by David G. Thomas (Author)
"In the matter of the cause and circumstances of the death of John H. Tunstall a British subject to the honorable Charles Devens, Attorney General...."
So begins the single most important contemporary document recounting the origins of the Lincoln County War. That document is the "Report of Special Agent Frank Warner Angel on the Death of John Henry Tunstall," known today to historians as the "Angel Report."
The 395-page, hand-written Report that Angel submitted on October 3, 1878, on the "cause and circumstances" of Tunstall's unprovoked, sadistic killing is published for the first time in this book.
The Report documents the events leading to Tunstall's killing - the testimony of the men present at the brutal killing - including Billy the Kid's eye-witness account - and the violent consequences that followed.
Supplementing the Report are an extensive introduction, notes, contemporary documents, associated letters, biographical details, and a timeline.
The book also reveals the brazen attempt by two powerful politicians - Thomas Catron and Steven Elikins - to destroy the Report, depriving history of its invaluable contribution.