Albert J. Fountain Murder Site

The panel's 1898 is the year of the warrants. Sheriff Pat Garrett obtained murder warrants that year for Oliver Lee, James Gililland and William McNew, and a gunfight with Lee and Gililland at Wildy Well left one of Garrett's deputies dead. The two surrendered to others in March 1899 and were tried that summer at Hillsboro, on a change of venue, for killing Henry alone; no one was charged with his father's death. Thomas Catron prosecuted, Albert Fall defended, and the jury took minutes to acquit.

What the plaque says

Official Scenic Historic Marker Albert J. Fountain Murder Site Albert Jennings Fountain was a Civil War veteran, New Mexico legislator and pro- minent lawyer. Colonel Fountain and his young son were presumed murdered near this spot while traveling between Lincoln and Las Cruces on February 1, 1896. Their bodies have never been found. Oliver Lee and James Gilliard were tried for their murder in 1898. Both were acquitted.

Where it stands

Worth the stop nearby

• White Sands National Park — 19 mi
  The largest gypsum dunefield on Earth, a national park since 2019, surrounded on all sides by military ground whose missile tests close its only road for hours at a time.
• Mesilla Plaza — 32 mi
  A plaza laid out in 1848 by people who meant to stay in Mexico, American six years later, a stage stop and Civil War headquarters, and scene of a deadly political riot in 1871.

More markers nearby

• Disappearance of Albert J. Fountain and his son Henry — 2.8 mi
• San Augustin Pass — 15 mi
• Site of San Agustín Springs — 16 mi
• Dog Canyon — 25 mi