Oliver Lee and his Trouble near El Paso

The Original stone for Rhodiaus in Concordia Cemetery

Well.. another Saturday morning.  And This one is another anniversary.  The Tulerosa Valley rustling troubles had found their way down to El Paso.  Charlie Rhodiaus and Matt Coffelt had gathered a herd of 25 to 30 head of cattle, and were driving them down towards Hueco Tanks, and further down to Pirate Island.  Unfortunately, they had gathered a few head of cattle belonging to Dog Canyon Rancher, Oliver Lee.  Originality from Texas, Lee and his half-brother had settled in the region in the mid 1880's.  At the time, the basin was lush, and many small ranchers were moving in, as well as farmers.  By the late 1880's the cyclic drought had hit, and hit hard. 

By February 1893 there was a financial panic brewing, and folks were doing what they had to do to keep their families fed.  This is what led Coffelt and Rhodiaus into re-appropriating other people’s cattle.  Just short of Hueco Tanks, the pair learned that the river was up, so the swung the herd west towards Smuggler’s Gap. (Todays’ Trans Mountain Road/Loop 375) 

Oliver Lee along with Bill McNew and Tom Tucker caught up with the herd near where the El Paso International Airport stands today.  When Lee turned to cut cattle from the herd, Rhodiaus snapped off a shot and missed.  Lee whirled around and blew Rhodiaus out of the saddle.  Coffelt decided to get into the gunplay by attempting a shot at Tom Tucker.  Tucker, Coffelt and McNew fired almost simultaneously. Coffelt joined his partner on the ground, dead.

Lee rode into El Paso, wired his attorney and filed a report with Sheriff Simmons.  The three Dog Canyon men were bound over on a $5000 bond to the Grand Jury.  While indicted for murder, the cases were never prosecuted.

Full article from "Gunfight Capital of the World" 

So until next time, Take care, God Bless, and Keep your powder dry.

Geromino Para and other Stuff

Well, today marks an interesting day in and around El Paso.  First, You'll notice a few changes in both the blog, and website.  Yes, Old West El Paso is expanding somewhat.  I'll go into more detail later next month on what some of the plans are, but there's things in the works right now.

Secondly---  We see the anniversary of the last man legally hanged in El Paso County.

Geronimo Para had been a horse thief, rustler and outlaw working out of the Ft Fillmore Bosque, about where Canutillo now sits.  In 1890, he had ran off a herd of horses north east of EL Paso.  Texas Ranger SGT Charles Fussleman and city officer George Herald rode out to find the horses.  They followed the trail of the stolen livestock about 2 miles into the canyon leading up to "Smuggler's Gap".  The horses were spotted, and as Fusselman approached, Para and his men opened fire from close range.  The ranger was mortally wounded with the first fusillade.  George Herald and rancher John Barnes fought a running gun battle as they cleared out of the canyon and returned to El Paso for more men.  then corporal, John R. Hughes spent two weeks attempting to bring Para to justice.  He was ordered to return to camp.  But Hughes never forgot.  Para was arrested and tried for horse theft in New Mexico and serving time at the penitentiary in Santa Fe.  After  Hughes became Capt of Co D, he cut a deal with Dona Ana County Sheriff, Pat Garrett.  He had a man Garrett wanted, by the name of Agnew,  Hughes traded Agnew for Para in 1896.  Para was tried for the murder of Charles Fusselman and sentenced to hang by the neck until dead. 

The execution took place in the El Paso county jail, which had its own hanging room.  It was a double header, and scheduled for noon, February 5th, 1900.  Someone had smuggles a couple pf shanks into the jail cells, and there was a scuffle before things got started.  Deputy Ed Bryant was wounded in the belly, and both prisoners a little worse for the wear.  The first man up was Antonio Flores.  He had been convicted of raping and killing his girlfriend.  He made the final drop without a hitch, and was pronounced dead.  This is where the first hitch occurred in this hanging.  The rope was not properly prepared. ( i.e. it wasn't soaped under the knot)  When the sheriff and deputies went to remove the noose, it was so tight, it wouldn't budge.  The body was hauled up to the scaffold, where it was pried loose.  Para got a front room seat in watching the grisly work.  He was meek enough when it came time for him to drop.  Unfortunately, the noose wasn't adjusted properly, allowing it to slip when Para hit the end of the rope.  The rope slipped, cutting a deep gash in Para's neck and did not break the neck. 
Both mene were buried the next day at Concordia Cemetery.  Unfortunatly, to date no one knows the location of either man's grave.  GEromino Para was the last man to be legally hanged in El Paso County, the state of Texas directing executions to be performed at Huntsville in 1917.

So until next time, Take care, God Bless, and keep your powder dry.