Deputy U.S. Marshal Tom C. Hall

Tom C. Hall

Deputy Marshal Hall was shot and killed near Silver City, New Mexico. He was en route to Pinos Altos on business when he encountered a man with a young Mexican girl. Unbeknownst to Marshal Hall the man was a noted Mexican bandit, Perez Pilar. He and two companions had abducted the girl, 14, from her home near Silver City several days earlier. Before riding away they shot and killed the girl's brother and stole two horses. As Marshal Hall road his horse away from the two after talking to them, Pilar shot him in the back. The girl managed to get away and fled to Silver City. A search had already began for Marshal Hall after his horse came into Silver City alone just before the girl arrived. Marshal Hall was found barely alive and died the next day.

Pilar and his gang were wanted in Mexico for the murder of four families. They were wanted in New Mexico for the murder of three men, several armed robberies, and horse theft. In 1887 Pilar was recognized by a man in a bar in Flagstaff, Arizona. The man, was with an officer, and both had to fight him but took him into custody. He was transported to Silver City and hanged there on July 6, 1888.

In 1931 a man living in Hillsboro, New Mexico, displayed a rope that was used to hang Pilar. He said he lived near Silver City and saw Pilar and the girl pass by his home just before he killed Marshall Hall. He said he was present and saw his hanging, and then took the rope.