhtimely end. Near him lay his
revolver containing two empty
cartridges. After recovering the
body the party divided up and re-
turned to their homes. One divis-
ion consisting Of John Good and
his son Charles, his son-in-lawlIugh
Taylor, his nephew Ed. Good, E
G. Rucker, and Goods foreman,
George Swlgert took the ROAD to
the Malone's ranch. When they
arrived at the brow of the hill,
which is within three hundred feet
Of Malone's house, they were sud
denly confronted by a party OF
Cooper's men consisting OF Chero-
kee Bill, Altman, Earhart, Tom
Tucker and Oliver Lee. Both par
ties Immediately dlsmounted and
commenced firing which resulted
in the killing of two herses, and the
wounding of third. After about
a hundred shots had beeh fired they
remounted and seperated. FOrtu-
nately no one WAS injured, as tar as
could be ascertained. The Good
party returned to La Luz. In the
evening information was sent by
letter the Sheriff Ascarate, who lett
last Thursday morning tor the seat
of war, accompanied by posse of
twenty-five men. After arrivinga at
La Luz, where they were joined by
Il posse OF twenty-five more men,
Ascarate swero III E 9. Rucker as
deputy sheriff and gave him charge
Of the posse which was to pursue
and capture if possible the Cooper
crowd, while he himself in com
pany with deputy marshal Armilo
and posse proceeded after the body
of Walter Good, which was buried
the next day at La Luz. What
might have been another and most
tiendiSh murder came near beng
added to the calander, which has
dlsgraced this vicinity within the
last three months. a large supply
wagon was left at Malone's ranch
by John Good in charge of his son
IrvIn, lad Of II years, in com
pany with Il Mexican. While the
party were at the White SandsAlt-
man and Cherokee Bill rode mp to
where the wagon was standing, and
Bill seeing young Good said to Alt
man: Suppose we Kill him, Alt
manw Altman said "why do you
wish to do that" Bill answered.:
for the reason that he may grow
up to be an enemy of ours" Alt
man prevailed upon Bill not to in
iure him and thus another murder
was prevented and an innocent life
saved.
The house Of Perry Altman, one
of the Cooper party, was almost Ell
! -tirely consumed bv fire last Sunday
afternoon. 1t is believed by Goods
friends that it was done purposly to
prevent the discovery OF the mur-
der of Walter Good as dirt with
| blood mixed, as they claim, was dis
covered in the corral. This dirt has
been sent to Fort Stanton tor ana
lysization. The Good party now
believe that Walter was murdered
here and his body was kept IN the
house until night when it was car
ried to the White Sands, and the
house was then fired to prevent dis
cGvery. Seme four bullet hole
were discovered IN the boards O
the tence and hair, resembling tn,
/ color of Walters, near the blood
What adds suspicion to the matte
, is that plow and sewing machin
were discovered in the kitchen
, which is separated from the house
. and remained unconsumed by tn