==Lincoln County War==
In the 1870s, Lawrence Murphy and James Dolan owned "Murphy & Dolan", " the only general store in Lincoln County. Murphy & Dolan soon monopolized all [[Bank]]ing and local [[Police|law enforcement]]. However, small farmers became angry at the monopoly, named "The House", and helped Alexander McSween, John Tunstall, and Billy the Kid to set up a small rival business, H.H. Tunstall & Company.<ref name=legend>[http://www.legendsofamerica.com/NM-LincolnCountyWar.html Legends of America]</ref>
Frustrated, "The House" ordered Sheriff William Brady and Deputy William Morton to arrest Tunstall on questionable charges. Tunstall refused to leave his house and was killed. Angered, Billy the Kid formed a posse called the Regulators, and chased down and killed Deputy Morton. Fighting between the Regulators and The House continued throughout 1878, taking 19 lives. <br>When the fighting was over, Billy the Kid took to a life of crime, stealing cattle from the very ranchers he fought to protect. 0n July 14, 1881, new Lincoln County Sheriff Pat Garrett killed Billy the Kid in a gunfight.