Lt Hurst's card to the EPITAPH was basically a reward poster. He knew he was addressing it to a non-military audience, so he would have had every reason to describe two brands on the still missing mules. Not to do so would have been simply illogical since he exlaining how to identify the animals for a reward.

I'm sorry, after re-reading your post just now, I am a little confused about your take on whether any mules were secreted at the McLaury or Patterson ranch.

You write: "From the ranch where the McLaurys and Patterson were squatting near the Whetstone mountains to steal the mules, only six, from Fort Kearny, is about two hundred miles round trip by horseback. The time involved and the distance covered and the fact that they would have to have buyers ready would never be worth it. It would take them a week or more. The mules could not be bought across the border as no one over there would have the money. On the American side, the mules could not be sold unless someone would move them out of the territory and far away. Brands do not grow hair over them. They don't disappear. These guys were never in a position to pull off such a stunt.

"The McLaurys established a good reputation with their neighbor ranchers and were seriously trying to get a future built. That's why they bought or homesteaded in the Sulphur Spring Valley later. They would not likely take the time and effort to steal six government mules from the other side of the territory."

It seems to me that you ae saying that neither the McLaurys or Patterson had anything to do with stealing the mules and that would likely go for any other Cowboy because of the difficulties in selling them. Are you saying Hurst and the Earps were mislead by Estes and there never were any stolen mules in the vicinity of the McLaury and Patterson ranches?