Ike Stockton, who afterwards became a killer of men, and a bold desperado, in northwestern New Mexico, and southwestern Colorado, and who was killed in Durango, Colorado, at that time kept a saloon in Lincoln, and was a friend of the “Kid’s.” He ran out of his saloon to the wounded officers. Hindman called for water; Stockton ran to the Bonita river, nearby, and brought him a drink in his hat.
About this time, “Billy the Kid” leaped over the adobe wall and ran to the fallen officers. As he raised Sheriff Brady’s rifle from the ground, J. B. Mathews fired at him from his hiding place. The ball shattered the stock of the sheriff’s rifle and plowed a furrow through the “Kid’s” side, but it proved not to be a dangerous wound.
Now “Billy the Kid” broke for shelter at the McSween home. Some say that he fired a parting shot into Sheriff Brady’s head. Others dispute it. At any rate both Brady and Hindman lay dead on the main street of Lincoln.
This cold-blooded murder angered many citizens of Lincoln against the “Kid” and his crowd. Now they became outlaws in every sense of the word.
From now on the “Kid” and his “warriors” made their headquarters at McSween’s residence, when not scouting over the country searching for enemies, who sanctioned the killing of Tunstall.
Often this little band of “warriors” would ride through the streets of Lincoln to defy their enemies, and be royally treated by their friends.
Finally, George W. Peppin was appointed Sheriff of the County, and he appointed a dozen or more deputies to help uphold the law. Still bloodshed and anarchy continued throughout the County, as the “Kid’s” crowd were not idle.
San Patricio, a Mexican plaza on the Ruidoso river, about eight miles below Lincoln, was a favorite hangout for the “Kid” and his “warriors,” as most of the natives there were their sympathizers.
One morning, before breakfast, in San Patricio, Jose Miguel Sedillo brought the “Kid” news that Jesse Evans and a crowd of “Seven River Warriors” were prowling around in the hills, near the old Bruer ranch, where a band of the Chisum-McSween horses were being kept.
Thinking that their intentions were to steal these horses, the “Kid” and party started without eating breakfast. In the party, besides the “Kid,” were Charlie Bowdre, Henry Brown, J. G. Skerlock, John Middleton, and a young Texan by the name of Tom O’Phalliard, who had lately joined the gang.