The Big House
by J. Young

The history of The Lincoln County Courthouse began when construction began in late fall of 1873 on what would eventually be considered the most iconic historic building of the old west. The “House of Murphy” as it soon became known was structured from stone and over 58,000 feet of lumber. Legend has it that it was built with the forced labor of individuals that found themselves indebted to Lawrence G. Murphy. The building was engineered  and created by master stonemason, George Peppin. On the ground level the building’s walls are about 20 inches thick and the upper level is ten inches thick. The upper balcony and the pitched roof over its wide front porch made it one of the most impressive buildings in the county. The house supplied all of Lincoln county with the necessities of life. 

Like all good stories, this one has a twist. Considering Lawrence Murphy wasn’t above the use of what could be considered nothing short of slave labor to build his store, it’s not surprising that he would kill for it as well. The Maes brothers lived on the land that Murphy wanted for his store. With some trumped up charges of horse theft, Murphy had the brothers picked up and transported to Fort Stanton. Just two miles east of Lincoln, directly off Highway 380, both brothers were hung by the Sheriff of Lincoln County. The murder of the brothers was quickly swept under the rug and remained hidden from history until Cold West Detective Steve Sederwall uncovered the secret while searching property records. The stump of the tree that hung the Maes brothers can be seen just off the roadway.

The grand opening was held on June 4th of 1874.Housed under its roof was a mercantile and post office on the bottom floor. A billiard hall occupied the room to the west of the store and drinks were passed through a porthole for there was no doorway. The second floor initially provided living quarters for himself and his business associates. Jimmy Dolan occupied the room across the hall from his boss and mentor, Lawrence Murphy. It was said that Murphy enjoyed sitting on the balcony overlooking the town that bent to his will. The entire upper west wing was designated as a secret meeting place for the Masonic order. The only entrance to the Masonic room was up a ladder in the rear of the building.  

 “The House” as it became known, supplied all of Lincoln County with the necessities of life. The prices were inflated with the intent of keeping the customers in debt. Murphy was in control of the monopoly at Lincoln County, including beef contacts with nearby Fort Stanton. It would appear that nothing could stop Murphy who had the backing of one of the most prominent political machines in territory, the Santa Fe Ring.

 With L.G. Murphy’s health dwindling, he stepped out of the spotlight when he gave his interest in the company to his partner James Dolan and Co. With business ventures collapsing under the weight of the Lincoln County War, Dolan eventually mortgaged the building and its contents to political giant and Santa Fe Ring member Thomas Catron. Catron would oversee the operations for a short time until selling to Will Dowlin and Co. WIll Dowlin and John C. DeLaney ran a general mercantile store out of the building until also going bankrupt. They were forced to sell the building to the state. 

 The building served both the city and county as a courthouse and jail. During this time, the courthouse went under multiple renovations. Murphy’s old room was transformed into a sheriff’s office and living quarters.

 Three weeks after the building was purchased by the state for $15,000, the building hosted its most famous prisoner. William H. Bonney, alias “Billy the Kid” was delivered to Sheriff Pat Garrett for safe keeping until his scheduled execution date of May 13th, 1881. Billy, despite being guarded around the clock by two deputies, made his escape on April 28th, 1881. In doing so, he left two dead deputies in his violent wake. The killing of Deputy Bell stained the stairs of the courthouse with his blood. Blood that would resurface 123 years later, echoing the violence that occurred within its walls. 

 The building continued to serve as the courthouse up until 1913 when the county seat was moved from Lincoln to Carrizzo. 

 In 1914 the building became the Lincoln High School and remained as such until it was relocated to Capitan in 1931. With the move, the old courthouse stood vacant for the first time since its construction. 

 In 1937, the building was deeded to the State of New Mexico and the restoration began. Jerome W. Hendron headed up the project and stated that: “In repairing the building it was our intention to restore it as nearly as possible to the time when Billy the Kid made his escape, in 1881.”

 The courthouse was dedicated as a museum in July of 1939. One of its many curators was well-known Billy the Kid historian and author, Col. Maurice Garland Fulton. Fulton lived at the courthouse with his dozen or so cats when writing his book, The History of the Lincoln County War.

 Today the building’s foundation is cracking in various spots and worsens with the large commercial vehicles traveling through town The courthouse museum is listed both on the National Historical register and the New Mexico register of cultural properties.