On one occasion Thomas Lyons, superinten-…
source date: 1891
availability: public-domain

o some lonely, isolated place in the hills and there rope the cow and kill her by beating in the forehead with a rock. The calf was then driven to the ranch and branded with the Hall brand. The better class of mares with suckling colts were treated in the same manner. Thus they not only robbed the stock owners of their calves and colts but they ruthlessly destroyed the parent animals that they might more effectually cover up all traces of their crime. On one occasion Thomas Lyons, superinten- dent of the L. C. Cattle company came across the carcasses of two of his best cows recently ( 83 )killed in this manner. In just anger at such barbarous business he threatened punishment to the perpetrators should he find one more. Mr. Lyons’ conversation was repeated to Tom Hall who remarked that the d — n fool might have found another if he had looked close; continuing his conversation he said that if Lyons had gone over to the cedar brakes a few miles away he could have found twenty-seven that his brothers Dick and Bob together with him- self had killed the second day after those found by Mr. Lyons. There is also evidence showing that the gang were in the habit of driving cattle from the ranges and butchering them and dis- posing of the meat for whatever they could get.