The Horrell Wars: Feuding in Texas and New Mexico

Afterword: “A Shocking Murder”

Afterword: “A Shocking Murder” Any hopes that 1879 would prove less violent than the previous year were swiftly dashed. Word arrived in Texas that George Doolittle had been killed in the Indian Territory by Bluford Cox.1 On February 13 it was reported that Mrs. Smith, wounded during the Stull murder, was likely to die. “Mrs. Smith, the lady who was so desperately wounded in the Stull murder, it is feared will not recover. We learn that her leg will have to be amputated.”2 On April 3, 1879, James Collier, a Horrell cousin, was called from his home and lynched for no discernible motive. “Mr. Collier bore the reputation of being an honest, hard working man, and was withal a good and law-abiding citizen.” On his coat was a paper with the inscription, “This will be the fate of all who harbor horse thieves.”3 Four days later Bill Van Winkle was taken from his camp on Little Lucy Creek and shot to death.4 The motives for his murder are unknown, but he had played a small role in the Hoo Doo War.5 Other curious doings relative to the Vaughan murder also show up during this time period. John Holt, one of those accused by Nichols of murdering Vaughan, appeared in court on May 13 to answer charges of theft of cattle.6 Also having court cases pending against him at this time was another of the alleged trigger men in the Vaughan murder, John Dixon.7 Perhaps unsurprisingly, no posse swept down from Bosque County to net the pair. Sam Horrell, last survivor of his family, failed to appear on May 20 to answer the charges stemming from the gunfight in Lampasas two years earlier. Two months later came more news concerning the Babbs. 162 The Horrell Wars It is rumored here that two sons of the notorious Bill Babb had a difficulty with a man at a church near Turnersville, Coryell county, on Sunday, but no one was hurt. The community is excited over the matter and trouble is expected. The Babbs are preparing to leave for a home on the frontier.8 On the night of July 28, four men rode up to the home of Alex Campbell and inquired if two nephews of Sam Horrell, William and Augustus Kinchelo, were home. Perhaps recognizing either the men or their intent, Campbell’s stepsons dressed hurriedly and tried to slip out of the house unseen. The riders opened fire, killing William outright and wounding Gus in the wrist.9 The attack appears to have stemmed from a Kinchelo being involved in killing cattle for their hides in 1878.10 Sam Horrell had pulled his family out of Lampasas County, hoping no doubt to make a fresh start. On November 12, 1879, an alias capias warrant was issued for him in Lampasas in various causes.11 What the citizens of Lampasas did not know was that Sam Horrell had already had a confrontation with Ranger Sergeant Ed Hageman in October 1879. Hageman and his men caught up with Gus Stanley and Horrell, who had their guns drawn. After some conversation with the pair, Hageman let them depart unmolested.12 One fugitive from justice who was apprehended was Wash Short. Short was captured in Montague County in August of 1879. Short was placed under bond “to answer the charge of assault with intent to murder” Shade Denson. There were also three indictments for cattlestealing against him in Lampasas County.13 With the arrival of 1880 the hunt for Sam Horrell intensified. Ranger Lieutenant C. L. Nevill reported that on February 13 Sergeant L. B. Caruthers and four men from Company E came across two men “after rounding up Sam Horrell’s ranche.” The men took cover with rifles drawn. The pair demanded to know who they were and Nevill identified themselves as Texas Rangers. The pair offered no resistance. “The parties Afterword: “A Shocking Murder” 163 proved to be Horrell’s son, Will, and a young Stanley, neither of whom was wanted.14 During the pursuit Private H. B. Philpott veered off from the pursuit taking Private C. E. Robinson with him. Nevill reported their action on May 11.15 Philpott was reprimanded for “subversion of good order and military discipline.”16 Sam Horrell was living in Runnells County in 1880. The census shows Sam as a stock raiser, aged thirty-eight. With him...