The Hall family consisted of Peter S…
source date: 1891
availability: public-domain

The Hall family consisted of Peter S. Hall senior and four grown sons, Peter Hall Jr., Bob, Dick and Tom Hail. The members of this family were generally recognized as desperate and dangerous men. They were not at all back- ward in letting it be known that they belonged to the rustler class, and they terrorized their more honest neighbors to such an extent that none dare make open complaint or bring the matter before the proper legal tribunals. The Hall family arrived at Pine Cienega about three and a half years ago and had in their possession less than two hundred head of cattle, but sur- prising to relate such was the fecundity of the class of cattle which they brought with them, that without farther purchases or addition to their herd there is now in the neighborhood of two thousand head of cattle bearing the Hall brand beside many which they have killed for beef and sold. A most wonderful increase if claimed that it is honestly come by. Their fav- orite method of acquiring this increase was to choose from the L. C. or C. A. bar cattle the choicest cows with calves which were driven to 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.

ven to 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.