The Horrell Wars: Feuding in Texas and New Mexico

Introduction

Introduction By feud standards, the Horrell-Higgins feud was a short lived affair spanning only a few months in the late 1870s. Unlike west Texas’ JohnsonSims feud that occurred from 1916 to 1918, it occupies no unique place as Texas’ last feud. Nor was it a major conflict like the Sutton-Taylor War that had its origins in Reconstruction animosities and lasted for decades. It was not as bitter as the Hoo Doo War that began with cattle and an underlying ethnic prejudice that evolved into an ongoing blood bath of revenge. Considered strictly in terms of body count, it was a minor affair, one that could easily be overlooked or relegated to a few paragraphs of Texas history. The feud had no long-term effects. Yet it remains, a persistent exclamation point in the decades following the events while other feuds, far more violent, remain obscure. The question is why. In the decades since the feud, men have claimed, rightly and wrongly, to have been involved in the conflict. One historian theorized that feudist John Ringo associated with the Horrell brothers. Other families claimed involvement, in one case swelling the body count beyond what the feud claimed. It remains a fascinating aspect of Texas history, but the answer is not in the feud but with the Horrell brothers themselves. xvi The Horrell Wars The Horrell family is unique in feud history. The most common view today is that the Horrells were savage men, given to violence. Their record from 1873 onward provides ample fuel for this conclusion. In both Texas and New Mexico numerous acts of violence can be laid both at their feet and with those men aligned with them. Writers prone to oversimplification have characterized them as killers sans redeeming qualities . The reality is more complex. In the years following their deaths, the Horrells have been discussed in many forums, including at least one comic book. Most recently Frederick Nolan’s Bad Blood: The Life and Times of the Horrell Brothers, published in 1994, documented the family through both the Horrell War in New Mexico and the Horrell-Higgins feud. Equally important is Bill O’Neal’s The Bloody Legacy of Pink Higgins: A Half Century of Violence in Texas, an important biography of the Texas gunman published in 1999. These books, firmly grounded in factual history and absent the preconceived agendas that have recently begun to invade the genre, are important contributions to western history. While researching this book, a number of factors became clear. None of those engaged in the conflicts is above reproach. The Horrells carried violence with them in both Texas and New Mexico, and at times they stood behind the guns of outlaws. Pink Higgins was a member of the despicable Ku Klux Klan and was later convicted of cattle theft. All of them were family men, loyal to their families and friends. In short, they were people, warts and all, not stereotypical figures or evil incarnate. The author’s interest in the Horrells arose while researching an intended biography of Thomas Williams, one of the often-maligned State Police. Even after four decades of studying feuds, both foreign and domestic, the abrupt explosion of violence exhibited by the Horrells remains as intriguing as the passions, then and now, that they excited among allies, enemies, historians, and writers. Introduction xvii As with any work of history, this book owes a great deal to a number of people. I have been fortunate to walk among giants in the field of western history. A special thanks to Bill O’Neal whose ancestor, Jesse Standard , was a Higgins ally during the Horrell-Higgins feud. Bill provided insights about Pink Higgins and shared his knowledge and files, but also graciously authored the foreword to this book. Thanks are also due to long-time friend Chuck Parsons who not only persuaded me to pursue this book but also taught me years ago that one should engage in no less than three or four books at one time. Rick Miller, historian, friend of the first rank and soul brother, provided constant encouragement and, inevitably the daily “care packages” of newspaper clippings and other material that he found. He and noted historian Bob Alexander shared their files and a wealth of legal knowledge necessary to understand some of the legal intricacies of the Horrell wars. Doug Dukes, friend and historian, also provided his legal knowledge. Any errors...