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Show NEW MEXICO DURING THE CIVIL WAR 425 were left their opponents made a rush and endeavored to enter the house. They were checked, however, and one of their number, Robert Beckwith, was killed. The ‘‘Kid’’ then made his escape and McSwain, who knew nothing about the use of firearms, was shot before he could get out of the house. Thus closed the ‘‘war,’’ three months before the arrival of Governor Wallace in New Mexico. During his incumbency, in his executive capacity, he did nothing in the way of bringing about a termination of hostilities or a cessation of the existing troubles. The principal attorneys at Santa Fé and in the territory were retained by the Dolan and Riley faction. These men had been friends and connected with the administration of Governor Axtell. Their dislike for Wallace and his methods was apparent. In his efforts to carry out some of his policies in the matter of prosecutions the governor sought to influence the presiding judge of the third district, Warren Bristol, by intimating that he could “‘bend the law’’ to meet certain legal objections which were proving an obstacle to the success of his measures. If the fame of Governor Wallace rested upon any of his official acts in New Mexico it would be far from secure. However, while executive, he wrote a portion of Ben Hur when occupying the old palace as his official residence. The principal event occurring during the administration of Governor Wallace was the building into New Mexico of the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fé Railroad. Under a charter issued by the ter- ritory to the New Mexico and Southern Pacific Railroad Company the line crossed the Raton mountains November 30, 1878, and in February, 1879, the first passenger train, carrying members of the Colo- rado legislature, was run to Otero station, Colfax county. him a second time and the ‘‘Kid’’ ran up to Maxwell’s The line ward toom was dark and he did not see the sheriff. He leaned over bed. the The bed and asked Maxwell who it was on the outside. Maxwell felt that something was Boing to happen and jumped out of bed. About this time the ‘‘Kid’’ noticed the Sheriff and covered him with his pistol and began backing off, saying, ‘Quien es? Quien es4?? It was probably so dark that he could not distinguish Garrett. At all events he did not shoot but Garrett did, the ball Passing through ‘‘Kid.’’ the heart of the Garrett fired a second shot, not being able to see the effect of the first, and, after waiting a few moments, Tushed for the door. They could not tell the effect of the shots and fearing to enter the room in the darkness, lest they might meet the fate of so many others at the hands of the desperado, they placed a light on the window-sill So that it would Shine into the room, and there they saw that the bullet had done its wor — k that he who Own to the officers of the law. had so often taken life had at last given up his |