Paul, since you have studied this entire situation probably more than any other researcher/author, what is your opinion on whether the stolen mules had a second brand unmentioned by Hurst or Wyatt, the D8 branding iron vs. a running iron controversy, and whether the McLaurys had any knowledge of or culpability in the theft of the mules? I would ordinarily just reference your book but am not in a position to do that currently. There is what is probably a huge whopper in Wyatt's testimony that Tom and Joyce have failed to point out because of their concentration on the brand issue. Wyatt says he tracked Tom and Frank and two other mule thieves to the ranch, for which there is no evidence whatsoever and is in contradiction with the information Hurst included on his card.
Joyce - I didn't think you were confused. The confusion between Frank Patterson and Frank McLaury has come down through the many times this 'mules incident' has been reported and written up by others... more
Re: just clarifying — Bob Cash,Fri Aug 26 2022 7:15
Bob, if you go back and look at my original posts on this subject and also in my book when you get it, you will see that Wyatt's story about tracing the McLaurys to the ranch is indeed full of holes. There... more
but somewhere in Parsons' diary he mentions being at the McLaury ranch (and this could have been during the mule search incident, but I am not sure) when Virgil Earp "greeted warmly" the outlaw Curly Bill.... more