S. A. RUSSELL - AUTOGRAPH LETTER SIGNED 10/16/1880 - HFSID 202657
Price: $625.00
LINCOLN COUNTY: S.A. RUSSELL
From the U.S. Indian Service to the Deputy Sheriff of Lincoln County 17 days
before Pat Garrett is elected Sheriff.
ALS: "S.A. Russell", 2p, 7¾x9¾, front and verso.
United States Indian Service, Miscalero Agency, N.M., South Fork, 1880
October 16. To D.M. Easton, Esq., Deputy Sheriff, Lincoln Co. In
part: "I have the honor to represent (and to submit any evidence observed
of the truth of my statement) that I have not now, and have not at anytime since
the decease of the late John Ryan, or at the time of his decease, any property
any property or valuable of any kind or character whatever
except one looking glass, left with me by him, and at his request for safe
keeping, and which is at your service. That I have not at any time claimed
ownership in whole or in part of the buildings now occupied by me as Agency
buildings-nor received any rent or benefit whatever from
the use of said buildings except their occupancy as an Agent of the
Government...It will put me to serious inconvenience and heavy expense to attend
court...I respectfully, but earnestly request to be released from any further
connection with any suit or suits, growing out of the estate or business of the
late John Ryan." Written to Lincoln County, the seat where the
famous "Lincoln County War" took place between 1876 and 1878. Two factions
of cattlemen, with Major L.G. Murphy on one side and John Chisum and Alexander
McSween on the other, settled their differences in July 1878 in the town of
Lincoln. William Bonney (Billy the Kid) was a prominent figure in the struggle,
defending Chisum's side. Civil War General Lew Wallace was appointed Governor
because of the Lincoln tensions. Bonney was jailed in Lincoln after surrendering
in March of 1879, but he escaped. Lawman PAT GARRETT was elected Sheriff of
Lincoln County on November 2, 1880, just 17 days after Russell wrote this
letter. On December 21, 1880, Billy the Kid was taken prisoner. After
escaping in April 1881, Billy was shot dead by Garrett in July. Easton, the
recipient of this letter, was probably in charge until the election of Sherrif
Pat Garrett. Mescalero is approximately 30 miles from Lincoln, New Mexico.
New Mexico became a state in 1912. Two file holes at top blank margin, slight
separation at edge of folds. Fine condition.
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