A Tale of Two Pseudonyms

In May and June of 1878, there were (at least) two editorial accounts of the killing of Frank McNab and the subsequent skirmish in the town of Lincoln. Comparing these two editorials makes a good study in how "the news" was skewed in whichever direction the editors tended to favor at the time.

The first writer in question signed his name “Outsider,” and sent his account to the Mesilla Independent, which was published in the May 11th edition (Utley suspected that “Outsider” was the young man named Wolz mentioned in the article). The second writer called himself “El Gato” (the cat), and published his account in the Santa Fe Weekly New Mexican on June 1st. “Outsider’s” account is decidedly pro-McSween, while “El Gato’s” version of events favors the Murphy faction. I have spliced the two accounts together below (also editing slightly for spelling and flow – accounts are faithful to their sources):

Outsider: Frank McNab, Ab Saunders, and Frank Coe left the town of Lincoln for Coe & Saunders’ ranch, which was four miles below Joseph Storm’s place. El Gato: [William] Johnson and a posse of twenty-two men came from their ranches on the Pecos to Lincoln to report to our new and sufficient Sheriff, John Copeland, to aid and assist him in serving the warrants he held in his possession against the murderers of Brady, Hindman, Roberts and others. Johnson was one of Brady’s deputies, and held at the time, warrants for the arrest of a number of men, among others one for McNab. Outsider: When McNab, Coe, and Saunders approached Charles Fritz’s place, Coe, who was riding about 100 yards ahead of McNab and Saunders, saw some 20 horses standing about the place. El Gato: On attempting to arrest McNab, William Johnson and his men were fired upon. Outsider: As McNab, Coe, and Saunders approached the house, they were fired upon. El Gato: Returning fire, Johnson and his men concentrated their shooting almost entirely on McNab; he fell riddled with bullets. Frank Coe and Ab Saunders were captured, the latter severely wounded.

Outsider: Frank Coe was taken prisoner, [Johnson’s] party stating that they intended to keep him as a hostage. That party consisted of G.W. Peppin, J. Hurley, J.B. Mathews, R.W. Beckwith, J. Beckwith, Jack Long, John Galvin, B. Olinger, W. Olinger, L. Paxton, Pearce, Buck Powell, Joe, Nash, S. Perry, Tom Corcoran, Tom Green, Dick Lloyd, C. Morton, J. Colvin and some six or seven others whose names I have been unable to learn. El Gato: The prisoners, having in view the actions of their own party when they captured Morton and Baker, and fearing the just punishment of their crimes, begged like dogs for their lives. This, however, was unnecessary: their captors were no hired assassins fighting for pay. No, on the contrary, they are the men whose names head the tax list of this unfortunate county; men who leaving their families, their homes, and their properties, have come over a hundred and fifty miles, willing to sacrifice their lives, in order to restore peace to this distracted section of the Territory. Outsider: The party started for the town of Lincoln with the avowed intention of killing Patron, Montana, Ellis and McSween. The party reached the town of Lincoln. 18 of them surrounded the store of Isaac Ellis & Sons, and manifested an intention to attack it. 12 others proceeded to the house of Mr. T.B. Catron (Murphy’s old house) at the other end of the town and entered, against the protestations of Mr. Wolz, the young man in charge. They quartered themselves there and proceeded to make themselves at home.

El Gato: Johnson’s posse found Copeland, the new sheriff in town, carousing with the very men whom he was bound to arrest under writs issued by the court on indictments which even McSween’s grand jury were compelled to find. At this sight, the posse’s indignation knew no bounds, but with a praiseworthy desire to respect the law they sent to Copeland and placed their lives and services at his disposal should he attempt to do his duty and serve his warrants which he at that time carried in his pocket. Outsider: The citizens of Lincoln were advised of the condition of affairs and turned out to defend the town: they gained an advantageous position about halfway between the parties at Murphy’s and Ellis’ and succeeded in cutting off the latter from their horses. El Gato: Copeland immediately gathered McSween’s band of assassins and led them to the attack, having in the meantime sent for U.S. troops. Outsider: About noon a sharp firing opened on both sides in the lower part of the town. When the party at Murphy’s old place heard the firing, they mounted and attempted to join their companions in the lower part of the town. In this, they were defeated by a party of the citizens stationed near Baca’s house who opened fire upon them as soon as they came in sight, wounding two of them. They then crossed the river near Felipe Miranda’s house, took the mountains, and finally effected a junction with the party at Ellis’. They arrived too late: the Regulators had arrived and had the whole outfit surrounded, three of them were lying mortally wounded, and there was a fine prospect of the entire party being cleaned up, when to their great relief Lieutenant G.W. Smith galloped in town with 15 men of the 9th Cavalry.

El Gato: Johnson and his men, unwilling to fight the authorities and more unwilling to surrender to McSween butchers, retreated to the mountains until the arrival of the troops, when they immediately surrendered to Lieutenant G.W. Smith, 9th Cavalry. On their arrival at Fort Stanton they made affidavits and had warrants issued against the men who fired on them when they entered town. These warrants were issued by the Justice of the Peace at Blazer’s Mill, Mr. Eaton. Some of them were served nominally by Copeland with the assistance of the military, but in reality by the officers in command of the detachment. Copeland was compelled to accompany this expedition by the firm and determined action of General Dudley, commanding Fort Stanton, and this alone can account for the fact of his having once attempted to do his duty. When the day arrived for the trial of these cases, Mr. Eaton, from motives unknown to your correspondent, handed in his resignation and refused to try the cases. Both parties who had until now been under arrest were therefore released.