After the battle at Blazer’s mill, the Coe brothers joined issues with “Billy the Kid” and fought other battles against the Murphy-Dolan faction. In one battle Frank Coe was arrested and taken to the Lincoln jail. Through the aid of friends he made his escape.
Now that their lawful leader, Dick Bruer, was in his grave, the posse returned to Lincoln. Here they formed themselves into a band, without lawful authority, to avenge the murder of Tunstall, until not one was left alive. By common consent, “Billy the Kid” was appointed their leader.
In Lincoln, lived one of “Billy the Kid’s” enemies, J. B. Mathews, known as Billy Mathews. While he had taken no part in the killing of Tunstall, he had openly expressed himself in favor of Jimmie Dolan and Murphy, and against the other faction.
On the 28th day of March, Billy Mathews, unarmed, met the “Kid” on the street by accident. Mathews started into a doorway, just as the “Kid” cut down on him with a rifle. The bullet shattered the door frame above his head.
Major William Brady, a brave and honest man, was the sheriff of Lincoln County. He was partial to the Murphy-Dolan faction, and this offended the opposition. He held warrants for “Billy the Kid” and his associates, for the killing of Morton, Baker, and Roberts.
On the first day of April, 1878, Sheriff Brady left the Murphy-Dolan store, accompanied by George Hindman and J. B. Mathews to go to the Court House and announce that no term of court would be held at the regular April term.
The sheriff and his two companions carried rifles in their hands, as in those days every male citizen who had grown to manhood, went well armed.
The Tunstall and McSween store stood about midway between the Murphy-Dolan store and the Court House.
In the rear of the Tunstall-McSween store, there was an adobe corral, the east side of which projected beyond the store building, and commanded a view of the street, over which the sheriff had to pass. On the top of this corral wall, “Billy the Kid” and his “warriors” had cut grooves in which to rest their rifles.
As the sheriff and party came in sight, a volley was fired at them from the adobe fence. Brady and Hindman fell mortally wounded, and Mathews found shelter behind a house on the south side of the street.