On arriving in Lincoln with his posse, Turner was joined by Sheriff Peppin and his deputies, and they made the “Big House,” as the Murphy-Dolan store was called, their headquarters.
For three days shots were fired back and forth from the buildings, which were far apart.
On the morning of July 19th, 1878, Marion Turner concluded to take some of his men to the McSween residence and demand the surrender of the “Kid” and his “warriors.” With Turner were his business partner, John A. Jones and eight other fearless men.
At that moment the “Kid” and party were in a rear room holding a consultation, otherwise some of the advancing party might have been killed.
On reaching the thick adobe wall of the building, through which portholes had been cut, Turner and his men found protection against the wall between these openings.
When the “Kid” and party returned to the port-holes they were hailed by Turner, who demanded their surrender, as he had warrants for their arrest.
The “Kid” replied: “We, too, hold warrants for you and your gang, which we will serve on you, hot from the muzzles of our guns.”
About this time Lieut. Col. Dudley, of the Ninth Cavalry, arrived from Ft. Stanton with a company of infantry and some artillery.
Planting his cannons midway between the belligerent parties, Col. Dudley proclaimed that he would turn his guns loose on the first of the two, who fired over the heads of his command.
Despite this warning, shots were fired back and forth, but no harm was done.