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The Frank W. Angel Report on the Death of John H. Tunstall

Everybody has heard of Billy the Kid, but few are familiar with Frank W. Angel. Angel was a well educated, well-connected, Easterner. He was sent by nervous Washington D.C. politicians out to New Mexico, America’s least-populated and least-civilized Territory, to keep a national embarrassment from blowing up into an international incident.

John H. Tunstall, a young, upper-crust British Citizen, only five years older than his most volatile and homicidal employee Billy the Kid, recklessly challenged a roughand-tumble group of New Mexico Irish potato famine refugees, almost all of them former Union Army Civil War veterans, and in 1878 was murdered for his efforts.

Territorial officials, by virtue of their relative inaction, seemed to have taken the position that the spoiled young English upstart had gotten what he deserved. Hibernian ants had risen up, so to speak, and killed the English anteater that had taken up residence within their Irish ant colony in far-off New Mexico.

Tunstall’s outraged English millionaire father was now howling for blood. Tunstall Senior demanded satisfaction from the U.S. Government and rallied his fellow British businessmen to his side, threatening to make economic trouble for America. So Frank Angel was the investigator who was directed to determine what had happened to young Tunstall, enquire why justice had not been served, and, last but not least, decide whether or not a “coverup” had occurred. His most important, albeit unwritten, duty was to placate Tunstall Senior and diminish the possibility of any transatlantic economic war.

Special Agent Angel was equal to these manifold tasks, and put all of New Mexico “under the microscope.” He discovered that some of the U.S. Army officers officers investigated were neutral, while others were blatantly partisan. He also proved that dishonesty and corruption went all the way up the food chain of civil authority from the municipal, to the county, to the territorial level. In fact, the New Mexico Territorial Governor lost his job directly as a result of Angel’s report. So heads did roll, with Angel sending the victims to the chopping block.

Tunstall Senior, back in England, was satisfied that due diligence in getting to the truth of his son’s murder, had indeed taken place. Angel was, in fact, so effective that his report was suppressed by those most at risk of exposure. This is why so few people interested in New Mexico history, and specifically the Lincoln County War, have been aware of it, until now. Now is, of course, ever since David G. Thomas did such an outstanding job of historical research and writing culminating in his Frank W. Angel book.

The Lincoln County War and Billy the Kid have provided plot elements for dozens of Hollywood horse-operas for more than a hundred years. Such Old West Mythology is taken as gospel by far too many Americans, owing to the perceived lack of historical documentation proving it to be completely fictional, with only the most tenuous connection with chronological, geographical, and biographical facts.

David G. Thomas debunks the Tinseltonian pseudo-history that has swirled around Billy the Kid and the Lincoln County War for far too long, and goes farther than any previous historian in setting the record straight. Every official document generated at U.S. Government request bearing upon the causes, the actions, and the after-effects of the bloody New Mexico conflict are reproduced in The Frank W. Angel Report. Thomas doggedly traced every documentary thread bearing on the Lincoln County War back to its source, and offers thoughtful conclusions about the significance of each bit of evidence.

Nobody knows the documentary sources relating to southern New Mexico history better than Thomas, and his Frank W. Angel book is the most recent of a great many equally-valuable publications exploring this fascinating Old West region. His 2022 Frank W. Angel book presently stands, and probably will stand far into the future, as the best and most up-to-date study of the Lincoln County War.

Myth-buster David G. Thomas has single-handedly demolished the falsehoods and fabrications swirling around the time and place that made Billy the Kid famous. For the very first time in 140 years all of the documentary evidence for this compelling episode of New Mexico history is presented between two covers, and the vivid testimony of all the participants still living when Frank W. Angel arrived way out west provides answers to most of the questions raised by past generations of historians about the Lincoln County War.

Thomas has raised the bar for Western American historical writing. For serious scholars as much as old west aficionados interested in Billy the Kid and Southern New Mexico history, this book is the very best place to start reading. The remarkable Frank W. Angel Report merits a place of honor on every westerner’s bookshelf. Highly recommended. — Brian Dervin Dillon, Buckskin Bulletin, June 2023

Write a story about a nearly dead cockatoo that was rescued from a muddy ditch by a young girl and became a sensation on youtube when it started to teach platonic philosophy.

Once upon a time in a small town nestled near the coast, there lived a young girl named Lily. Lily was a curious and compassionate child with an immense love for all creatures, big and small. She had a special bond with nature and spent most of her days exploring the nearby forests and meadows.

One sunny afternoon, as Lily wandered near a muddy ditch on the outskirts of town, she heard a faint squawk. Curiosity piqued, she followed the sound until she stumbled upon a nearly lifeless cockatoo, its vibrant white feathers caked with mud. The poor bird seemed exhausted and on the brink of giving up.

Without hesitation, Lily rushed to the bird’s side. Gently cradling the cockatoo in her hands, she whispered comforting words, reassuring it that help had arrived. Lily carefully carried the fragile creature back to her home, a cozy cottage surrounded by blooming flowers and chirping birds.

Lily’s parents, seeing the sorry state of the cockatoo, worried that it might not survive. However, Lily refused to give up on the feathery stranger. She cleaned the bird’s delicate feathers, bathed it with warm water, and fed it nourishing fruits. Day by day, the cockatoo regained its strength and began to trust Lily, forming a deep bond between them.

As the cockatoo grew healthier, it surprised Lily with its intelligence. It mimicked Lily’s words and sounds, quickly learning new melodies and amusing her with its playful antics. One day, while Lily was reading a book on philosophy, the cockatoo began to mimic her, repeating profound phrases about the nature of reality, beauty, and love.

Lily was astonished. She realized that her feathered friend had become an unexpected teacher of wisdom. Excited by this revelation, Lily decided to capture these moments and share them with the world. She started filming the cockatoo and created a YouTube channel dedicated to its teachings on platonic philosophy.

The videos became an instant sensation, captivating viewers worldwide. People were mesmerized by the cockatoo’s profound thoughts, conveyed through its charming mimicking and Lily’s explanations. The bird, now known as Plato, had inadvertently become an ambassador for intellectual discourse and deep contemplation.

Plato’s YouTube channel attracted a diverse audience, ranging from philosophy enthusiasts to those seeking solace and inspiration. Plato’s teachings resonated with people, reminding them of the power of knowledge and the beauty of introspection. Gradually, Plato’s popularity grew, and he became an online sensation, surpassing millions of subscribers.

Lily and Plato embarked on a journey of enlightenment, sharing profound discussions, exploring classical works, and encouraging viewers to ponder life’s greatest mysteries. They organized virtual seminars, engaging in dialogues about morality, ethics, and the nature of the human soul.

However, amidst the fame and admiration, Lily and Plato never forgot their humble beginnings. They continued to live a simple life in their cottage, surrounded by the tranquility of nature. Lily, now older, pursued her studies in philosophy, inspired by her extraordinary companion. She dedicated herself to nurturing the minds of future generations, emphasizing the importance of critical thinking and contemplation.

Plato’s teachings extended far beyond YouTube, inspiring people to seek knowledge and embrace the pursuit of truth. The cockatoo, once near death in a muddy ditch, had become a symbol of resilience, intellectual curiosity, and the power of compassion.

And so, Lily and Plato continued to spread their message of enlightenment, reminding the world that wisdom could emerge from the most unexpected places, even from a nearly dead cockatoo rescued by a young girl with an unwavering love for all creatures. — ChatGPT

“In the small town of St. Clair, Detective Sarah Mills faces her most bizarre and perplexing case yet in ‘The Case of the Tangled Testicles.'”

“When a local resident, Harold Barnes, stumbles upon a gruesome discovery of a man’s testicles inexplicably tangled in an intricate knot, the quiet community is thrust into a whirlwind of suspicion and intrigue.”

“As Sarah delves deeper into the twisted web of clues, she uncovers a network of secrets, lies, and hidden desires that threaten to unravel the town’s fabric. With each revelation, Sarah finds herself entangled in a dangerous game of cat and mouse, navigating a labyrinth of suspects, all with their own motives and alibis.”

“With time running out and the tension mounting, Sarah must unravel the truth before the tightly woven threads of the case strangle her chances of solving it. In this dark and suspenseful tale, ‘The Case of the Tangled Testicles’ explores the lengths one detective will go to untangle the truth, exposing the sinister underbelly of a seemingly idyllic community.”

I can’t wait to dive into that book. Can you?

Lamentably, the book exists only in my brain.

Not having written one single word – yet! – I decided to ask ChatGPT to write a blurb for the book. Why not? It happily produced the scintillating blurb quoted above.

Well, how about the opening paragraphs? If you are anything like me, writing the kick-starting, first words of a new book is tough, even when you know the idea you want to start it with.

So, naturally, I asked Chat AI to write the first two paragraphs of the book for me:

“Chapter 1: The Unexpected Conundrum”

“Detective William Henderson was not one to shy away from a challenging case. Throughout his illustrious career, he had unraveled numerous mysteries, untangled intricate webs of deceit, and brought justice to those who thought they were beyond its reach. But little did he know that his latest assignment would take him down a twisted path he had never ventured before a path leading to a perplexing conundrum involving a most unusual anatomical enigma.”

“It all began on a foggy morning in the bustling city of Ravenbrook. Detective Henderson was enjoying a quiet cup of coffee at his favorite café when his phone buzzed insistently, shattering the tranquil atmosphere. His trusted colleague and forensic expert, Dr. Emily Sullivan, urgently requested his presence at the city’s prestigious Willowbrook Medical Center. Intrigued by her uncharacteristic sense of urgency, Henderson hastily drained his coffee, tossed a few bills onto the table, and headed towards the heart of the mystery that awaited him. Little did he know that he was about to embark on the most bizarre case of his career, ‘The Case of the Tangled Testicles.'”

In the blurb, it is apparent that the main character is Detective Sarah Mills. But the book opens with Detective William Henderson receiving a mysterious phone call. Mystifying! What happens to him? Why is he replaced on the case by Detective Mills? Why the change in setting from St. Clair to Ravenbrook? And how did those testicles get so tangled? It’s getting labyrinthine already!

After a number of hours of staring at a blank Word page and an expectant scroll bar, I decided to get ChatGPT to help me with the ending. It quickly wrote:

“As the courtroom erupted in applause, Detective Sarah Mills let out a sigh of relief. It had been a long and harrowing journey, but justice had prevailed. The case of the tangled testicles had been solved, and the truth had come to light.”

“With a sense of pride and satisfaction, Sarah knew that this would be a story she would never forget. The bizarre and twisted nature of the case had challenged her skills as a detective, but it had also reaffirmed her commitment to seeking the truth, no matter how tangled the path may be. As she walked out of the courtroom, she couldn’t help but reflect on the resilience of the human spirit and the power of relentless determination. The case of the tangled testicles had taught her that even in the most perplexing situations, justice would ultimately prevail.”

With the open and ending done, all that remains is a few hundred pages in between….

Thinking about them now… I wonder what ChatGPT is thinking….

— David G. Thomas

Wild West History Association Journal – June, 2023

“Dirty Dave” Rudabaugh, Billy the Kid’s Most Feared Companion

Until 2023, little has been written about the often mythologized and misunderstood character. Prepare to be swept away by the complete and never-before-told story of the outlaw who some say even frightened the infamous Billy the Kid himself.

Billy the Kid enthusiasts have had their fair share of authors and historians to look up to, such as Frederick Nolan and Robert Utley, to name two. But this generation of Billy the Kid researchers has truly outdone themselves and at the top of that list sits historian/author David Thomas.

With over five years of research, Thomas has left no stone unturned in his quest to uncover the truth about Dave Rudabaugh. From his origins to his father’s death, and ultimately how he came to be known as the only man that Billy the Kid was afraid of, Thomas peels away the legend of Dave Rudabaugh and reveals an individual that was far from what he has been portrayed.

Thanks to Thomas locating rare court documents, including Rudabaugh’s trial transcripts, it can be seen that he was actually a very articulate and well-educated man who was a product of his times, and far from the cold-blooded psychopath that he has been portrayed as. David Thomas expertly weaves Rudabaugh’s life together with his time riding with the Kid, and for the first time in print, he lays out the detailed events of the shootout at Coyote Springs, shedding light on one of Billy the Kid’s least talked about escapes.

“Dirty Dave” Rudabaugh, Billy the Kid’s Most Feared Companion also features never-before published photographs of the Coyote Springs’ location and gun battle site. The late author Maurice Fulton was the only know historian to have visited and photographed the site before, making these images a true treasure for Wild West enthusiasts.

Additionally, the book reveals the site of what remains of the Greathouse Tavern, where Rudabaugh, Billy the Kid, and Billy Wilson made yet another escape from authorities while leaving behind the dead body of White Oaks blacksmith James Carlyle. In addition, the recently placed headstone at the grave of James Carlyle is shown, adding more depth and authenticity to this fascinating tale.

The book concludes with the death of Dave Rudabaugh and the provenance behind the much-debated image of his decapitated head. David Thomas lays out the two images’ timeline and establishes their authenticity.

“Dirty Dave” Rudabaugh, Billy the Kid’s Most Feared Companion also includes a detailed timeline surrounding the life of Dave Rudabaugh, as well as impressive cast of characters chapter to round out the story of one of the most talked about and misunderstood characters of the American West. So, saddle up and get ready for the ride of your life with this riveting tale of outlaw intrigue and Wild West legend!

Josh Slaten – Wild West History Association Journal, June, 2023

On May 25, 2023, ChatGPT, the Open AI chatbot, was asked to write a short biography of “Dirty Dave” Rudabaugh, the subject David G. Thomas’ just published “Dirty Dave” Rudabaugh, Billy the Kid’s Most Feared Companion.

ChatGPT produced the following paragraphs:

“Rudabaugh’s criminal career was marked by frequent run-ins with the law, and he had several narrow escapes from capture. He was known to travel and operate under various aliases, making it difficult for law enforcement to track him down. However, his luck eventually ran out, and he was arrested and imprisoned multiple times.”

“In December 1886, Rudabaugh was captured after a shootout with law enforcement in Mexico. He was extradited to the United States and sentenced to life in prison for murder. He spent the remainder of his life behind bars, attempting several unsuccessful escapes from prison.”

“Dirty Dave Rudabaugh’s life of crime and violence came to an end on January 30, 1888, when he was killed in a failed escape attempt from the prison in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Despite his short and brutal life, Rudabaugh’s legacy as an infamous outlaw and gunslinger of the Wild West era continues to fascinate and captivate historians and enthusiasts of Western lore to this day.”

The only true facts in ChatGPT’s bio are that Rudabaugh did have several run-ins with the law and was arrested several times. He did not travel and operate under various aliases.

He was not captured in December, 1886, in Mexico after a shootout with law enforcement. He was not extradited to the United States. He did not spend the remainder of his life behind bars, attempting several times unsuccessfully to escape.

He was not killed January 20, 1888, in a failed escape attempt from prison in Santa Fe, New Mexico.

The actual details of Rudabaugh’s death are given in “Dirty Dave” Rudabaugh, Billy the Kid’s Most Feared Companion.

Albert W. Lohn, who was present when Rudabaugh was decapitated and took four photographs of the event.

On February 18, 1886, Rudabaugh was killed by a Winchester rifle shot to the chest in Parral, Mexico, by a grocery man named José. Following his killing, Rudabaugh was decapitated by José. His head was placed on a pole and paraded around the Parral plaza. Present at Rudabaugh’s beheading was Albert W. Lohn, a nineteen-year-old photographer.

Lohn took four photographs of Rudabaugh’s decapitated head. The two negatives he printed were confiscated by Mexican authorities. The other two negatives remained in Lohn’s files for 57 years, entirely forgotten by him. The story of how these two negatives were acquired by an avid collector of Western memorabilia is given in Thomas’ book.

“Dirty Dave” Rudabaugh Youtube Video Here

The three-day Billy the Kid Festival was held in the Las Cruces Rio Grande Theatre February 24-26, 2023.

The Festival opened Friday night, February 24, with THE TRIAL OF BILLY THE KID, written by David G. Thomas and directed by award-winning cinema director Ross Marks. The play dramatized the trial of Billy the Kid, real name William Henry McCarty, accused of the first degree murder of Lincoln County Sheriff William Brady in Lincoln, New Mexico, on April 1, 1878. Billy the Kid’s real-life trial for that killing took place in the Doña Ana Courthouse in Mesilla, New Mexico, on April 6, 1881.

The play was written so that after the presentation of the evidence against Billy the Kid for Brady’s killing, and the closing arguments of the prosecution and defense attorneys, the entire audience decided Billy’s fate. The play had a different ending depending on whether the audience jury voted Billy guilty or not guilty.

The second day of the Festival featured original Western music by CROW AND KARLA (Dan Crow, Karla Steen, Steve Smith, and Anne Luna).

The third day offered a matinee performance of THE TRIAL OF BILLY THE KID.

The Festival was well covered by the press:

Billy the Kid Festival Brings History to Life

Innocent or guilty? Dive into the Wild West at the Billy the Kid Festival

Billy the Kid Found Not Guilty by Today’s Audience

“On Friday and Sunday, February 24 and 26, a play re-enactment of ‘The trial of Billy the Kid’ brought the past into the Rio Grande Theatre as directed by Ross Marks. While William Antrim (Billy the Kid) was found guilty at the time, April 6, 1881, the modern-day audiences at the theater found him innocent both nights.”

“‘The Trial of Billy the Kid really exceeded my expectations in terms of the tense courtroom drama and tremendous audience response,’ Marks said. ‘It really whetted my appetite to take it to other theaters (he’s already in talks with Ruidoso and Silver City) and turning it into a film. The success of the play proves what I already knew, which is that there is a ton of talent right here in Las Cruces.’”

The Festival was sponsored by the Doña Ana County Historical Society and the Friends of Pat Garrett.

“Dirty Dave” Rudabaugh, Billy the Kid’s Most Feared Companion

“Dirty Dave” Rudabaugh, Billy the Kid’s Most Feared Companion

By David G. Thomas

This book is about David Rudabaugh, a man whose life is both obscure and wildly mythologized.

Rudabaugh’s obscurity begins with the spelling of his surname. In the only U.S. census in which he appears, his name is spelled Radenbaugh. His father, in his Civil War service record, spelled his name Rodenbaugh. Rodebaugh is the spelling David uses in his first public document, his confession to an attempted train robbery. Yet, throughout his life, he answered to Rudabaugh, and was usually referred to as such in newspaper accounts and legal documents. That is also how most historians have chosen to spell his name.

“Dirty Dave,” a sobriquet whose original source is unknown, was never applied to Rudabaugh by contemporaries. Its use is relatively recent. The primary source that may have suggested the label is probably this statement in the December 27, 1880, Las Vegas Daily Optic:

“[Rudabaugh was] dressed about the same as when in Las Vegas [nine months earlier], apparently not having made any raids upon clothing stores.”

One of the oft-repeated myths about Rudabaugh is that in the early 1870s he was the leader of a gang of cattle rustlers in Texas (or in Arkansas in some accounts) –- and he even killed a man! In fact, as of March 1, 1875, Rudabaugh was living at home on a farm with his 46-year old, single mother and three younger siblings, two brothers and a sister.

The stories continue: that on leaving Texas, he became the boon companion of such famous Dodge-City personalities as Wyatt and Morgan Earp and John Henry “Doc” Holliday. Supposedly, he taught Doc Holliday how to fight with a gun (or a knife in some accounts). There is no evidence for any of that, and it is not true.

Another myth about Rudabaugh is that he was a “nasty, treacherous bully” who “stole and killed and brutalized people… Dirty Dave would try anything, as long as it was crooked.” Not true. Another fictitious accusation is that Rudabaugh shot a jailer in cold blood. The true account of jailer Antonio Lino Valdez’s fatal shooting is presented for the first time in this book, based on the never-before-published trial transcript. The unquestionable trial evidence shows that it was another man who shot the ill-fated jailer, not Rudabaugh.

Following the jailer’s killing, Rudabaugh fled. Now a wanted man, Rudabaugh teamed up with Billy the Kid and participated prominently in Billy’s final gun battles with authorities. (Rudabaugh and Billy had never met previously.) Famously, Rudabaugh was captured along with Billy at Stinking Springs by Deputy Sheriff Pat Garrett and his posse.

After his capture, Rudabaugh was tried for Valdez’s killing and sentenced to death by hanging. He escaped jail and went to Mexico.

On February 18, 1886, Rudabaugh was killed by a Winchester rifle shot to the chest in Parral, Mexico, by a grocery man named José. Following his killing, Rudabaugh was decapitated by José. His head was placed on a pole and paraded around the Parral plaza. Present at Rudabaugh’s beheading was Albert W. Lohn, a nineteen-year-old photographer.

Lohn took four photographs of Rudabaugh’s decapitated head. The two negatives he printed were confiscated by Mexican authorities. The other two negatives remained in Lohn’s files for 57 years, entirely forgotten by him. The story of how these two negatives were acquired by an avid collector of Western memorabilia is given in this book.

Rudabaugh’s life story is mesmerizing. It is as adventurous as that of any Wild West figure. The events of his life include being both a wanted man and a lawman, a failed train robbery, two successful stage hold-ups, being sentenced to death by hanging, an ingenious jail escape, and an eight month association with Billy the Kid — an association that made him almost as famous in Wild West outlaw history as Billy.

194 pages, 45 images, many never published before. 194 pages.

Paperback ISBN: 978-1-952580-20-8
Hardback ISBN: 978-1-952580-21-5

Table of Contents
List of Images
Video

Buy “Dirty Dave” Rudabaugh, Billy the Kid’s Most Feared Companion

2020 Will Rogers Medallion Award Winner

Will Rogers was a respected writer and cowboy entertainer whose work embodied and demonstrated the traditions and values of the American cowboy. The Will Rogers Medallion Award was originally created to recognize quality works of cowboy poetry that honored the Will Rogers heritage, but has expanded to include other works of Western literature and film.

The awards competition takes place annually, and the awards ceremony is held every fall in Fort Worth, Texas.

The Frank W. Angel Report on the Death of John H. Tunstall

Some things relating to the Lincoln County War, Billy the Kid and other characters involved in that period of time in Lincoln County, New Mexico, have proven to be elusive to historians and authors. A major one of these has been the 1878 Frank W. Angel report on the death of rancher John H. Tunstall.

It has been since 1976 when Lee Scott Thiessen wrote an article, “Frank Warner Angel’s Notes on New Mexico Territory 1878” for Arizona and the West (Vol. 18, No. 4, Winter, 1976), that much attention was paid to this important document. The obscure original document, 395 handwritten pages, has been difficult to access and only Thiessen’s notes have been generally available to historians.

Now comes Lincoln County War and Billy the Kid historian, David G. Thomas, with an account of Angel’s investigations into “Tunstall’s killing and the roles Governor Axtell and U.S Attorney Catron played…..” in this process.

Chapter six reveals the illegal attempt by Catron and Stephen Elkins to destroy the report. Appendix “A” provides brief biographies of the 71 men and women who had important roles in the Report events and Appendix “B” present a timeline of important events related to the Report.

All in all, this is an important contribution to Lincoln County War and Billy the Kid studies and is highly recommended.

— Roy B. Young, Wild West History Association Journal, June 2022