Tintype Of Lincoln County Sheriff William Brady.

Publication: ca 1868, NP

A rare image of an important, primary figure in New Mexico's famous Lincoln County War. A sixth-plate tintype image. Slightly hand-tinted. Circa late 1860's. 3"x 2". Nicely framed, 11"x 9.375". A sharp and clear image done in the photographer's studio with backdrop. Sheriff Brady is seated and holding a derringer, with a woman standing next to him. William Brady was born in Ireland in 1825, migrated to the United States, and joined the 2nd New Mexico Volunteers in 1861, being breveted Major in 1865 for "gallantry in action against the Navajo Indians on July 1, 1865." He became sheriff when Lincoln County was organized in 1869, was succeeded by others, and re-elected in 1875, serving until his death. Brady aligned himself with Lawrence Murphy and James Dolan, and accordingly, against the interests of John Tunstall and Alexander McSween. Sheriff Brady sent a posse, led by Billy Mathews, to the ranch of John H. Tunstall to seize Tunstall's cattle. Tunstall was murdered by members of the posse, touching-off the succession of events in Lincoln County that made Billy The Kid, Pat Garrett, and others famous. Sheriff Brady was shot and killed from ambush, by Billy the Kid and others, in the street in Lincoln on April 1, 1878, in reprisal for the killing of Billy's friend, John Tunstall. Billy was convicted of the killing of Sheriff Brady, sentenced to death, and held in the Lincoln County jail, from which Billy later made his famous escape. A rare and important image!

Inventory Number: 52304