There are so many rumors in regard to…
source date: 1889
availability: public-domain

There are so many rumors in regard to the killing at Hachita, that it seems almost im- possible to get at the real facts in the premises. From all that can be learned, it looks very bad for those who are supposed to have been impli- cated in the killing. It seems that Walter Birchfieid, W. H. King, Pat Davine and W. A. Bradshaw were drinking and having a big time. According to the Liberal the saloon keeper, just before dark, succeeded in getting them outside and locked the door. This so enraged the boys that they began shooting up the town. Earlier in the day Pat Hines had celebrated Christmas and had gone outside and laid asleep along side of the saloon. The shooters dis- covered him and turned their guns on him “just to see him kick.” Poor Hines never “kicked.” After a few more shots the boys rode out of town. When the people got out they found Hines dead. Shot by the cowboys. Telegrams were sent Sheriff Whitehill and Judge Jones. Hines was a poor Irishman who has been in this part of the country for some time. He for- merly worked on a section for the Southern Pacific company. Birchfieid and Bradshaw were arrested near Chase & McCabe’s ranch, in the lower Animas.