Fact-checked by Grok 2 weeks ago

Lawrence Murphy

Lawrence Gustave Murphy (1831 – October 20, 1878) was an Irish-born officer and merchant who rose from service in the to economic dominance in Territory's Lincoln County through his control of mercantile trade and cattle operations. Born in , , Murphy immigrated to the as a youth, enlisting in the U.S. Army in 1851 at age 20 and serving initially with the 5th Infantry before achieving the rank of major during the . After mustering out in 1866 near , he relocated to , where he partnered with Emil Fritz to establish L.G. Murphy & Co., a sutler's store supplying army posts and expanding into civilian trade, banking, and ranching amid the post-war economic vacuum. By the early 1870s, following Fritz's death, Murphy consolidated power with associate James Dolan, forming a near-monopoly on goods and credit in that extended influence over local politics and through ties to federal contracts and territorial officials. This control sparked violent opposition from rivals and , escalating into the —a factional conflict involving hired gunmen, murders, and a climactic five-day battle in town in July 1878—that claimed over two dozen lives and drew federal intervention under special envoy . Though Murphy avoided direct combat, his strategic alliances with figures like and alleged corruption fueled perceptions of him as the war's architect, undermining his and hastening his decline as cancer forced his withdrawal to , where he died that October. His legacy endures as a symbol of capitalism's ruthless edge, blending legitimate with predatory practices in a lawless territory.

Early Life and Immigration

Birth and Irish Origins

Lawrence Gustave Murphy was born in 1831 in , . His precise date of birth within the year remains undocumented in primary records, though enlistment documents from the 1850s describe him as approximately 21 years old at that time, aligning with a birth around 1831. Details on Murphy's early family background and upbringing in Ireland are sparse, with no verified records of his parents or siblings publicly available in historical archives. , a southeastern Irish county with a history of agricultural communities and periodic unrest, including the 1798 Rebellion, provided the cultural context for his origins, though no direct ties to specific events or lineages have been established. As an Irish Catholic immigrant in a period of widespread and emigration pressures, Murphy's departure from Ireland reflected broader patterns of economic migration from rural townlands during the mid-19th century.

Arrival in the United States

Lawrence Gustave Murphy, born in 1831 in , , immigrated to the during his late teens, reaching , by approximately age seventeen in 1848. As an Irish immigrant, he enlisted in the U.S. Army on July 26, 1851, at age 21, described in records as a blue-eyed, red-headed laborer standing 5 feet 8½ inches tall, joining Company F of the 5th Infantry Regiment. His prompt military service upon arrival underscores the era's pathways for young immigrants seeking stability amid post-Famine pressures, though specific details of his transatlantic voyage, including ship or , remain undocumented in primary records.

Military Service

Civil War Enlistment and Combat

Following his discharge from the regular U.S. Army on May 31, 1861, at Fort McIntosh, , Lawrence Gustave Murphy traveled to and accepted a commission as in the 1st Regiment of Volunteers on July 17, 1861. The regiment, organized under Colonel Christopher "Kit" at and Fort Union between July and August 1861, consisted primarily of Hispanic and Native American recruits and was tasked with defending the territory against Confederate incursions from . Murphy was mustered into service on July 27, 1861, and initially appointed as the regimental , handling logistics and supply duties at Fort Union. In early 1862, as Confederate forces under General advanced into , Murphy's regiment participated in the Union counteroffensive. Detached for service under Colonel John P. Slough, the 1st Infantry engaged in the Battle of Apache Canyon on March 26, 1862, and the subsequent Battle of Pigeon's Ranch (part of the campaign) on March 28, 1862, where Union forces decisively halted the Confederate invasion by destroying supply trains. These engagements, known as the "Gettysburg of the West," secured for the , though casualty figures for the regiment were high, with reports of over 100 killed and wounded at Pigeon's Ranch alone. Murphy was promoted to captain during the war and commanded Company G of the 1st Infantry before serving as regimental . His and command roles supported ongoing operations in the District of through , including skirmishes against remaining Confederate sympathizers and and forces, though primary combat concluded after Glorieta. The regiment was mustered out in June at , marking the end of Murphy's active combat service.

Post-War Military Roles

Following his service in the during the , where he had been promoted to on March 19, 1864, and received a brevet promotion to major on March 13, 1865, Lawrence G. Murphy assumed command of , , as a brevet major in the 1st . On April 11, 1866, he was formally appointed of and Company G of the regiment, a position he held briefly amid the post-war drawdown of Union forces in the territory. This command occurred after the official end of hostilities in 1865, marking one of his final active military duties before mustering out later that year at the same post. Murphy's leadership at involved overseeing operations for a frontier outpost tasked with protecting against raids and maintaining order in the region, though specific engagements under his direct command remain sparsely documented in primary records. His tenure as post commander was short-lived, reflecting the rapid of volunteer units in the Southwest following the war's conclusion. Upon mustering out in 1866, Murphy transitioned from formal military service, joining the Grand Army of the Republic as a auxiliary, but held no further commissioned roles in the U.S. Army. His military experience, particularly in duties and regimental staff positions earlier in the war, positioned him to leverage connections at for subsequent civilian enterprises serving the post.

Settlement in New Mexico

Relocation to Fort Stanton

Following his muster out from the at , , in 1866, Lawrence G. Murphy elected to remain in the region, transitioning from to civilian enterprise as an unofficial post trader () supplying the fort's garrison. This role, formalized on April 28, 1868, capitalized on the fort's remote location amid hostilities, where soldiers depended on traders for provisions, liquor, and credit amid limited overland access. Murphy partnered with Emil Fritz, another veteran who had also served at , to establish L.G. Murphy & Company as a mercantile firm focused on contracts for , , and . The partnership exploited the U.S. Army's post-war expansion in the Southwest, with —established in 1855 as a base against Native American raids—serving as a key outpost requiring steady resupply from or eastern markets. By providing payday loans and essential wares at premium prices justified by transportation risks, Murphy built initial capital, though this drew later scrutiny for profiteering. This settlement positioned Murphy within Lincoln County's nascent economy, where demand sustained early commerce until his 1873 eviction from the fort amid disputes over pricing and conduct, prompting relocation to nearby .

Initial Business Partnerships

Upon arriving at Fort Stanton in 1866 following his muster out from , Lawrence G. Murphy formed an initial business partnership with Emil Fritz, a fellow veteran and German immigrant, to establish L.G. Murphy & Company as a mercantile operation. This venture initially functioned as an unofficial post trading enterprise at the fort, supplying goods to soldiers and local settlers while leveraging Murphy's connections for advantages. The partnership secured military contracts to provide beef, provisions, and other essentials to and adjacent agencies, capitalizing on the post-Civil War demand in the isolated . By April 28, 1868, Murphy received official appointment as the fort's post trader, formalizing the operation under federal regulations that granted exclusive trading rights in exchange for maintaining supply standards. Fritz contributed operational expertise from his background, including capabilities that expanded the firm's offerings to include locally produced alongside general merchandise and ranching activities. This collaboration laid the groundwork for regional economic influence, as the partners navigated logistical challenges of frontier supply chains, often transporting over long distances from eastern markets. The arrangement persisted until Fritz's health declined due to in the early 1870s, prompting him to sell his interest to Murphy before departing for , after which the firm evolved under new management.

Business Expansion

Mercantile and Supply Operations

In 1866, following his muster out from the at , New Mexico, Lawrence G. Murphy partnered with fellow veteran Emil Fritz to establish L.G. Murphy & Company, operating a mercantile store and brewery on or near the fort grounds. The partnership leveraged Murphy's military connections to secure U.S. government contracts for supplying beef, vegetables, and other provisions to and the Apache Reservation agency. Murphy assumed the role of post trader, serving unofficially from 1866 and receiving official appointment on April 28, 1868. The store provided a range of goods to soldiers, reservation personnel, and local , including foodstuffs, hardware, and clothing, often extended on credit that reinforced economic dependencies in the isolated region. In April 1869, Murphy hired James J. Dolan, another Fort Stanton veteran, as a to manage operations. To support fulfillment, the firm organized the Lincoln Farmers Club, which cultivated produce and raised cattle specifically for and deliveries. Amid accusations of overpricing and under-rationing supplies—though contracts persisted—Dolan's violent confrontation with Army Captain James Randlett in May 1873 prompted the expulsion of and Dolan from grounds a few months later. The partners then relocated, selling holdings in June 1873 for $8,000 to L. Edwin Dudley while shifting core operations to , where they opened the Murphy-Dolan Mercantile in April 1874, dubbed "The House" for its dominant role in regional commerce. This new outpost continued government supply deals, including to , and expanded into banking services, solidifying a near-monopoly on trade in County.

Formation of Murphy-Dolan Enterprises

Following the death of Emil Fritz, Murphy's initial business partner, in 1873, Lawrence Murphy sought to stabilize and expand his mercantile operations in . Fritz had co-owned L.G. Murphy & Co., which supplied goods to and surrounding settlements, but his passing left Murphy managing the enterprise alone amid growing territorial demands. In late 1873, Murphy hired James J. Dolan, a 25-year-old immigrant and former who had arrived in the area earlier that year, initially as a to handle daily operations. By April 1874, Dolan's contributions—particularly in sales and local networking—proved invaluable, leading Murphy to formalize their partnership and rename the firm Murphy & Dolan Mercantile and Banking. This entity combined general merchandising, banking services, and government contract fulfillment, capitalizing on Murphy's established army supply connections from his post-Civil War roles. The partnership marked a shift toward aggressive expansion, with the duo constructing a prominent two-story store in that served as both commercial hub and residence, solidifying their dominance in the region's economy. The formation leveraged Murphy's experience and Dolan's energy, enabling the company to monopolize essential goods like whiskey, , and provisions, often at premium prices justified by the frontier's logistical challenges. Records from the period indicate rapid profitability, with annual revenues supporting further ventures into and , though this success drew scrutiny for alleged overcharges on contracts.

Cattle Ranching and Banking Ventures

In the mid-1860s, Lawrence Murphy expanded L.G. Murphy & Co. into operations by securing government contracts to supply beef to and the nearby Mescalero Reservation, initially in partnership with Emil Fritz. These contracts involved providing alongside other provisions such as and general supplies, leveraging the firm's position as a primary vendor to military outposts in isolated . By the early 1870s, after Fritz's in and the integration of James Dolan as a in 1874, the enterprise continued these beef supply agreements, extending them to additional sites like and incorporating sourced through land foreclosures on indebted farmers and ranchers. This approach allowed Murphy and Dolan to amass herds opportunistically, often acquiring as collateral from credit extended via their mercantile, which supported fulfillment of the lucrative federal demands for provisioning Native American reservations and U.S. troops. Parallel to cattle ventures, Murphy's firm ventured into banking functions amid the scarcity of formal in frontier . In April 1874, following the relocation from , Murphy and Dolan opened the Murphy & Dolan Mercantile and Banking establishment in , which handled extensions, loans, and integral to sustaining local and ranching economies. These operations included selling land on to settlers and foreclosing on defaults to consolidate assets, thereby financing further procurement and supply contracts while exerting economic control over debtors. The banking arm complemented the mercantile by enabling high-interest lending and mortgage-like arrangements, a common practice in remote territories lacking established banks, though it drew criticism for exacerbating indebtedness among small-scale producers. By 1877, amid Murphy's declining health, he sold his interest in these combined ventures to Dolan and associate John , who rebranded the firm as J.J. Dolan & Co. while preserving the integrated model of ranching, trading, and .

Political and Economic Influence

Government Contracts and Appointments

Following his muster out from military service at on January 1, 1866, Lawrence G. Murphy assumed the role of unofficial post trader there, leveraging his prior army connections to supply goods to troops. On April 28, 1868, he received official appointment as post trader, a position that granted exclusive rights to operate a sutler's store on the fort grounds and facilitated access to procurement networks. This appointment ended in fall 1870 amid a U.S. Secretary of War directive barring civilians from certain operations, though Murphy's firm retained indirect influence through off-post dealings. In 1869, Murphy was commissioned as District Probate Judge for , a role that enhanced his local authority over estates and legal matters amid sparse formal governance. Reports also indicate temporary service as succeeding David Hennissey at the agency, during which he faced accusations alongside associates of under-rationing supplies and overcharging, leading to expulsion from Fort Stanton-related business. Murphy's enterprises secured key government contracts starting in 1866, with L.G. Murphy & Co. providing , vegetables, and sundries to and the Reservation agency, establishing a near-monopoly in frontier provisioning. By 1869, the firm formalized operations, and in 1874, partnerships with James J. Dolan and John H. Riley expanded supply contracts explicitly to the Reservation and , capitalizing on Murphy's logistical experience from wartime quartermaster duties. To meet reservation demands, Murphy organized the Farmers Club in 1873, coordinating local agriculture for sustained fulfillment despite logistical challenges in the arid territory. After 1873 eviction from premises—stemming partly from pricing disputes and altercations involving Dolan—the firm pivoted to contracts with , maintaining revenue streams critical to its dominance. These arrangements, while profitable, drew scrutiny for alleged profiteering, though they aligned with the era's necessities of remote supply chains where few competitors existed.

Monopoly Dynamics in Frontier Economy

In the isolated frontier economy of 1870s —then the largest county in the United States, encompassing roughly one-fifth of the territory—Lawrence Murphy's enterprises achieved de facto market dominance through and exclusive government contracts. Murphy's firm, operating as Murphy & Co. and later Murphy-Dolan, controlled key supply chains for beef, vegetables, grain, horses, and other provisions to and the nearby Mescalero Apache Reservation, profiting from military ties dating to Murphy's post-Civil War role as a . These contracts, awarded starting around 1869, provided stable revenue amid high-risk logistics, as overland freighting from eastern markets faced Apache depredations, spoilage in arid conditions, and rudimentary roads, limiting viable competitors to those with sufficient capital and political access. The firm's structure compounded this control: owning the sole mercantile store in , a banking operation for extending credit to ranchers and settlers, and operations for self-sourcing created interlocking dependencies. Small producers, reliant on "The " for , loans, and , faced debt traps during droughts or Indian conflicts, as Murphy-Dolan adjusted prices upward—often doubling eastern wholesale costs—to cover risks and fund expansion. This integration mirrored natural monopolies in sparse frontiers, where fixed costs for wagons, guards, and inventory deterred entrants, but it also enabled foreclosure on debtors' herds, consolidating ranching assets under Murphy's influence by the mid-1870s. Political leverage amplified these dynamics, as Murphy cultivated alliances with territorial officials and the U.S. system, securing renewals despite complaints of overcharging—such as beef deliveries at premiums exceeding 50% during 1871-1873 supply shortages. In a cash-poor economy where and predominated, this control extended to local , with firm-backed sheriffs enforcing collections, though frontier realities—unreliable federal payments and volatile demand—meant profitability hinged on scale rather than pure predation. Rivals later argued the setup stifled independent enterprise, yet empirical risks, including total losses from raids, justified premiums as causal necessities for sustaining supply to remote outposts.

The Lincoln County War

Emergence of Rivals

The rivalry in Lincoln County began to crystallize in the mid-1870s as , a who had initially served as counsel for the Murphy-Dolan firm, became estranged from his former clients over financial disputes. McSween arrived in around 1875 and handled legal matters for Lawrence Murphy and James Dolan, including the estate of Murphy's deceased partner Emil Fritz, who died in August 1874. Tensions arose when McSween collected $8,000 in proceeds for Fritz's estate but faced accusations from Murphy and Dolan of , leading to lawsuits and McSween's arrest on fraud charges in 1876, though he was later cleared. This fallout positioned McSween as an adversary, prompting him to seek alternative alliances to challenge the Murphy-Dolan on mercantile trade, supply contracts, and dealings. In late 1876, English immigrant arrived in County, bringing capital from family interests in British Columbia mining ventures. Tunstall, aged 23, invested approximately $7,000 to establish a ranch south of and partnered with McSween to form a competing enterprise, H.H. Tunstall & Company, which opened a store in by early offering lower prices on goods to undercut "The House." Tunstall and McSween further bolstered their position with backing from cattle baron , whose vast herds provided economic leverage against Murphy-Dolan's control over beef contracts for and the Apache agency. Their strategy emphasized fair pricing and ethical dealings, contrasting the established firm's alleged price gouging and political favoritism, which drew small ranchers, , and disaffected locals to their side. Initial clashes manifested in legal skirmishes over debts—McSween owed Murphy-Dolan $3,000—and attempts by William Brady, a Dolan ally, to seize Tunstall's assets via court orders in late 1877. These developments fragmented Lincoln County's economic landscape, as Tunstall hired regulators like Dick Brewer and young William Bonney (later ) to protect their operations, signaling the shift from commercial competition to standoffs. By refusing to engage in duels or yield to intimidation tactics from Dolan, Tunstall escalated the feud, setting the stage for violent confrontations in 1878.

Key Incidents and Escalations

The first major violent escalation occurred on February 18, 1878, when was ambushed and murdered by a led by Jacob B. Mathews, including members William S. "Buck" Morton, Tom Hill, and associates of , while Tunstall rode between his Rio Feliz ranch and with horses. The acted amid disputes over cattle theft accusations and an tied to Tunstall's rival business challenging Murphy-Dolan dominance, with the group claiming official authority despite irregularities in their deputization under Sheriff William Brady, a Murphy ally. Although Murphy, weakened by cancer diagnosed in 1877, did not participate directly, the operated in defense of his mercantile interests, and contemporaries claimed the murder was ordered by Murphy and partner James Dolan, with rumors circulating of a $1,000 bounty offered by Dolan. Tunstall's killing prompted immediate retaliation from his partisans, who formed the "Regulators" group, including Billy the Kid, leading to the execution-style killings of Morton on March 9, 1878, and Hill on March 15, 1878, both tied to the posse. Further intensification followed on April 1, 1878, when Regulators ambushed and shot dead Sheriff Brady and deputy George Hindman in Lincoln, an act framed by the attackers as vengeance for Tunstall but decried by Murphy's faction as murder, deepening the cycle of reprisals. These events shifted the conflict from economic rivalry to open warfare, with Murphy's influence persisting through Dolan and armed enforcers despite his physical absence from the fray. The Murphy-Dolan side countered with the April 4, 1878, ambush at Blazer's Mill sawmill, where Evans' men and allies killed Regulator leader Dick Brewer and four others during a federal mail escort, justified by Dolan faction claims of pursuing fugitives but resulting in contested deaths that fueled recruitment. Escalation peaked in the July 1878 Battle of Lincoln, a multi-day of Alexander McSween's residence by forces under new Murphy-aligned Sheriff , involving gunfire exchanges and the torching of buildings; McSween was fatally shot on July 19, 1878, while attempting to exit the burning house amid claims of surrender attempts ignored by attackers. These incidents, totaling over a dozen deaths by mid-1878, marked the war's bloodiest phase, driven by Murphy's entrenched economic control and alliances with local , though his death from illness on October 20, 1878, curtailed his personal oversight.

Murphy's Strategies and Alliances

During the Lincoln County War, Lawrence Murphy's faction, often referred to as the House, relied on a network of business, political, and paramilitary alliances to counter economic threats from rivals John Tunstall and Alexander McSween. Key partners included James J. Dolan, who joined Murphy's operations in 1874 and assumed greater leadership as Murphy's health declined, and John H. Riley, incorporated as a partner in 1876 to bolster mercantile and banking activities. Politically, the faction aligned with the Santa Fe Ring, a coalition of influential New Mexico politicians and lawyers including U.S. Attorney T.B. Catron, who provided legal protection for their interests, and Governor Samuel Axtell, whose administration shielded allies from prosecution. Law enforcement ties centered on Lincoln County Sheriff William Brady, indebted to the House through loans and contracts, who enforced their claims and arrested opponents like McSween on embezzlement charges involving $10,000. Paramilitary support came from Jesse Evans and his gang, known as the Boys, rustlers who conducted raids and assassinations on behalf of the faction, including figures like William Morton and Tom Hill. Murphy's strategies emphasized integrating economic dominance with institutional leverage to suppress competition, building on pre-war control of beef contracts for and the Mescalero Apache Reservation, which generated profits through inflated pricing and asset foreclosures on defaulting debtors. In response to Tunstall's 1877 entry into ranching and banking, pursued legal actions, such as indicting McSween and seizing his properties, while using Brady's authority to deputize Evans' men as a counter to the opposing Regulators . was deployed selectively to eliminate threats, exemplified by the February 18, 1878, of Tunstall by a posse including Evans, aimed at disrupting the rival supply lines. A $1,000 was reportedly offered for McSween's , underscoring tactics to deter investment in competing enterprises. As Murphy retreated to in 1877 due to illness, Dolan directed escalated measures, including the July 19, 1878, arson of McSween's home during the Battle of Lincoln, which resulted in McSween's death amid crossfire with Regulators. These approaches preserved short-term factional control but invited federal intervention under Special Prosecutor and new Governor , highlighting the limits of localized alliances against broader scrutiny. The House's reliance on intertwined economic and armed enforcement reflected power dynamics, where formal law often deferred to influential merchants.

Controversies and Defenses

Allegations of Corruption and Price Gouging

Murphy's mercantile operations, primarily through L.G. Murphy & Co., faced accusations of exploiting a near-monopoly on goods and supplies in , where small farmers and ranchers were compelled to purchase essentials at inflated prices while receiving minimal payments for their cattle. This dynamic stemmed from the company's control over trade, bolstered by government contracts at and ties to territorial officials, which allegedly allowed Murphy and associates like James Dolan to dictate terms unfavorable to local producers. Early allegations of corruption arose during Murphy's tenure as post trader at , appointed on April 28, 1868, where he was later charged, alongside others, with under-rationing supplies and overpricing as an acting following the departure of Agent Hennissey. These practices reportedly involved providing insufficient goods to Native groups like the Mescalero Apache while charging premiums, leading to his expulsion from conducting business on fort property by the early 1870s. Critics, including settlers indebted through the company's banking arm, claimed Murphy extended credit for unowned land purchases, foreclosing on defaults to consolidate holdings and perpetuate dependency. Further claims implicated Murphy in fencing stolen cattle, with reports that he and partner Emil Fritz bought animals at $5 per head from outlaw before reselling them for $15 each to military contracts at and the Apache Reservation. Such activities, protected by alleged political influence via the —a network of territorial power brokers—fueled perceptions of systemic graft, though Murphy's defenders attributed high markups to the logistical risks of frontier supply chains. These economic grievances intensified resentment among rivals like , contributing to the factional tensions that erupted into the by 1878.

Involvement in Violence and the House Gang

Lawrence Murphy, as the founder and principal of the L.G. Murphy & Co. mercantile (commonly known as "the House"), oversaw a faction that employed armed enforcers to protect its economic interests during the escalating conflicts of the . Although Murphy suffered from advanced and did not personally engage in combat, his business partners, notably James Dolan, directed the operations of what became known as the House Gang—a loose of deputies, hired gunmen, and including members of and local regulators loyal to Sheriff William Brady. This group was implicated in violent acts aimed at eliminating rivals, such as the February 18, 1878, ambush and murder of English rancher , carried out by a under Brady that included House-aligned figures like Frank Baker, Billy Morton, and John McDaniels. The House Gang's tactics extended to legal and extralegal intimidation, leveraging Brady's authority to issue warrants and seize assets from competitors like and . Following Tunstall's killing, retaliatory violence intensified when McSween's supporters formed their own regulators, ambushing and killing Brady and deputy George Hindman on April 1, 1878, in . Murphy's faction responded by reinforcing alliances with Evans' and other rustlers, culminating in the July 19, 1878, siege of McSween's residence, where House forces set fire to the building, resulting in McSween's death amid gunfire exchanges that claimed at least four lives. Historical accounts attribute these escalations to the House's strategy of combining political influence with armed suppression to maintain supply monopolies, though Murphy's direct orchestration diminished as his health failed in the war's final months. Defenses of Murphy portray the House Gang's actions as defensive measures in a lawless , where rivals like McSween employed similar violent means, including the Kid's gang, to challenge established enterprises. Eyewitness testimonies and territorial records indicate that while the House initiated key aggressions, such as Tunstall's murder, the conflict's body count—estimated at over 20 deaths—reflected mutual vendettas rather than unilateral thuggery, with by Governor Axtell and later required to quell the anarchy. Murphy's pre-war military ties, including his service as a and post commander at until 1874, facilitated arms access and deputized posses, underscoring his indirect but foundational role in arming the faction.

Counterviews: Risks of Frontier Enterprise

In the remote conditions of 1870s , mercantile operations like those of L.G. Murphy & Co. confronted severe logistical barriers, including the transportation of goods over distances exceeding 200 miles from supply hubs such as or El Paso via wagon trains vulnerable to breakdowns, weather disruptions, and predatory raids. These supply chains, essential for sustaining isolated settlements and military outposts like , incurred high fixed costs for warehousing, credit extension to unreliable debtors, and insurance against loss, often resulting in markups deemed necessary for viability amid delayed payments and default risks. Persistent threats from groups, including bands active in the region until the mid-1870s and beyond, compounded these vulnerabilities by targeting , horses, and supply convoys, as evidenced by disruptions to regional ranching and routes that forced operators to invest in private rather than rely on sparse territorial . Murphy's enterprise, which included contracts to provision the Reservation after establishing in in 1874, navigated this environment by consolidating control over to achieve —pooling resources for armed escorts and political leverage via the —that smaller competitors could not match, thereby ensuring continuity of essential goods in a market prone to shortages and speculation. Critics of monopolistic practices overlook how fragmented competition in such frontiers often led to systemic failures, as nascent rivals like John Tunstall's 1877 venture lacked the capital buffers against rustling, credit losses, and enforcement gaps that integrated firms provided; historical analyses of Western trade underscore that singular dominance mitigated these perils by stabilizing prices through volume and deterring opportunistic entrants who exacerbated instability. Alliances with local authorities, including Sheriff William Brady, reflected pragmatic adaptations to a jurisdictional vacuum where federal oversight was minimal, prioritizing enterprise survival over abstract competition ideals ill-suited to causal realities of scarcity and violence.

Death and Immediate Aftermath

Final Years and Health Decline

By early 1878, amid escalating tensions in the , Lawrence Murphy's health began to fail due to cancer, which limited his direct involvement in the conflict's later stages. He delegated management of his business interests to James Dolan and sold his , relocating to for recovery. Murphy's condition worsened progressively, with reports attributing his decline primarily to the , though some accounts also note contributing factors like . He succumbed to cancer on October 20, 1878, at age 47, and was buried in . This marked the end of his active role in frontier commerce, leaving his faction's operations under Dolan's amid ongoing legal and violent repercussions.

Dissolution of Business Interests

Following Lawrence Murphy's death from cancer on October 20, 1878, his mercantile and banking interests, operated as L.G. Murphy & Co. and later restructured under James J. Dolan & Co., faced immediate strain from the ongoing fallout of the . Dolan, Murphy's longtime partner, assumed full control of the operations, which included the prominent store in known as "The House," but the business had already incurred significant debts from legal battles, lost contracts, and disrupted trade monopolies challenged by rivals like and . The war's violence and subsequent investigations eroded the faction's political protections, leading to financial collapse; Dolan mortgaged the store building and its inventory to , a influential attorney tied to the , to secure loans amid mounting liabilities. Catron later sold the property to Will Dowlin and John C. DeLaney, who attempted to revive it as a general mercantile but encountered similar economic pressures from the region's instability. By early 1881, Dowlin and DeLaney declared , resulting in the state's acquisition of the building for $15,000 approximately three weeks before April 28, 1881, after which it was repurposed as a county courthouse and jail, effectively ending the original commercial enterprise. This dissolution marked the end of the Murphy-Dolan monopoly on , contracting, and banking in Lincoln County, as wartime losses and creditor foreclosures dismantled the integrated operations that had once dominated local supply chains. Dolan's personal ventures shifted toward ranching, but the core mercantile assets were liquidated, reflecting the broader risks of business entangled with political and violent conflicts.

Legacy

Economic Contributions to Region

Lawrence G. Murphy established L.G. Murphy & Company in 1866 at , , operating a store and brewery that supplied beef, vegetables, and other goods to the U.S. Army post and the nearby Apache Reservation under government contracts. These operations filled a critical gap in commerce, where remote military outposts and Indian agencies required consistent provisioning to maintain territorial stability and federal presence. Following relocation to after disputes at in 1873, Murphy partnered with James J. Dolan to open the Murphy & Dolan Mercantile and Banking operation in April 1874, constructing a prominent two-story structure known as "" that served as store, bank, and community hub. This enterprise expanded supply contracts to include and continued provisioning the Agency with food, clothing, and merchandise, channeling federal funds into local trade networks. By securing a dominant share of Lincoln County's mercantile and banking services, the firm provided credit extensions in an economy short on cash, facilitating transactions for ranchers, soldiers, and settlers reliant on imported goods. Murphy's ventures also incorporated ranching, crop production, and land acquisitions starting in the , leveraging these assets to fulfill contract obligations and speculate in regional resources like water rights and . Such activities underpinned the agricultural and extractive foundations of the Rio Bonito Valley, supporting military-dependent economic activity that sustained Lincoln County's growth amid sparse private investment.

Historical Reassessments

In the latter half of the 20th century and into the 21st, historians began reassessing Lawrence Murphy's legacy by focusing on primary documents and the structural challenges of frontier commerce, rather than relying on sensationalized accounts that cast him as the archetypal villain opposite Billy the Kid. This shift highlights Murphy's establishment of Lincoln County's first sustained mercantile enterprise in 1866 as an unofficial post trader at Fort Stanton, where he supplied essential goods to U.S. Army troops combating Mescalero Apache raids, thereby channeling federal contract funds—estimated in thousands of dollars annually—into the local economy and enabling settler expansion in a region lacking infrastructure. Criticisms of Murphy's and high prices, which marked his operations by 1869 when he formalized the in (then La Mesilla), are contextualized as adaptations to extreme : wagon trains from , faced banditry, weather, and spoilage risks, justifying markups of 100-200% on staples like flour and beef to cover defaults and ensure supply continuity for the fort's 200-300 soldiers. Such practices mirrored those of other post traders, like those under the sutler system, and supported the transition from dependency to ranching, as evidenced by Murphy's founding of the Lincoln Farmers Club in 1874 to provision agencies with local . Murphy's service, including commendation from in 1862 for "zeal and efficiency" in repairing and roads amid conflicts, underscores his role in imposing rudimentary order on chaotic territory, complicating narratives of unmitigated corruption. By 1877-1878, debilitated by cancer and —leading to his death on October 20, 1878, in —Murphy's direct influence waned, with partner James Dolan handling escalating disputes; reassessments attribute much violence to mutual provocations, including Tunstall's unlicensed banking and McSween's unpaid debts exceeding $6,000 to the by 1877, which disrupted established credit networks. Scholars like Philip J. Rasch, through archival compilations such as The : A Documentary History (1995), emphasize verifiable records over , revealing how the Murphy-Dolan faction's legal alliances with territorial officials reflected pragmatic in a with minimal oversight, rather than outright . This evidence-based approach counters the Kid-centric myths, portraying as a risk-bearing immigrant who amassed land holdings—over 1,000 acres by 1877—through deeds and contracts, laying groundwork for regional production that outlasted the war. Ultimately, these views frame Murphy's tactics as causally linked to survival in a zero-sum environment, where economic dominance preempted collapse, fostering long-term development despite ethical lapses by contemporary standards.

Influence on Western Development Narratives

The , in which Lawrence Murphy's mercantile operations played a central role, exemplifies the economic frictions that shaped early historiographical views of Western expansion as a between entrenched commercial and emergent independent enterprises. Murphy's firm, L.G. Murphy & Co. (later Murphy-Dolan), dominated trade in Lincoln County from 1866 onward by securing exclusive U.S. Army contracts at and controlling supply chains for settlers and ranchers, a model that underscored the necessity of centralized distribution in underdeveloped territories lacking infrastructure. This structure, while enabling regional growth through reliable goods and credit, fostered narratives portraying such entities as predatory, as rival factions like Tunstall-McSween challenged the , leading to armed conflict in 1878 that highlighted tensions between scalable commerce and localized autonomy. In broader Western discourse, the war's outcome—federal intervention via special envoy John Wallace and the subsequent pursuit of —reinforced archetypes of frontier violence as a precursor to state-imposed order, with Murphy's faction symbolizing the risks of unchecked political-economic alliances, including ties to the . Historians have noted how these events contributed to a romanticized interpretation of , emphasizing resistance over the infrastructural contributions of merchants like Murphy, who amassed and operations that supported influx and production for military needs. Empirical records indicate Murphy's enterprise handled thousands of annually for government contracts by the 1870s, facilitating with eastern markets, yet popular accounts often elide this in favor of dramatized feuds, biasing perceptions toward viewing commercial consolidation as antithetical to "authentic" ethos. Reassessments in Western historiography increasingly frame Murphy's model as emblematic of adaptive in hostile environments, where monopolies mitigated logistical but invited backlash amid scarce oversight, influencing modern analyses of how such dynamics propelled territorial maturation toward statehood. The war's thus permeates narratives of U.S. , portraying economic pioneers not merely as villains in outlaw sagas but as vectors for institutional development, though source biases in sensationalized retellings—favoring underdog protagonists—persist in overshadowing verifiable contributions like Murphy's role in stabilizing supply amid Apache threats and Civil War aftermath scarcity.

Cultural Depictions

Portrayals in Film and Literature

Lawrence G. Murphy has been depicted in several films centered on the and , typically as a ruthless, monopolistic antagonist opposing protagonists like or the Regulators. In the 1970 Western Chisum, directed by , portrays Murphy as a scheming Irish immigrant and corrupt merchant seeking to dominate Lincoln County's economy through underhanded tactics, including alliances with and manipulation of local law enforcement. The film dramatizes Murphy's rivalry with cattle baron (played by ), culminating in armed conflict, though it compresses historical timelines for narrative effect. Tucker's performance emphasizes Murphy's cold calculation and economic ambition, drawing from his real-life role in the Murphy-Dolan mercantile interests. In the 1988 film , Jack plays L.G. Murphy as a menacing cattle baron tied to political corruption via the , employing enforcers like to eliminate competition from . 's portrayal heightens Murphy's villainy, including a fictionalized death during the Battle of in 1878, contrasting historical records of his passing from illness on October 20, 1878. The depiction aligns with the film's focus on youthful Regulators as anti-heroes, framing Murphy as the embodiment of entrenched power and greed. Literary portrayals of in fiction are less prominent but often mirror film characterizations, casting him as a crooked exploiting . In the historical Billy the Kid: The War for Lincoln County (part of broader narratives), appears as a for rustling gangs, underscoring his alleged ties to economic control and violence. Such depictions in prioritize dramatic conflict over nuanced business motivations, frequently subordinating to 's mythic arc rather than exploring his background or mercantile innovations. Non-fiction works, while detailed on his life, do not qualify as literary portrayals.

Romanticization vs. Reality

In films such as (1988), Lawrence Murphy is depicted as a ruthless, cigar-chomping antagonist played by , embodying corrupt frontier capitalism and orchestrating violence against youthful protagonists aligned with . This portrayal casts the Murphy-Dolan faction as monolithic villains monopolizing trade through intimidation, contrasting sharply with the romanticized Regulators as avenging folk heroes. Similar narratives in literature and media amplify Murphy's role as a shadowy , often ignoring his death from illness on October 20, 1878—months before the war's peak—falsely implying direct involvement in later shootouts like the McSween house siege. Historical records reveal Murphy as an Irish immigrant and veteran who, after mustering out as a major in 1866, relocated to in 1867 to supply amid sparse civilian commerce. His firm, established with partner Emil Fritz in 1869, secured essential government beef contracts and mercantile operations, providing goods to soldiers, settlers, and ranchers in Lincoln County's isolated economy—contributions that predated rivals and sustained regional development without initial competition. By 1877, annual sales exceeded $150,000, reflecting legitimate enterprise rather than unbridled extortion, though political leverage via alliances with territorial officials enabled favorable terms typical of contracting. The romanticized underdog narrative overlooks mutual aggressions: Tunstall's 1876 entry, backed by Alexander McSween's legal maneuvers and John Chisum's cattle interests, challenged Murphy's dominance through price undercutting and alleged rustling, escalating to Tunstall's murder on February 18, 1878, by Dolan associates amid broader economic feuds. Both factions wielded influence—McSween faced charges, and Regulators committed documented thefts—undermining binary hero-villain frames perpetuated in popular accounts influenced by the Kid's dime-novel legend. Murphy's aggressive tactics, including land acquisitions totaling thousands of acres by 1877, prioritized business survival in a lawless frontier where federal oversight was minimal, not inherent malevolence. Cultural emphases on Murphy's alleged greed eclipse empirical context: his operations employed dozens, imported vital supplies via arduous freighting, and filled a void left by absent competitors, fostering County's growth from outpost to hub before the war's disruptions. Posthumous vilification, amplified by Pat Garrett's self-serving memoirs favoring the victors, distorts causal chains, attributing systemic frontier violence to alone while downplaying rivals' ambitions and the era's rampant vigilantism on all sides. This disparity highlights how media prioritizes dramatic archetypes over verifiable records, such as military dispatches affirming his suppliers' reliability.

References

  1. [1]
    Lawrence G. Murphy - Pals of Billy the Kid
    Lawrence Gustave Murphy was born in Wexford, Ireland, in the year 1831. By age seventeen, Murphy was in Buffalo, New York, and joined the Fifth Infantry United ...Missing: biography | Show results with:biography
  2. [2]
    Lawrence Murphy – Behind the Lincoln County War
    Lawrence Murphy, a Civil War veteran, cattleman, and businessman, would be one of the primary instigators in New Mexico's Lincoln County War. Born in Wexford, ...Missing: Gustave | Show results with:Gustave
  3. [3]
    L.G. Murphy and Company records | University of Arizona Libraries
    Mercantile store at Fort Stanton and later Lincoln, New Mexico was owned by Lawrence Gustave Murphy (d. 1878) and Emil Fritz (d. 1873). After Fritz's death, ...Missing: biography | Show results with:biography
  4. [4]
    Lawrence Murphy and the Lincoln County War - True West Magazine
    Jul 14, 2017 · Lawrence Murphy's name is synonymous with New Mexico's Lincoln County War. He began his business there in 1869, monopolizing mercantile goods ...Missing: Irish immigrant Union Army merchant<|control11|><|separator|>
  5. [5]
    LINCOLN COUNTY WAR | Encyclopedia of the Great Plains
    When lawyer Alexander McSween and a young Englishman, John H. Tunstall, began competing with local merchants Lawrence G. Murphy and James Dolan in the tiny ...
  6. [6]
    Lincoln County War by Emerson Hough - Legends of America
    ... Lawrence G. Murphy. After the war, many men settled near the points where they were mustered out in the South and West. It was thus with Major Murphy, who ...
  7. [7]
    Billy the Kid and the Lincoln County War: the Irish connection
    In the early 1870s Lawrence G. Murphy, an Irish emigrant and ex-Union Army ... Categories 18th–19th - Century History, Issue 3 (May/Jun 2006), News, Volume 14.
  8. [8]
    Lawrence Gustave Murphy (1831–1878) • FamilySearch
    Lawrence Gustave Murphy was born in 1831, in Wexford, County Wexford, Ireland. He died on 20 October 1878, in Lincoln, New Mexico, United States, at the age ...
  9. [9]
    Murphy, Lawrence Gustave, MAJ - Together We Served Army
    Last Known Activity: Lawrence Gustave Murphy was born in County Wexford, Ireland, in 1831, and came to the United States as a young man.
  10. [10]
    MAJ Lawrence Gustave Murphey (1831-1878)
    Lawrence Gustave Murphy was born in County Wexford, Ireland, in 1831 ... Lawrence Murphy died of cancer in Santa Fe, New Mexico, on October 20, 1878 ...Missing: biography | Show results with:biography
  11. [11]
    Lawrence Murphy - Spartacus Educational
    Lawrence Murphy was born at Wedford, Ireland, in 1831. He moved to the United States and enlisted in the 5th Infantry. During the American Civil War he joined ...Missing: Gustave | Show results with:Gustave
  12. [12]
    Battle Unit Details - The Civil War (U.S. National Park Service)
    1st Regiment, New Mexico Infantry (Old). Overview: Organized at Fort Union and Santa Fe, N.M., July 1 to August 13, 1861. Duty at Fort Union till February ...
  13. [13]
    Fort Stanton: A Journey Through Time - Pals of Billy the Kid
    On April 11, 1866, Lawrence G. Murphy was appointed commanding officer of Fort Stanton and Company G, First New Mexico Cavalry, later earning a promotion to ...<|separator|>
  14. [14]
    L.G. Murphy Sutler Store - The Historical Marker Database
    L.G. Murphy Sutler Store Marker site. Both Murphy and Fritz commanded Fort Stanton at the end of the Civil War. Fritz did serve at Ft ...
  15. [15]
    Lawrence Murphy - Wikipedia
    Lawrence Gustave Murphy (1831 – October 20, 1878) was an Irish immigrant to the United States, Union Army veteran, Grand Army of the Republic memberMissing: date | Show results with:date
  16. [16]
    Lincoln County's L.G. Murphy reaped the whirlwind alright
    Mar 2, 2023 · Lawrence G. Murphy was the boss of Lincoln County, New Mexico in the early 1870's. He had lost most of his power by the time Billy the Kid ...Missing: Gustave biography
  17. [17]
    Fort Stanton Cave | Lincolncountyhistori
    Settling at Fort Stanton, Fritz went into business with his Army buddy, Lawrence G. Murphy, as ranchers, post traders and store owners at the Fort and in ...
  18. [18]
    New Mexico History : Lincoln Historic Site
    He served in the Union Army from 1851-1861. He moved to New Mexico after he was discharged, joining the First New Mexico Volunteers stationed at Fort Stanton.Missing: 1st | Show results with:1st
  19. [19]
    Paying the Price? - True West Magazine
    Apr 1, 2021 · A few months later, army officials kicked Dolan and partner Lawrence Murphy off the fort grounds—partly due to the attempted killing, but also ...Missing: supply | Show results with:supply
  20. [20]
    Greetings from Lincoln, In mid-June of 1873, L. Edwin Dudley ...
    Jun 11, 2025 · Greetings from Lincoln, In mid-June of 1873, L. Edwin Dudley purchased the Murphy & Co. holdings at Fort Stanton for $8,000.Missing: date | Show results with:date
  21. [21]
    Murphy-Dolan Store - The Historical Marker Database
    Built in 1874, as place of business and residence of L.G. Murphy & Company, a dominant factor in area in 1870's, and headquarters of the Murphy faction ...
  22. [22]
    James Dolan - Spartacus Educational
    ... Lawrence Murphy. Within three years the two men were business partners. In 1874 the two men established the Murphy & Dolan mercantile and banking operation.Missing: Enterprises | Show results with:Enterprises
  23. [23]
    L.G. Murphy and Company records, 1871-1874
    Mercantile store at Fort Stanton and later Lincoln, New Mexico was owned by Lawrence Gustave Murphy (d. 1878) and Emil Fritz (d. 1873). After Fritz's death, ...Missing: business | Show results with:business
  24. [24]
    https://www.legendsofamerica.com/we-jamesdolan/
  25. [25]
    James Dolan – Bad Boy of the Lincoln County War
    Within no time, “Murphy & Dolan Mercantile and Banking” signed new contracts with Fort Sumner and continued their unethical business practices. The Murphy & ...Missing: operations | Show results with:operations<|control11|><|separator|>
  26. [26]
    Lincoln, New Mexico – Wild Wild West Frozen in Time
    In the early 1870s, two men named Lawrence Murphy and James Dolan owned the only store in Lincoln County, the largest county in the nation, covering 1/5 of ...
  27. [27]
    [PDF] The Careers of Four Mescalero Indian Agents, 1871–1878
    Apr 1, 1982 · Murphy felt "emboldened" to point out in a letter to the com- missioner of Indian affairs that he had spent more than $1,500 of his money to ...<|separator|>
  28. [28]
    The American West - NPS History
    President Lincoln too was aware of the precarious situation and included a defense of the West in his war plans; and just in time, for the South had hastily ...
  29. [29]
    Historic Lincoln
    Lucrative contracts were awarded to private contractors to supply the government with food, clothing and other supplies for both the army and the Indians. With ...
  30. [30]
    Billy the Kid Museum Ruidoso: Unearthing the Legend and Lore of ...
    The Murphy-Dolan Faction: Led by Lawrence Murphy and James Dolan, who owned a large mercantile store in Lincoln, “The House,” which held a near monopoly on ...
  31. [31]
    [PDF] In the Shadow of Billy the Kid: Susan McSween and the Lincoln ...
    The battle was not between the forces of good and evil, but between merchant factions vying for economic control of southeastern New Mexico. Although one might ...
  32. [32]
    Billy the Kid and Lincoln County War: Economics of Gunslinging
    Mar 19, 1995 · A monopolistic Lincoln commodities brokerage, “the House,” held government contracts to supply horses, cattle and grain to the reservation ...
  33. [33]
    [PDF] Thomas Catron, Samuel Axtell, and the Lincoln County War
    Apr 1, 1993 · " New Mexico Historical Review 68, 2 (1993). https ... Murphy and Dolan and had begun representing their rival, Tunstall. Rather than ...Missing: enterprise dominance
  34. [34]
    Lawrence Murphy – Behind the Lincoln County War - Facebook
    Sep 25, 2025 · When he was mustered out again at Fort Stanton, New Mexico in 1866, he partnered in a business with another veteran named Emil Fritz. L.G. Murphy & Co was a ...Lincoln County War 1878–1881 conflict in the Old West of the New ...Lincoln's early life and business dealings - FacebookMore results from www.facebook.com
  35. [35]
    [FREE] Describe Lawrence Murphy's business practices and how he ...
    Sep 2, 2024 · Impact on the Lincoln County War. The conflict began when Murphy and his associates sought to eliminate their competition and establish a ...Missing: dynamics Mexico frontier<|separator|>
  36. [36]
    Alexander McSween – Igniting the Lincoln County War
    Alexander McSween was a lawyer in Lincoln County, New Mexico. He and his partner, John Tunstall, opened a rival store in Lincoln, vying for the business.
  37. [37]
    Exploring John H. Tunstall's Journey from London to New Mexico
    John Henry Tunstall was born on March 6th, 1853 in the Hackney district of London, England. John was one of six siblings, and the only son of John Partridge ...
  38. [38]
    Alexander McSween - Spartacus Educational
    In 1876 McSween and John Tunstall set up a rival business. These two men were given the support of John Chisum, the owner of a large ranch and over 100,000 head ...
  39. [39]
    Murder ignites Lincoln County War | February 18, 1878 - History.com
    The big ranchers, led by John Chisum and Alexander McSween ... He won Dolan's and Murphy's lasting enmity by establishing a competing general merchandise store in ...
  40. [40]
    New Mexico's Lincoln County War - Legends of America
    Murphy & Dolan Mercantile and Banking. Soon, another ...
  41. [41]
    This English Rancher's Ambush Killing Set Billy the Kid on the Path ...
    Jun 17, 2022 · For long years, no monument marked the spot where Lincoln County rancher John Tunstall was slain in 1878.<|separator|>
  42. [42]
    Lincoln County War - Spartacus Educational
    It was claimed that John Tunstall had been murdered on the orders of James Dolan and Lawrence Murphy. Rumours began to circulate that Dolan had offered $1,000 ...
  43. [43]
    Law on the Frontier: The Lincoln County War | Encyclopedia.com
    Two years later Murphy sold his share of The House to James J. Dolan and John Riley, who did not realize that the company was nearly bankrupt. THE DALTON GANG.Missing: analysis | Show results with:analysis
  44. [44]
    A Cowboy Mafia War - Frontier Partisans
    Oct 28, 2015 · Violent exception. The House's lawman-on-the-pad Sheriff William Brady took a posse out with a court order to seize some horses from Tunstall as ...
  45. [45]
    The Lincoln County War - Pals of Billy the Kid
    Lawrence G. Murphy: A former soldier and influential merchant who, with his partner James Dolan, controlled Lincoln's economy through their store and ties to ...
  46. [46]
    Billy the Kid: From Outlaw to Legend - AMERICAN HERITAGE
    When the House gang murdered John Henry Tunstall, who had befriended and hired Billy the Kid, it started the notorious Lincoln County War in 1878. The ...
  47. [47]
    [PDF] The story of mining in New Mexico
    Following McKnight, a number or others operated the mine up to 1860, but. Indian attacks, difficulty of transportation, shortages of supplies, and distance to.
  48. [48]
    [PDF] John Simpson Chisum, 1877–1884 - UNM Digital Repository
    The irritated cattleman quite openly but vainly aimed complaints, then threats, not only tq Dolan but also to. Lawrence G. Murphy, head of the Murphy-Dolan ...
  49. [49]
    The Economics of American Farm Unrest, 1865-1900 – EH.net
    It is true that interest rates on the frontier were high, averaging two to three percentage points more than those in the Northeast. Naturally, frontier farmers ...<|separator|>
  50. [50]
    Apache War in New Mexico - Legends of America
    The Jicarilla Apache roamed over much of northern New Mexico and in 1854 violence broke out between them and the U.S. Army.
  51. [51]
    The Economic History of the Fur Trade: 1670 to 1870 – EH.net
    A commercial fur trade in North America grew out of the early contact between Indians and European fisherman who were netting cod on the Grand Banks off ...
  52. [52]
    James Dolan: From Drummer Boy to Lincoln Tycoon
    Just after his discharge from the Army in 1869, Dolan began working at Murphy's store as a clerk. Come after Emil Fritz's passing, Dolan was promoted to partner ...
  53. [53]
    Murphy Store - Pals of Billy the Kid
    The Coe Family History: Pioneers of ... Lawrence G. Murphy · James Dolan: From Drummer Boy to Lincoln Tycoon · John Riley: From Ireland to the Colorado Gold Rush ...Missing: born | Show results with:born<|control11|><|separator|>
  54. [54]
    [PDF] Exit Axtell : Enter Wall ace - UNM Digital Repository
    Feb 3, 2021 · Rasch, Philip. "Exit Axtell : Enter Wall ace." New Mexico Historical ... McSween, and the partisans of Lawrence G. Murphy, James. J ...
  55. [55]
    [PDF] Review of The Lincoln County War: A Documentary History
    These luminaries first got involved in an economic struggle for gov- ernment contracts. Then with the murder of. Tunstall on 18 February 1878, Lincoln Coun-.<|control11|><|separator|>
  56. [56]
    Billy the Kid's Rise to Infamy: The True Story of the Lincoln County War
    Jun 1, 2024 · The former was owned by Irish-Americans Lawrence G. Murphy and James J. Dolan, a pair of influential businessmen who held sway over the county's ...
  57. [57]
    The Lincoln County War: Turmoil and Legacy in New Mexico's Old ...
    Apr 23, 2024 · On one side was the established house of Murphy & Dolan, which had previously held a monopoly on the region's goods and livestock. On the other ...Missing: operations | Show results with:operations
  58. [58]
    Forrest Tucker as Lawrence Murphy - Chisum (1970) - IMDb
    Lawrence Murphy: Well, Mr. Chisum came out here several years ago, put his name on everything he could. I've only been here a little while. Just getting started ...
  59. [59]
    Chisum: A Cinematic Take on the Lincoln County War
    Ealy: Pioneer in Medicine and Education · George Washington: Witness to the ... Lawrence Murphy. However, the film takes creative liberties, portraying ...
  60. [60]
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3FPsMeQ6Ra4
  61. [61]
    Young Guns (1/10) Movie CLIP - Get Ready for Hell (1988) HD
    May 17, 2012 · ly/1u2y6pr CLIP DESCRIPTION: Murphy (Jack Palance) threatens his competition, John Tunstall (Terence Stamp), with political corruption in ...
  62. [62]
    ‎Young Guns - Apple TV
    When Tunstall is gunned down by the crooked Lawrence G. Murphy (Jack Palance), a ragtag group of cow hands -- including Doc Scurlock (Kiefer Sutherland) ...
  63. [63]
    Billy the Kid: The War for Lincoln County - Historical Novel Society
    In 1877, we meet 17-year-old Billy, as he hooks up briefly with Jesse Evans's cattle rustling gang, who are in the pay of crooked businessman Lawrence Murphy.
  64. [64]
    In the 1988 Western Young Guns, Jack Palance and Terence Stamp ...
    Jul 27, 2025 · In the 1988 Western Young Guns, Jack Palance and Terence Stamp portrayed formidable characters Palance as the ruthless Lawrence Murphy and Stamp ...
  65. [65]
    Young Guns - Warren Watched A Movie
    Jun 15, 2022 · Jack Palance is the villain of the film as Lawrence Murphy. That man had an evil sounding voice that could make the ingredients in ...
  66. [66]
    Lawrence G. Murphy's Land Purchases — The Empire Before the War
    We follow the land records of Lawrence Murphy and James Dolan, two men whose business empire in Lincoln County, New Mexico, shaped the course of the Old West.
  67. [67]
    The Lincoln County War, When Billy The Kid Became An Icon
    Nov 2, 2021 · In the early 1870s, Irishmen Lawrence Murphy and James Dolan won a contract to sell cattle to the government, a lucrative trade that made them ...Missing: Gustave | Show results with:Gustave<|separator|>