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| The Spikes brothers, playing with guns. (Find-A-Grave) |
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| Sam Gholson, alleged bad guy in all this, though I have my doubts. |
The feud began in east Texas during the Civil War when the two patriarchs of the Spikes and Gholson families crossed paths, or should I say just “crossed.”
John Wesley Spikes (see this week’s Tombstone Tuesday article here in case you missed it) was a member of the Texas 12th Cavalry, whose job was rounding up draft evaders. During the Civil War men were often recruited with the “point-of-a-gun” rather than willingly join the cause. Continued
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| Stately Spikes Manor. Reminds me of that line in the movie Dillinger, "Decent people don't live that good!" Anywho, the historian J. Evetts Haley wrote a history of the XIT Ranch naming the Spikes' guilty as charged. The Spikes family sued for libel, lining up every Spikes from here to the Atlantic to file a separate case. First up was old Fred Spikes himself, who lost, meaning that the jury wasn't convinced that he wasn't a cattle rustler. Nevertheless, with a half dozen more cases left to go, the XIT settled out of court for a pittance. Today's lazy historians see "out of court settlement" and assume that the Spikes brothers were as pure as the driven snow. But that jury didn't think so; no sir, they did not. See XIT Libel Suit Won by Defendants |
I would really like some more of this history if it is available.
ReplyDeleteThere is a good account of the thing in an old book titled "The Flamboyant Judge: James D. Hamlin" by William Curry Holden. Newspapers.com is also useful.
DeleteI have yet to find any accounts on the web that contain any actual research or source materials. I like history blogs, but they shouldn't be posting if they can't be bothered to run down the facts.
Oh, and I've been sent an autobiographical fragment by Sam Gholson. It doesn't discuss the events in New Mexico, but the parts about the Civil War seem enlightening as to the origins of the thing. I really haven't sorted it all out in my head yet. The Trans-Mississippi isn't my strong suit.
I'm actually re-researching the Digging History blog article for the upcoming issue of Digging History Magazine (I now publish a digital magazine, with extensively researched articles with sources, running 80-100 pages per issue). I would be interested in the autobiographical fragment by Sam Gholson as I'm now finding more information about him (which doesn't necessarily match up to my original article).
DeleteIt was one of my first blog articles (and admittedly, I was a little "green"). Since creating the magazine format in 2018 I've rewritten several blog articles for the magazine. This article will be pulled from the blog with a note as to its update and inclusion in the magazine (available by single issue or subscription). I'd appreciate any info you could share -- I really want to make this article shine. It's actually an article about Quay County as part of a client's research project. Long story :)
Shoot me an email mu23@msn.com and I'll send you that fragment.
DeleteSpikes Trial May 23, 1931
ReplyDeleteCorsicana Daily Sun
May 26, 1931
Tales of Alleged Activities of Gangs Related to Jury
Lubbock, May 26, 1931.
Tales of alleged doings of the Hawkins and Spikes gangs in the early days of the west continued to be related in district court today in the trial of the $200,000 libel suit brought by Fred Spikes, one of three brothers who survived perilous episodes of 30 years ago. Spikes complained of J. Evetts Haley and the trustees of the capital reservation lands syndicate, who published a book, “The History of The XIT Ranch,” which the Spikes claimed liabled him and his dead brothers.
Two former cowboys of New Mexico who had trouble with the spikes brothers, one with John and the other with Dick, and a former wife of Henry Hawkins testified today. Oral testimony was given by a one-time cowboys who now are ranchers, while the former Mrs. Hawkins, now Mrs. John Madden, gave her testimony is a disposition.
Mrs. Maden told of serving meals to John, Dick and Fred Spikes at her fathers house on frequent occasions. She related witnessing a gun battle between her husband and some officers on Mesa Redonda a couple of days prior to the fatal shooting of John and Dick Spikes and the wounding of Fred Spikes. The officers were chasing them in the fight, she said, and a member of the gang came by her fathers house to get a saddle belonging to her brother. ….
From most of my past reading on this subject, it appears that everyone agrees that there was a “Hawkins” Gang operating in the area. History says that this gang robbed businesses and stole cattle. My reading also shows the Spikes family was suggesting that they were mistakenly included with the Henry Hawkins gang. The history that I have found shows that Henry Hawkins was the leader of that gang. Henry Hawkins former wife testified “of serving meals to John, Dick and Fred Spikes at her fathers house on frequent occasions.”
Does it seem odd to you that respectable citizens would taking “frequent” meals with a known gang of outlaws?
The evidence mounts! Also, I'm intrigued by the phrase "a former wife." How many were there?
DeleteThe Roswell Daily Record (Roswell, New Mexico June 3, 1932 Wednesday
ReplyDeleteFORMER SHERIFF ROMERO TESTIFIES AT LIBEL SUIT
Story of Old Days in New Mexico brought Libel Suit For $200,000
Lubbock, Tex.., June 2- (AP) -Cleofus Romero, former sheriff of San Miguel County, New Mexico, and a member of the posse, who shot and killed John and Dick Spikes and wounded Fred Spikes more than 25 years ago, testified today in the trial of the $200,000 libel suit brought by Fred Spikes against J. Evetts Haley and trustees of the Capital Reservation Lands Company.
Spikes alleged libelous statements were made in the book, “ The History of the X-I-T Ranch,” written by Haley, in which the Spikes brothers were mentioned in connection with cattle rustling.
Romero, who served as sheriff of San Miguel county from 1898-1910, resigned to become warden of the New Mexico penitentiary and later served as Mayor of Las Vegas, He told of events leading up to the shooting and of the fight in which John and Dick Spikes were killed, He said there were asked to surrender on John Doe warrants for larceny of cattle.
A deposition was read, allegedly made by Cabe Adams now resident of Old Mexico and for 30 years a rancher and cowboy in eastern New Mexico. He also was a member of the posse which shot the Spikes brothers,
The deposition said both he and his employer had last cattle and that he had found on the Spikes range unbranded calves and cattle with “slow” or unrecorded brands.
Good work! It also reminds me, I really need to get up tp speed on San Miguel County history.
ReplyDeleteQuay County was formed on February 28, 1903, James Alexander Street, a founding father of Tucumcari, was appointed the county's first sheriff. Quay county now had a “local” lawman.
ReplyDeleteFrom the book – Rawhide Ranger by Ira Aten - an XIT Ranch Foreman - and ex-Sheriff and Texas Ranger.
'Across that (Texas) New Mexico Territory borderline in Quay County, and in line with Ira Aten's remembrances about the locales' strong number of cow thieves, the newly install Sheriff James Alexander had his hands full.... Sheriff Street, a man with a sterling reputation for fearlessness, he had several man sized headaches, namely with those cow thieves operating within his isolated ranch country jurisdiction...
Asking the good Sheriff Street if the eastern side of Quay adjoining the XIT was a hotbed for wide-lopers and brand blotches would have been pointless. James Street and Ira Aten were in rock solid agreement. That section - for a time - was a greenhouse for growing herds of “off colored Cattle”.
https://econtent.unm.edu/digital/collection/locales/id/273/rec/24?fbclid=IwAR1Q9x9NBRFhKoz-NM_tYgEu9KT5F_NX7Phb4FNVSGuoa3yq82AzhRL6M8A
ReplyDeleteThat's great, I'm gonna post it right now, thanx!
ReplyDeleteAlbuquerque daily citizen. February 15, 1902,
ReplyDelete….”Chief of the Mesa Hawks
Hawkins is a noted broncho buster, a crack shot with a revolver and a rifle, and an unrivalled lariat thrower. He has lately especially imported from the Indian Nation two desperadoes to act as his New Mexican Lieutenants. The personality of these two new bandit leaders is not yet definitely ascertained, but from the description received of them they are supposed to be Jack Jepson and Bill Bowen, both “bad men” of crack repute. fsu
The Mesa Hawks take their title from two sources. First from the fact that their strongholds are always located on a lofty mesa, from whence they silently swoop down on the open surronding stock ranges; and, secondly, from Hawkins, the name of their captain.
The band has now been in existence for about twelve months, and has established a series of strongholds, extending Redondo Mesa, in the Canadian river region, to Louisiana mesa, on the Pecos River slope, a distance exceeding 100 miles across country....
Cattle and horses have been stolen wholesale....
ADVENT OF A RAILROAD
The robbers had things all their own way until the advent of the new Rock Island-El Paso railroad, and the beginning of the building of a new town Tucumcari. The Tucumcari residents speedily realized that the “Mesa Hawks” must be routed out, and the first step in this righteous direction has already been taken. About two months ago, the Spikes Brothers were accused of cattle stealing, and the Spikes' having a ranch fifteen miles from Tucumcari, at the foot of Rodondo Mesa and being affiliated with the “Mesa Hawks”.
Warrants were promptly sworn out for the Spikes and served at the Spikes Ranch on three of the brothers. The later resisted arrest, and in the fight which followed two of the Spikes were killed and the third was dangerously wounded.
Taking this as a starter the Tucumcari citizens and adjacent ranchmen organized a large posse, headed by U. G. Logan, a peace officer, long a terror to the bad men of the southwest, and marched on the stronghold of Rodondo Mesa. They captured the stronghold, but the bandits had fled, going to the southwest, and leaving behind a large store of provisions accumulated for winter use...”"
1920s Outlaws Cave near TUCUMCARI NEW MEXICO Spike Bros RPPC postcard 100801A Real photo postcard. https://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/1920s-outlaws-cave-near-tucumcari-1792037682
ReplyDelete"The Brownsville Herald- June 21, 1931
ReplyDeleteBrownsville, Texas –
XIT Libel Suit Won By Defendants
Lubbock, June 30. –(AP)–Verdict for the defendants in the liable suit of Fred Spikes, Lubbock, against J. Evetts Haley and trustees of the Capital Reservation lands, was returned in the 99th district court here Friday.
In its decision the jury found Thaved, Charles F. Harding, and Fredrick E French, all of Chicago, were publishers of the book, “The XIT ranch in Texas”, written by J. Evetts Haley of Austin and that allegations contained in the book concerning the alleged reputation of the Spikes brothers were correct. It was the claim of the plaintiff that the alleged statements were false and libelous, and the basis for the suit."
https://www.newspapers.com/clip/58811290/xit-libel-suit-won-by-defendants/?fbclid=IwAR3GdceYoBO58fvQeTFMONInQLzaenLaBUqkgxmsirQ5eCtXmD-hO-DhPmA