Calf is branded with 'murder' in 1890s

One of the most intriguing stories to come out of the Texas mountain country is one that took place more than 100 years ago near Marathon. I visited with Carl Williams in Midland the other day and he has done some research on the story. Carl is a former sheriff of Brewster County where the incident occurred and is writing a book about some of the lawmen, crimes and criminals of the Big Bend. In the 1890s the Indians had pretty much left the Big Bend and ranchers had moved in, along with an occasional outlaw or two. There were few lawmen in this vast country and many times disputes were settled with gunfire. Sometimes the shooting incidents went unreported. The range was open then -- no fences. Ranchers helped each other round up cattle. Once the herds were separated, the calves were identified and branded before they were sold. This story took place in the Glass Mountains of northeastern Brewster County during January 1890. A rancher named Henry Harrison Powe owned a small herd and joined other ranchers in rounding up calves that were missed in the fall roundup. During these roundups, owners of large ranches sent representatives to make sure their calves didn't end up with someone else's brand. Powe's young son, R.M. Powe, is the one who has given the most accurate account of what happened that day. He was helping with the roundup of several thousand cattle. His father selected a calf he thought was his and got it ready to brand. But a representative of one of the larger ranches, Finus Gillilland, thought it belonged to his employers, Dubois and Wentworth Ranches. The calf was moved back and forth while each man claimed ownership. Anger turned to rage and finally Powe went to a nearby horse and removed a gun from the saddlebag. He fired a shot at Gilliland, but missed. Gilliland fired back and shot Powe to death. He mounted his horse and fled the scene...Read more