what was the name of the lawyer for john tunstall

by Juliet Stamm 8 min read

Alexander McSween

Who is John Tunstall?

John Henry Tunstall (6 March 1853 – 18 February 1878) was an English-born rancher and merchant in Lincoln County, New Mexico, United States. He competed with the Irish Catholic merchants, lawmen, and politicians who ran the town of Lincoln and the county.

Was John Tunstall murdered in the Lincoln County War?

John Tunstall – Murdered in the Lincoln County War. John Henry Tunstall (1853-1878) – Born in England on March 6, 1853, Tunstall emigrated to Victoria, British Columbia, Canada in 1872, where he worked at the Turner, Beeton & Tunstall, a business in which his father was a partner.

Why did William Tunstall get shot?

When Tunstall refused to surrender the horses, Lincoln County Sheriff, William Brady, formed a posse led by Deputy William Morton to seize them. After protesting the presence of the posse on his land, Tunstall was shot in the head on February 18, 1878.

What did Billy the Kid say about John Tunstall?

Billy the Kid was deeply affected by the murder, claiming that Tunstall was one of the only men that treated him like he was “free-born and white.” At Tunstall’s funeral, Billy swore: “I’ll get every son-of-a-bitch who helped kill John if it’s the last thing I do.”

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Did Billy the Kid work for Henry Tunstall?

One of Tunstall's employees was the 18-year-old William Bonney (né Henry McCarty, aka William Henry Antrim, aka El Chivato, 1859-1881), who was later dubbed "Billy the Kid" when leading a gang of his own.

Who shot Alex McSween?

During the excitement of the roof crashing in, he rushed out with two pistols blazing. Bob Beckwith, whose shot had killed McSween, was killed by one flying bullet and two others were wounded. The Kid, with bullets whizzing all around him, made his escape."

Who shot John Tunstall?

On 18th February, 1878, John Tunstall was killed by William Morton, Jesse Evans and Tom Hill. This incident started the Lincoln County War. Billy the Kid joined the Regulators, a group that supported Alexander McSween. It was claimed that Tunstall had been murdered on the orders of James Dolan.

What happened to Murphy in the Lincoln County Wars?

Jack Palance portrayed Murphy in the 1988 film Young Guns. Murphy's death was changed to him being killed at the end of the Battle of Lincoln after the Regulators escape.

What started the Lincoln County War?

When Tunstall refused to surrender the horses, Lincoln County Sheriff, William Brady, formed a posse led by deputy William Morton to seize them. After protesting the presence of the posse on his land, Tunstall was shot in the head on February 18, 1878. This incident started what became known as the Lincoln County War.

What did Billy the Kid do in the Lincoln County War?

Billy the Kid—emerged from the Lincoln County War as an outlaw with two arrest warrants for murder against his name. The Lincoln County War of 1878 was really a battle fought between two business factions. Nowadays the weapons in such a contest would be advertising, pricing and shopping convenience.

Where was John Tunstall's ranch?

Englishman John Henry Tunstall came to New Mexico Territory in 1876, seeking his fortune. He ran his cattle ranch on the Rio Feliz, some 30 miles from Lincoln, and established his mercantile store and bank in town.

Was there a John Chisum?

John Simpson Chisum (August 16, 1824 – December 22, 1884) was a wealthy cattle baron in the American West in the mid-to-late 19th century. He was born in Hardeman County, Tennessee, and moved with his family to the Republic of Texas in 1837, later finding work as a building contractor.

Who killed Murphy?

Jozef PuskaJozef Puska, 31, charged with murder of Ashling Murphy.

Who were the members of the Lincoln County Regulators?

Known membersBilly the Kid.Charlie Bowdre.Richard M. Brewer – the first leader.Henry Newton Brown.Roscoe Rustling Bob Bryant.Jose Chavez y Chavez.Frank Coe.George Coe.More items...

How did the Santa Fe Ring end?

Maney was arrested, and stood trial represented by several prominent attorneys. The prosecutor in the case was Santa Fe Ring member Thomas B. Catron, and Maney was acquitted.

Who killed John Tunstall?

Adding fuel to the fire, it was rumored that Tunstall had been murdered on the orders of James Dolan and Lawrence Murphy.

Where did John Tunstall live?

Born in England on March 6, 1853, Tunstall emigrated to Victoria, British Columbia , Canada in 1872, where he worked at the Turner, Beeton & Tunstall, a business in which his father was a partner. Four years later; however, Tunstall moved to the United States with thoughts of becoming a sheep rancher. He first investigated land in California but ...

What did Murphy and Dolan do to get Tunstall out of business?

Alarmed by Tunstall’s plans, Murphy & Dolan attempted to put the pair out of business, harassing them legally and when that did not work, Dolan tried to goad Tunstall into a gunfight. However, Tunstall refused to use violence himself but soon recruited Billy the Kid, and a half dozen other tough cowboys to protect him and his investments. ...

Where did Tunstall ranch?

After talking to McSween, Tunstall was convinced that there were profits to be made in Lincoln County and soon began ranching there. The Murphy & Dolan Mercantile in Lincoln, New Mexico would later become the Lincoln County Courthouse.

Who was the Sheriff of Lincoln County who seized the horses?

When Tunstall refused to surrender the horses, Lincoln County Sheriff, William Brady, formed a posse led by Deputy William Morton to seize them.

Early Life

John Tunstall was born in London, England to a somewhat wealthy family. His father was a businessman who provided a good life for his children and had interests in Canada.

Murder

John Tunstall’s business put him into conflict with many powerful men. These men held influence over the political, economic, and judicial structure that ruled New Mexico Territory. He was in a lose-lose situation.

Aftermath

After the formation of the Regulators many of Tunstall’s enemies were tracked down and killed. Some of the Regulators also lost their life to the law.

What happened to Tunstall in the saddle?

The bullet struck Tunstall in the chest and knocked him from the saddle. Another member of the posse retrieved Tunstall’s gun and then shot the young rancher in the back of the head. Whatever life left in Tunstall oozed out along with his blood, soaking the ground around him.

When did John Tunstall arrive in New Mexico?

Wealthy and adventurous, Tunstall arrived in New Mexico Territory in 1876 with entrepreneurial dreams and a burning ambition to achieve success on the wide open range of Lincoln County, an area populated by cattle ranches, mining camps, and railroad towns.

Who were the four gunfighters in the Tunstall shooting?

On the morning of the shooting, the four Tunstall gunfighters—Billy the Kid, Dick Brewer, John Middleton, and Rob Widenmann —watched the posse approach Tunstall, who decided to try to reason with the men. With no warning, one of the men in the posse fired. The bullet struck Tunstall in the chest and knocked him from the saddle.

Who ordered the Murphy Dolan case?

The ruling, ordered by Judge Warren Bristo l , a friend of the Murphy-Dolan group, fanned the flames of discontent. Some historians suggest such dubious action required cooperation from Governor Sam Axtell, along with the district attorney, and the sheriff.

Who refused to turn tail and run?

But, one of the men—John Tunstall— refused to turn tail and run. Tunstall, the 24-year old rancher the other men worked for, decided to stand his ground.

Who was the leader of the anti-House contingent?

The ranchers who struggled to pay back the loans suffered severe setbacks when The House foreclosed on many of them. When cattle baron John Chisum and attorney Alexander McSween objected to the Dolan-Murphy monopoly and mounted a direct challenge to The House, Tunstall joined them. He became, in effect, the leader of the anti-House contingent.

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