Montana oil and mining journal. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1931-1953, 1941-05-17

of omen warfare when Billy the Kid
arrived in Lincoln county. He was
nearly at his physical growth at the
time. standing about feet "a inches
and weighing 1876 pounds. Always sngnt
and slender. a hard rider and active
as cat, he did not live long enough
to take on weight. His hair was light
brown; his eyes blue-gray. His race was
rather long, his chin narrow and long
and his front teeth were trifle prom
inent.
Worked As COwpuncher
The Kid went to work tor. Jonn
Chisum as a cowpuncher, and II Is
known that when he left his service
he Cherished a grudge against the
cattleman. He then got employment
with a young Englishman, J. Il. Iun-
stall to whom he took a great liking.
At this time Chisum'S right hand
man was Alexander A. McSween, a
LAWYER. TlnstalI formed a partnership
with McSWeen in the banking and
mercantile business, and he also START
ed a cattle ranch of his own. Being
thus associated with the Chlsum rae
ton, he won the enmiCy OF Malor
Murphy. who had by now gained much
power. Murphy, as the result OF some
legal encounter with McSween, secured
a writ of attachment on the latter s
property, and sent out a posse, which
claimed legal authority, to levy on Nc
Sween,s cattle. Members of this posse,
meeting T1lnstall alone on the road,
killed him in a most brutal manner.
This act was the beginning OF the
Lincoln county war.
Billy the Kid, hating Chisum, never
theleSs ranged himself with Chlsum's
lieutenant. McSWeen, in the feud, and
swore to avenge TInstalps death by
killing every member of the posse that
had murdered his friend. Tunstalls
foreman. Dick Brewer, became leader
of the McSWeen fighting men, and
Billy the Kid was his chief lieutenant.
They organized band and started for
Murphy's range to seek revenge on MN
and his friends. On the way they came
across a party Of five men, Two OF
whom. Morton and Baker, had been
n present at the killing of Tunstall. The
pair surrendered to Brewer on prom
Use of safety, and were held for time
at Roswell.
Kid Shoots Prisoners
The Kid had not forgotten his VOW
to XIII all Of Tunstalls slayers, but he
bided his time. In the posse under
Brewer was one, McClosky, who had
promised the prisoners, Morton and
Baker. his protection. On the trail be-
tween Roswell and Aqua Negra, q
member of the posse, Joe McNab,
turned suddenly on McCloSky and shot
him dead. The two captives, fearing
the worst, threw themselves from their
horses and fell ON their knees, begging
to be spared. The Kid then shot them
both and their dead bodies were left
on the plain.
A term of the circuit court was to
be held at Lincoln. The sheriff, Brady,
was on his way to the courthouse TO
open court and adjourn it when he
fell dead under a volley fired from
ambush by the Kid and five OF his
men. A deputy sheriff was also killed.
Stage Pitched Battle
Three months later, IN July, 1873,
the Kid and his gang were rounded
I'D at the McSween home at Lincoln,
there being a dozen white desperadoes
and some Mexicans in their party. In
two other dwellings down the street
40 Mexicans, also identified with the
McSween party, likewise barricaded
Themselves. At once the Murphy forces
surrounded the McSween house and q
pitched battle began, the Kid and his
men firing from the windows and from