Killers and Practical Jokes

John Tunstall’s murderers staged the death scene for a laugh.

February 18, 1878. Rancher John Tunstall (photo) is shot and killed by a posse in Lincoln County, New Mexico Territory. According to biographer Frederick Nolan, after the young man was shot out of his saddle, and one of the deputies applied the coup de grace with Tunstall’s own pistol. They covered the body with a blanket and put his folded up coat under his head—as if Tunstall was asleep. They then shot and killed Tunstall’s horse—and put the dead man’s hat on the horse.