Santa Fe daily New Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1885-1897, 1895-04-11
TOM TOBIN'S TALE.
A Thrilling Early Day Adventure
Death of Two Famous Desper-
adoes-Reward Money.

An incident of the upper Rio Grande
valley IN early days, the killing of the
Espinosa brothers, attracted renewed at
tention recently on account of the pres
entation of claim in the state legisla-
ture by John McCannon. Concerning
his claim, Tom Tobin, of the San Luis
valley, we'll known to all old timers here,
and who has for these thirty years had
the credit for killing the assassins, writes
the following letter to the Independent
journal of Alamosa:
Fort Garland, Mch. 81, 1S95.-In an
swer to certain article in the Pay Streak
by John McCannon, I wish to say few
words. He says that at every session of the
legislature have claimed reward of
$4,000 offered by Governor Evans for the
capture of Felipio Nerio Espinosa and
companion. Such ia not the truth.
He also says that ask the reward falsely
and that I am not the captor of Espinosa
and companion, and that did not render
any service toward the capture of these
men. I again say that it is not the truth.
I will now make true statement of the
killing of Espinosa and companion.
In the year of 1868, September s, a man
named Philbrook and Mexican woman
named Sanchez we're coming from Trim
idad into the San Luis valley. They
were riding in buggy drawn by two
mules. In the mountains on Sangre de
Cristo creek they were fred on by Els.
pinosa and companion, wounding one of
the mules. They drove away as fast as
they could but the wounded mule
soon dropped dead. The assassins then
killed the other mule. Philbrook escaped
by running and came to Fort Garland
without hat, coat or boots, the blood
streaming from his blistered feet. The
woman was taken prisoner by the assas-
sins and outraged. General Tappan was
then in command at Fort Garland. Phil
brook reported what had happened to
the colonel, who Immediately sent to my
ranch for me. l went to see him and he
told me what had happened. He then
asked me if would GO and capture or
kill these desperadoes. The woman had
in the meantime escaped from the assas-
sins. She was found by some soldiers
and brought to Fort Garland. She said
the assassins were the Espinosas.
I started out in search of the bandits
September Z. Lieut.. d. w. Baldwin went
also with some soldiers, but he had moth
ing at all to do with me or l with him.
On the fourth day out I struck fresh
trail of the assassins about 8 o'clock in
the morning, took a Mexican boy I
had with me and we began to trail them.
Two soldiers followed up voluntarily by
trailing us. came on the camp of the
assassins about o'clock. l shot and
killed Espinosa, and his companion
started to run. The two soldiers and
Mexican boy shot at him and missed. I
then shot at long range and broke the
assassin's back, just as he was going into
a quaking ash grove. I cut off the as
sasslns' heads, placed them in sack, and
then went TO their camp and got some
letters, diary and some papers.
On the 18th of September I brought
their heads and turned them over to Col.
Tappan. After the capture and Lieut..
Baldwin met and camped together that
night, and we came into Fort Garland to-
gether the next day. After being in Fort
Garland few hours went to Col. Tap
pans quarters. There he had told me
that he had seen in the Rocky Mountain
News that Gov. Evans had offered re-
ward of $4,000 for the capture of the two
Espinosas. This is the reason I claim
the reward. 1t was only $4,000 and not
$4,000.
l claim $4,000 and no more. Up to
date have received $1,000, and l can
not see wherein am wrong in claiming
the full amount. As nm really the
captor of the two men l still claim 81 900
due me.
These are the facts as l know them.
If any one doubts them I can refer him
to Col. Tappan, Lieut.. D. W. Baldwin,
Col. Shoup, Judge Wells of Canon City,
Fred Meyer of Fort Garland. Mr.. John
McCannon wants to wrong me or has
been wrongfully informed.
Yours respectfully,
r. T. TOBTN