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.