John Tunstall – Murdered in the Lincoln County War

The arid landscape of Lincoln County, New Mexico, in the late 1870s, was a crucible of ambition, greed, and violence. Within this volatile environment, the figure of John Henry Tunstall emerges, a young Englishman whose entrepreneurial spirit clashed head-on with the established power of the Murphy & Dolan Mercantile and Banking Company. This collision ignited the infamous Lincoln County War, a bloody conflict that etched its name into the annals of the American West. John Tunstall was at the heart of this conflict.

Born on March 6, 1853, in England, John Tunstall’s early life provided little indication of the dramatic role he would later play on the American frontier. In 1872, seeking opportunity and adventure, he emigrated to Victoria, British Columbia, Canada. There, he joined Turner, Beeton & Tunstall, a business enterprise where his father held a partnership. This initial foray into the world of commerce likely instilled in him the ambition and business acumen that would later define his actions in New Mexico.

Four years later, driven by the allure of the American West, Tunstall set his sights on a new venture: sheep ranching. His initial exploration led him to California, but the high cost of land proved prohibitive. Undeterred, he turned his gaze eastward, towards the territory of New Mexico, where land was more accessible and the promise of profit beckoned. He first arrived in Santa Fe, the territorial capital, a bustling hub of commerce and political intrigue. It was here that fate intervened, bringing him into contact with Alexander McSween, a local lawyer and cattle rancher who possessed intimate knowledge of Lincoln County’s economic landscape.

McSween painted a compelling picture of opportunity in Lincoln County, an area ripe for development but dominated by a single, powerful entity. Tunstall, ever the astute businessman, recognized the potential and, with McSween as his guide, ventured south to Lincoln County. He quickly established himself as a rancher, acquiring land and laying the foundation for a thriving enterprise.

However, the promise of prosperity in Lincoln County was tempered by the stark reality of the existing power structure. Lawrence Murphy and James Dolan, through their Murphy & Dolan Mercantile and Banking Company, wielded near-absolute control over the county’s economy. Their influence extended into the political sphere, granting them considerable sway over local governance. This monopolistic control stifled competition and limited opportunities for newcomers like Tunstall.

The Murphy & Dolan Mercantile was more than just a store; it was the lifeblood of the county. It controlled the supply of goods, extended credit to ranchers, and essentially dictated the terms of trade. This dominance left the local population vulnerable to exploitation and stifled economic growth. John Tunstall, with his entrepreneurial spirit, recognized the injustice of this situation and resolved to challenge the established order.

Tunstall and McSween, united by their shared vision of a more equitable economic landscape, decided to take direct action. They established a rival business, H.H. Tunstall & Company, strategically located near the Murphy & Dolan Mercantile in the heart of Lincoln. This bold move was a direct challenge to Murphy and Dolan’s dominance, a gauntlet thrown down in the dusty streets of Lincoln. The stage was set for a confrontation.

The audacity of Tunstall’s challenge sent shockwaves through the established power structure. Murphy and Dolan, accustomed to unchallenged authority, reacted swiftly and decisively. They initially attempted to undermine Tunstall and McSween’s business through legal maneuvering and bureaucratic harassment, leveraging their political connections to create obstacles and delays. However, Tunstall and McSween proved resilient, navigating the legal challenges and maintaining their commitment to their enterprise.

Frustrated by their inability to defeat Tunstall through legal means, Dolan resorted to more direct and provocative tactics. He attempted to goad Tunstall into a gunfight, hoping to eliminate him through violence. However, Tunstall, a man of business and not a gunslinger, refused to engage in such tactics. He understood that violence would only escalate the situation and jeopardize his long-term goals. John Tunstall believed in building a legitimate business, not winning a gunfight.

Recognizing the inherent dangers of his situation, Tunstall made a pragmatic decision. He hired a group of tough cowboys, including the notorious Billy the Kid, to protect himself, his property, and his business interests. These men, skilled with firearms and hardened by life on the frontier, served as a deterrent to potential violence and provided Tunstall with a measure of security in the increasingly volatile environment.

The simmering tensions finally boiled over in February 1878. Murphy and Dolan, seeking to cripple Tunstall financially, obtained a court order to seize some of his horses as payment for a disputed debt. When Tunstall refused to surrender the horses, Lincoln County Sheriff William Brady, a man widely perceived to be in the pocket of Murphy and Dolan, formed a posse led by Deputy William Morton to enforce the order.

On February 18, 1878, the posse confronted Tunstall and his men while they were moving cattle. A heated argument ensued, during which Tunstall protested the presence of the posse on his land and challenged the legality of their actions. The situation quickly deteriorated, and shots were fired. In the ensuing chaos, John Tunstall was shot in the head and killed.

The murder of John Tunstall was the spark that ignited the Lincoln County War, a brutal and protracted conflict that pitted rival factions against each other in a desperate struggle for control of the county. The war involved ranchers, businessmen, lawmen, and hired guns, and it left a trail of death and destruction in its wake.

The death of Tunstall had a profound impact on Billy the Kid, who had formed a close bond with the Englishman. Billy saw Tunstall as a mentor and a friend, a man who had treated him with respect and given him a sense of belonging. He was deeply affected by the murder, viewing it as a betrayal of justice and a personal loss.

In the aftermath of Tunstall’s death, Billy the Kid swore an oath of vengeance, vowing to avenge his friend’s murder by bringing those responsible to justice. He became a key figure in the Lincoln County War, leading a group of Regulators who sought to avenge Tunstall’s death and challenge the dominance of Murphy and Dolan.

The legacy of John Tunstall is inextricably linked to the Lincoln County War. While he may not have been a gunslinger or a legendary outlaw, his entrepreneurial spirit and his willingness to challenge the established power structure made him a catalyst for change in Lincoln County. His death ignited a conflict that reshaped the political and economic landscape of the region and cemented his place in the history of the American West.