The party started out about 10 A. M. from Roswell. About 4 P. M., Martin Chavez of Picacho, arrived in Roswell and reported to Ash Upson that the posse and their prisoners had quit the main road to Lincoln and had turned off in the direction of Agua Negra, an unfrequented watering place. This move satisfied the postmaster that the doom of Morton and Baker was sealed.
On March the eleventh, Frank McNab, one of the Bruer posse, rode up to the post-office and dismounted. Mr. Upson expressed surprise and told him that he supposed he was in Lincoln by this time. Now McNab confessed that Morton, Baker and McClosky were dead.
Later, Ash Upson got the particulars from “Billy the Kid” of the killing.
The “Kid” and Charlie Bowdre were riding in the lead as they neared Blackwater Spring. McClosky and Middleton rode by the side of the two prisoners. The balance of the posse followed behind.
Finally Brown and McNab spurred up their horses and rode up to McClosky and Middleton. McNab shoved a cocked pistol at McClosky’s head saying: “You are the s— of a b— that’s got to die before harm can come to these fellows, are you?”
Now the trigger was pulled and McClosky fell from his horse, dead, shot through the head.
“Billy the Kid” heard the shot and wheeled his horse around in time to see the two prisoners dashing away on their mounts. The “Kid” fired twice and Morton and Baker fell from their horses, dead. No doubt it was a put up job to allow the “Kid” to kill the murderers of his friend Tunstall, with his own hands.
The posse rode on to Lincoln, all but McNab, who returned to Roswell. The bodies of McClosky, Morton and Baker were left where they fell. Later they were buried by some sheep herders.
Thus ends the first chapter of the bloody Lincoln County war.