New Mexico Livestock Board Update

in the hands of a young fledgling who while here exhibited no signs of ordinary ability.”

Maurice G. Fulton in History of the Lincoln County War quoted an editorial in the Santa Fe New Mexican which went even further: “[Angel] has…commenced playing the role of informer and mud dauber, misrepresenting and perverting facts.”

As an aside, Sir Edward Thornton had previously identified three men as responsible for killing John Tunstall: Buck Morton, Tom Hill and Jesse Evans. As mentioned above, Morton was killed before Angel arrived in New Mexico, and so was Tom Hill in a separate incident. Evans had fled to Texas and was never prosecuted for his role in the Tunstall murder.

The information Angel developed and carried back to Washington secured for him a place in New Mexico history. The depositions he took from the major players in the Lincoln County War—detailed first-person statements—are frequently cited by those who have seriously studied that conflict. He was personally not significant in the affairs of the day.

Angel did not apparently return to the west. One biographical source indicates that he held assorted political jobs for the remainder of his life. He died of a cerebral hemorrhage in New Jersey at the age of 60 years.

NEW MEXICO LIVESTOCK BOARD UPDATE

New Mexico Livestock Board at the Junior Livestock Expo

Several supporters from the Livestock Industry across state came together to organize the Jr. Livestock Show at the Eastern New Mexico State Fair Grounds in Roswell, NM during the week of September 13, 2021. This was a great opportunity for the youth of New Mexico to participate in the fair and display their animals. According to comments made by parents and supporters of the Jr. Livestock Show it was a great success! The kids time, effort and hard work paid off, with an amount of approximately $630,000 being raised during the sale.

New Mexico Livestock Board Regional Manager, Barry Allen, anticipated a large turnout for the event and he was not wrong. The show brought in families from all around the state, but an organized team of Inspectors efficiently handled the long lines of trailers. According to one parent this was a very nice, welcoming, and stress-free livestock show. Check-ins ran smooth, kids were excited, and parents were happy despite the fact it was organized last minute. Another parent called in immediately, after her interaction with one of our inspectors, to share her positive feedback and give a special thank you to all who were present.

The crew that worked long, hot, and dusty days were, Shawn Davis, Barry Allen, Francisco Lovato, Ruben Baca, Justin Gray, Dennis Alarid, Michele Ingram, Benjamin Gonzales, and Clay Wier. The Inspectors were all in agreement the process went off without a hitch. We are also grateful to the Inspectors who carried the workload in each district while the others were in Roswell for the week. ▫

*Several sources report that Angel’s middle name was Warner. William A. Keleher in Violence in Lincoln County proclaimed that his middle name was Warren. Robert Utley in High Noon in Lincoln avoided the problem by indexing the name as Frank W. Angel. Howard R. Lamar in The Far Southwest: 1846-1912, A Territorial History, spells the last name Angell. Jon Tuska in Billy the Kid: His Life and Legend refers to him as Judge Angel, and so does Donald R. Lavish in Sheriff William Brady and Maurice Fulton in History of The Lincoln County War. No source found indicates any judicial experience for Angel, and at 33 years of age, it is unlikely that he had any.

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