An Unfortunate Affray
The Cox and Truby Feud
The Hiram Washington Cox family came to the Animas Valley from Erath County, Texas in the late 1870s. They brought several thousand head of cattle and established a ranch at Cox's Crossing, New Mexico (today's Cedar Hill just south of the Colorado/New Mexico state line). The Truby family also hailed from Texas and established a cattle operation near Elco, Colorado (today's Bondad, just north of the state line). There was apparently no love lost between the two families, but when the Cox family decided to go into the sheep business in 1904, it set the stage for a classic cattleman vs. sheepman range war.
The title of this exhibit is from the "Durango Wage Earner", April 27, 1911.
The Cox Version of the Story
1905
Trubys threaten to harm Cox sheep.
1909 - 1910
Sheep are moved to Pine River area to graze, but returned.
April 16, 1911
Ike Cox, one of H.W. Cox's sons, and Calvin Barrows are involved in a fist fight with the Trubys on the banks of the Florida River.
April 23, 1911
Ike Cox was returning from Ignacio where he had spent the night at the Wayt Hotel. He met Bill Truby, who was joined by Sam. With Bill on one side and Sam on the other, they tried to drag him from his horse by rope. He fired in self defense, hitting and killing Bill. Ike rode to Durango and turned himself in to Sheriff McCluer. Sam continued to fire as he rode away.
May 5, 1911
Ike was shot in downtown Durango, while walking with Undersheriff W.F. Sease. Hit in the back and left jaw, he was so badly wounded newspapers reported he was killed, and referred to him in the past tense.
Surprisingly, Ike made a full recovery. Ruple was arrested for attempted murder, claiming he had been hired by the Trubys, who provided the gun and promised him the horse, Mancos Pearl. Newspapers, especially The Durango Herald, are supportive of the Coxes.
Ike moved to Pagosa Springs, but returned to the area in October, 1912. On October 23 Ike, his nephew John Graves and Jesse Carmon were riding in Cox Canyon, near their ranch when they met Sam Truby and Paul Rowe. When the groups were about 150 yards apart, Sam fired toward them, missing. Each side fired two shots; all missed.
On November 10, 1912, Cox, Jesse Carmon and John Graves were riding up Cottonwood Canyon when they saw the Truby party, with rifles in their hands. To avoid trouble they retreated toward Cox Canyon. They saw Sam and another man below them. Sam raised his rifle and they fired in self defense.
Cox, Carmon and Graves arrived in Durango on the train and were met by Sheriff McCluer on November 14th. He arrested them and took them to jail.
The Truby Version of the Story
Cox threatens harm to Tuby cattle.
Return of sheep brings return of trouble.
Sam and his brother Bill Truby involved in fistfight; no weapons involved, no clear winner.
April 23
Ike Cox buys pistol bullets at Cedar Hill store. Meets Sam and Bill, who are working cattle, calls Sam a "foul name", draws and fatally shoots Bill and fires at a fleeing Sam.
Andy Ruple arrested for the attempt on Ike, the Trubys were charged with conspiracy. Due to newspaper coverage and fervent public opinion, the trial was held in Silverton. Ruple had been "dizzy drunk" when he confessed to the plot. He was a liar and a tough character. Another witness called him a "desperado, a tough character of bad reputation" and a liar.
Sam Truby sues the Herald for libel. Otherwise, the rest of the account is the same, except Cox fired first.
On November 10, 1912, Sam and John Truby, Paul Rowe and David McCullom, a 22-year old Truby ranch hand, were working in Cox Canyon. They were carrying shovels to dig out a spring. To avoid trouble, McCullom and Sam fled, but were ambushed by Cox and his men. Sam was fatally shot in the neck. McCullom was wounded in the leg.
Cox Carmon and Graves were missing.
The Courts Said
On December 9, 1912, Ike was found not guilty of murdering Bill Truby. Hoof prints at the scene and testimony from the Ignacio hotel clerk supported his story.
Andy Ruple was convicted of 2 counts of assault with intent to kill and one count of conspiracy in the attempt on Ike's life. He served a short sentence at the reformatory at Buena Vista and lived an exemplary life thereafter.
On trial in Silverton, the Trubys were found not guilty of conspiracy.
There was delay in filing charges in the case of Sam Truby's death while it was determined whether the shooting occurred in Colorado or New Mexico. Cox, Carmon, and Graves were tried in Durango and found not guilty on March 24, 1913. Immediately after the verdict they were re-arrested on charges of attempted murder against David McCullom. They were released on bond and charges were eventually dropped.
Assorted charges had also been filed against friends and neighbors of the Coxes and Trubys. In November 1913 the District Attorney dismissed all cases, believing that given the public sentiment in La Plata County convictions would be impossible.
