o county books were ever kept! McSween started the first set ever
known there.

At this time there was working for Tunstall on the Feliz ranch the noted
desperado, Billy the Kid, who a short time formerly had worked for John
Chisum. The latter at this stage of the advancing troubles, appears
rather as a third party, or as holding one point of a triangle, whose
other two corners were occupied by the Murphy and McSween factions.

Whether or not it was a legal posse which went out to serve the
attachment on the Tunstall cattle--or whether or not a posse was
necessary for that purpose--the truth is that a band of men, on February
13th, 1878, did go out under some semblance of the law and in the
interests of the Murphy people's claim. Some state that William S.
Morton, or "Billy" Morton, was chosen by Sheriff Brady as his deputy and
as leader of this posse. Others name different men as leaders.
Certainly, the band was suited for any desperate occasion. With it was
one Tom Hill, who had killed several men at different times, and who had
been heard to say that he intended to kill Tunstall. There was also
Jesse Evans, just in from the Rio Grande country, and, unless that were
Billy the Kid, the most redoubtable fighter in all that country. Evans
had formerly worked for John Chisum, and had been the friend of Billy
the Kid; but these two had now become enemies. Others of the party were
William M. Johnson, Ham Mills, Johnnie Hurley, Frank Baker, several
ranchers still living in that country, and two or three Mexicans. All
these rode across the mountains to the Ruidoso valley on their way to
the Rio Feliz. They met, coming from the Tunstall ranch, Tunstall
himself in company with his foreman, Dick Brewer, John Middleton and
Billy the Kid. When the Murphy posse came up with Tunstall, he was
alone. His men were at the time chasing a flock of wild turkeys along a
distant hillside. When called upon to halt, Tunstall did so, and then
came up toward the posse. "You wouldn't hurt me, boys, would you?" he
said, as he approached leading his horse. When within a few yards, Tom
Hill said to him, "Why, hello, Tunstall, is that you?" and almost with
the words fired upon him with his six-shooter and shot him down. Some
say that Hill shot Tunstall again, and a young Mexican boy called
Pantilon beat in his skull with a rock. They put Tunstall's hat under
his head and left him lying there beside his horse, which was also
killed. His folded coat w