...Bob, just wanted to make a note on your response to Tom, something that registered late as often happens with me.

There is no reason to believe Hurst saw the changed brand on the mules as it is quite likely he never saw the mules at all. He dealt with Patterson, according to testimony by Wyatt, but we have no actual wording anywhere from Hurst himself except from the 'Card' he placed in the newspaper posting a reward for the lost mules.
Only Wyatt claims he saw the stamp iron and the changed brand. Not likely, Patterson is the only man that Hurst dealt with, according to Wyatt, and then Hurst, according to Frank McLaury sought out Frank and had words with him. This we know from Frank's piece in the newspaper.

So as usual, we have Wyatt's story with no back-up. We are expected to take his word for everything. I see no evidence that Lt. Hurst actually saw the branding or the mules. I think, if the mules were on the property, they had been turned out. Virgil Was Federal Marshal and had authority to round up those mules right then and there if they were there, and would have! Hurst and soldiers could not do it. Why would Hurst have to wait for the mules being returned if they were right there? Patterson and Co. were not going to take on the military and bring down trouble with government troops. This is a very poor account on the part of Wyatt.