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S. A. RUSSELL - AUTOGRAPH LETTER SIGNED 10/16/1880 - HFSID 202657

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.

Price: $625.00

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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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