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Note: Thomas Christopher (Kip) McKinney: From the Las Vegas, NM Gazette, Tuesday, May 17, 1881 and Roswell, NM, May 13, 1881 "Rounding Up a Gang"�a Notorious Horse Thief Killed: "On the evening of the 8th inst., Deputy Sheriff Tom McKinney, of Roswell, shot and killed Bob Edwards, a notorious horse thief, who for the past two years has been slyly depredating in this country. Bob Edwards, after committing many crimes in southwestern Texas, was finally lodged in the town ofUvalde, Texas. By the assistance of his wife, who by her devotion to him in all his troubles has proved herself worth of a better husband, he effected his escape and came to this Territory (New Mexico). Since coming here, when not stealing himself, he was at his ranch on the Pensaco harboring thieves and taking care of their stolen property. Several months ago, he escaped from this Territory to Arizona with Sheriff McKinney close behind him. Two weeks ago, it was ascertained that Edwards, with four or five others, were making their way towards th lower Pecos with twenty-one head of horses, stolen from John Slaughters, at Tombstone, Arizona. Mr. McKinney was at once on the "qui-vive,", and on Friday last, hearing that Edwards with his ill-gotten spoils was in the vicinity of Seven Rivers, he at once started for that point. Hastily gathering a posse, he put out for rock Arroyo, twenty miles below Seven Rivers, where he captured one of the band, whose name (Wheeler) I have not learned, and several head of horses. Leaving two men with the prisoner and captured horses, he hastened on to the Rattlesnakes Springs, on Black River (on the old California gold trail which was the only potable water for many many miles. It is now the water supply for Carlsbad Cavern National Park.) Here, while accompanied by one of his posse, he came suddenly on Edwards at Hank Harrison's ranch. As soon as Edwards recognized McKinney, he opened fire on him with his Winchester at close range. "Mac" leaped from his horse and returned the fire with interest. At the second shot, he broke one of Edwards' legs. Edwards dropped to the ground but continued firing. McKinney then sent a bullet through his brain and escaped unhurt. In a letter to A. H. Whetstone, of this place. Sheriff McKinney writes that he has been forced to kill Edwards, has captured another of the thieves and recovered ten head of horses. He expects to capture other of the thieves and about all the horses. Too much cannot be said in praise of Mr. McKinney for his good work. He started out almost alone, and accomplished unlooked-for- results. With such deputies as he, (Sheriff) Pat Garrett will soon bring order out of chaos in Lincoln County, NM." Hilton Wayne McKinney, descendant of C.T. (Kip) McKinney, reported in the January, 1995 "Bates Bulletin" that Deputy Sheriff McKinney was at the death of Tom O'Folliard, From his obituary, "Carlsbad Current" September, 1915: "T. C. or "Kipp" McKinney died Monday at 3 a.m. September 20,1915, in Carlsbad at the Mansion House with cancer of the lungs. Mr. McKinney was bom in Birdville, Texas, March 19th, 1856, was 59 years old, was an old fashioned frontiersman, being in Texas, Arizona and New Mexico in an early day and participated in many battles, receiving several bullets in his body. Mr. McKinney was married June 24th, 1883, at Uvalde, Texas to Miss Letitia Smith. To their union eight children were bom, seven now living. Thomas N., Otto A., Clifton L., Alva L., and Lewis McKinney, Mrs. Frank Farrel, of Carlsbad, Mrs. A D. Carpenter of Leonard, Texas. Besides the seven children he leaves a wife, five grand children, six sisters and two brothers to mourn his loss and Mesdames W. A. Boles, P. J. Bates, Kate Pulliam, L.K. Krebaum. L. N. Stratton, Safford, Arizona, A. A. Mansfield, El Paso, Texas, Mr. T. N. McKinney, Uvalde, Texas and W. Q. McKinney, Hachita, N. M. Mr. McKinney had known for the past six years that he had concern of the lungs but had not suffered severely until the past two months. The family came here from Texas last October and have lived out near the Farrel and Ussery ranches. Two weeks ago they brought him to town, intending to place him in the hospital, but he did not want to go and finding that Mrs. McClure of the Mansion House, was an experienced nurse, she was requested to take the case. At this stage, very little could be done, and the family was summoned and came to town Sunday, death claiming him early Monday morning. The body was taken to Thome's undertaking parlor and prepared for burial. Funeral services were conducted by Rev. J. T. Redman, the Methodist pastor, at the cemetery at 3:30 Monday afternoon. The body lay in a handsome black casket surrounded by many floral gifts, from various friends of the family. The Current joins the friends of the bereaved family in extending sympathy to the sorrowing wife and other relatives.
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