trange, complex character. He was
not a fighting man, and belonged anywhere in the world rather than on
the frontier of the bloody Southwest. His health was not good, and he
resolved to journey to New Mexico. He and his young bride started
overland, with a good team and conveyance, and reached the little
_placita_ of Lincoln, in the Bonito canon, March 15, 1875. Outside of
the firm of Murphy, Riley & Dolan, there were at that time but one or
two other American families. McSween started up in the practice of law.

There appeared in northern New Mexico at about this time an Englishman
by the name of J. H. Tunstall, newly arrived in the West in search of
investment. Tunstall was told that there was good open cattle range to
be had in Lincoln county. He came to Lincoln, met McSween, formed a
partnership with him in the banking and mercantile business, and,
moreover, started for himself, and altogether independently, a horse and
cattle ranch on the Rio Feliz, a day's journey below Lincoln. Now, King
Murphy, of Lincoln county, found a rival business growing up directly
under his eyes. He liked this no better than King Chisum liked the
little cow men on his flanks in the Seven Rivers country. Things were
ripening still more rapidly for trouble. Presently, the immediate cause
made its appearance.

There had been a former partner and friend of Major Murphy in the
post-tradership at Fort Stanton, Colonel Emil Fritz, who established the
Fritz ranch, a few miles below Lincoln. Colonel Fritz having amassed a
considerable fortune, concluded to return to Germany. He had insured his
life in the American Insurance Company for ten thousand dollars, and
had made a will leaving this policy, or the greater part of it, to his
sister. The latter had married a clerk at Fort Stanton by the name of
Scholland, but did not get along well with her husband. Heretofore no
such thing as divorce had been known in that part of the world; but
courts and lawyers were now present, and it occurred to Mrs. Scholland
to have a divorce. She sent to Mr. McSween for legal counsel, and for a
time lived in the McSween house.

Now came news of the death, in Germany, of Colonel Emil Fritz. His
brother, Charlie Fritz, undertook to look up the estate. He found the
will and insurance policy had been left with Major Murphy; but Major
Murphy, accustomed to running affairs in his own way, refused to give up
the Emil Fritz will, and forced McSween to get a court order ap