On November 27th, a posse of White Oaks citizens under command of Jim Carlyle and Will Hudgens, rode to the Jim Greathouse road-ranch, about forty miles north, arriving there before daylight. Their horses were secreted, and they made breastworks of logs and brush, so as to cover the ranch house, which was known to be a rendezvous of the “Kid’s” gang.
After daylight the cook came out of the house with a nosebag and ropes to hunt the horses which had been hobbled the evening before.
This cook, Steck, was captured by the posse behind the breastworks. He confessed that the “Kid” and his gang were in the house.
Now Steck was sent to the house with a note to the “Kid” demanding his surrender. The reply he sent back by Steck read: “You can only take me a corpse.”
The proprietor of the ranch, Jim Greathouse, accompanied Steck back to the posse behind the logs.
Jimmie Carlyle suggested that he go to the house unarmed and have a talk with the “Kid.” Will Hudgens wouldn’t agree to this until after Greathouse said he would remain to guarantee Carlyle’s safe return. That if the “Kid” should kill Carlyle, they could take his life.
A time limit was set for Carlyle’s return, or Greathouse would be killed. This was written on a note and sent by Steck to the “Kid.”
When Carlyle entered the saloon, in the front part of the log building, the “Kid” greeted him in a friendly manner, but seeing his gloves sticking out of Carlyle’s coat pocket, he grabbed them, saying: “What in the h—l are you doing with my gloves?” Of course this brought back the misery he had endured without gloves after the posse raided their camp at Coyote Spring.
Here he invited Carlyle up to the bar to take his last drink on earth—as he said he intended to kill him when the whiskey was down.
After Carlyle had drained his glass the “Kid” pulled his pistol and told him to say his prayers before he fired.