FELIPE ESPINOZA: ONE OF AMERICA'S FIRST SERIAL KILLERS

Article BY RJ Parker

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The Mexican American War, also known as the Invasion of Mexico was one of the defining moments of the 1800's. The war not only echoed throughout history, impacting the lives of many that were involved in it, but it also redefined the course of history, altering the United States of America as we see it. The war lasted one year and nine months, and was a pretty bloody affair. Most will give different reasons as to why the war started, but in truth, the main reason for the war was the annexation of Texas, which the Mexicans considered to be their own property.

Back in 1845, the United States annexed Texas, and incorporated it as the 28th State. Texas had already declared independence from the Republic of Mexico back in 1836, and a lot of the people of Texas were actually in favor of annexation. However, the leaders of both the biggest political parties of America, the Whigs and the Democrats were pretty much against the introduction of Texas as a state, mainly because the residents of Texas were known for owning a vast number of slaves. The introduction of a vast region of slave owning people in to a pretty volatile political atmosphere that was precariously balanced between pro- slavery and anti- slavery view points in the Congress was unlikely to have a positive effect.

Another reason why the leaders opposed the annexation of Texas was because it was almost a certainty that this would lead to war with Mexico, something the country wanted to avoid at all costs. The government of Mexico had, as yet refused to acknowledge the sovereignty of the province as yet. However, by the 1840's, the economic conditions of Texas were deteriorating rapidly, and it was evident that a change had to be introduced. A number of talks were held, with the government of Mexico as well, but all of this resulted in President Tyler offering immediate annexation to Texas by the year 1845. In December, Texas was annexed and incorporated as the 28th State of America.

Come the spring of April 1846, the Mexican American war began. The war was a bloody one, there's no doubt about that. The American forces were able to quickly capture the state of California as well as New Mexico, and were also able to invade parts of Northwest Mexico and Northeast Mexico. A blockade was also set up by the Pacific Squadron, which was stationed in the Pacific Ocean, and this led to the Pacific Squadron gaining control of a number of major garrisons set along side the Pacific Coast towards the southern side of Baja California. Situations became very dire for the Mexicans, and ultimately, another American army was able to capture Mexico City, which effectively resulted the end of the year. After one year, nine months, one week and one day, the Mexican American War had finally come to an end.

The Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo effectively spelled out the damage that had been caused to the Mexicans as a result of the war; New Mexico and Alta California had to be ceded to the United States, for a price of $15 million. The Mexican border was moved to Rio Grande, as the country accepted that Texas was no more to be considered their own land. For the politicians, this was a major win. President James K. Polk's main purpose of invading Mexico all the way to the Pacific Coast was to expand American territory. The war also invoked controversy within the United States, as the leaders of the Whig Party and the anti- imperialists were all pretty opposed. There were heavy casualties on both sides and a significant amount of monetary damage was also incurred.

However, despite the significant political damage that was caused to both the countries as a result of the war, the damage caused to individual families was much worse. Since the Centralist Republic of Mexico was forced to concede New Mexico, the people who lived there found it quite difficult to adapt to the ways of the Americans. There was wide spread dissent amongst the people, mainly because the Anglo Americans were grabbing up land as much as they could, and had also begun to politically exploit the people. For the people who had their roots deep in Mexican culture, the change was proving to be an extremely challenging affair. From the many families that had to suffer from moving away from their own homes and settle in to poorer places because of the Americans, one of those were the descendants of Nicolas de Espinosa. This was a Nuevomexicano family hailing from the mestizo and coyote lineage, and had first settled in New Mexico back in 1695.

So, you can well imagine the impact left on the family from the war. This was a family that considered the town, and its people, their own. For five generations, the Espinosas had lived in New Mexico, and had a very peaceful life until the war broke away everything. On top of the indignation that the family suffered, the Americans had begun taking away their lands and had begun to subject the family to their own terms. However, the story that you are about to read is one of the most remarkable tales in the history of the west. Few know the details of what truly happened, mainly because at that time, record keeping was not at a very advanced stage. The typewriter had not come in to use as yet, and the only record keeping that was done was primarily done by those who had actually been affected by what transpired in those days. The story that follows is of a man named Felipe Nerio Espinosa, and what he did. It also involves another key person, Tom Tobin, one of the most legendary trackers that lived in those times. The events that have been written in the following paragraphs have been compiled from the diaries kept by Espinosa and Tobin, as well as newspaper articles and retellings of the story. The events have been put together to provide an accurate picture of what actually transpired in those days.

Background

Felipe Nerio Espinosa was born in 1832 to Pedro Ygnacio Espinosa and Maria Gertrudis Chavez. He was born at the San Juan Nepomuceno de El Rito in New Mexico, and was the eldest amongst five siblings. The names of his younger siblings were Maria Tomasa, Jose Vivian, Juan Antonio and Maria Juana, who was the youngest of the lot. Even before the Mexican American War had started, the communities based in Northern New Mexico had expressed their dissatisfaction at having been largely ignored by the government of Mexico. This was mainly because of their remote geographical location as well as the internal political turmoil that existed within the southern parts of the country. By that time, the people of New Mexico felt themselves to be independent and strong willed, and felt that they were not governed by anybody.

When the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo was signed, it was stated that all the rights to property of the people of New Mexico will remain with the original owners. However, this was not the case. Numerous entrepreneurial Americans ventured in to the land, manipulating and bribing their way across and using deviousness and chicanery, which ultimately resulted the native people of New Mexico to lose approximately two thirds of their land to the new Americans. One of the people whose families lost land to the invading Americans was that of Felipe Espinoza.

Ultimately, by 1858, there wasn't enough land for Felipe Espinoza and his family to be able to provide for themselves. As a result, he was forced to move out, and ended up settling in Conejos County, Colorado. He settled in the town of San Rafael. Little is known of Felipe's physical appearance. The newspapers of those times claim that the had a 'jack o- lantern grin, comprised of misshapen teeth, with gaps among them. He would often claim that he was proud of his Castilian blood, and often considered his heritage to be one of god's given privileges. Very little doubt remains over Felipe's education, he was certainly a learned man. However, little is known as to where he received his education, because those areas were pretty much devoid of schools. It is very likely that he was taught by his mother, or someone from his family.

He was a religious man, and also considered himself to be highly patriotic. This was one of the main reasons why he considered being driven out of the land of his forefathers such a big form of injustice. He had often vowed amongst his friends that he would one day take his revenge. The influx of Presbyterians and the Baptists that moved in to Nuevo Mexico left a lot of New Mexicans, along with Felipe, quite angry. This was the land of his family, their property that was being occupied. He was unable to do anything about it. And so, as mentioned, he did the only thing that was in his power, albeit with a lot of reluctance. He, along with his wife Secundina Hurtado along with members of his extended family finally settled in Conejos County, but that was not exactly what Felipe wanted.

The circumstances in Conejos County were not exactly very good either. His brother, Jose Vivian had also moved out with them, and it was sometime during this period that the Espinosa family met with such hardships and desperation that Felipe and Espinosa and Jose Vivian finally began to consider a career in banditry. Felipe, along with his brother Jose Vivian, started small at first. They began robbing freight wagons and stealing horses that passed along routes. For the next few years that followed, these acts began to define the Espinosa brothers. Once, there came a wagon along an empty route, with just one driver. It was coming from Santa Fe and moving towards Galisteo, and was likely carrying freight goods. The two brothers at first thought they'd only just loot the wagon, but then went for a little fun. Tying the driver upside down, with his head barely moving above the rocky surface of the earth, the two brothers pulled the wagon ahead,. By the end of the journey, the driver was barely alive, though he managed to live, and ultimately described his assailants to the police. This was the first bounty that was put on the heads of the Espinosa brothers. And so begins a period of time that resulted in murder, violence and hatred of a very high order. This was also the first time that they had been recognized and described to the police, as the wagon driver had once been a neighbor in Conejos with them.

The Murders

The American officials situated at Fort Garland in California sent out a small group of men in order to arrest the Espinosa brothers at their home in San Rafael. Upon arrival however, the military men found that the Espinosa brothers were armed. A shootout then ensued, which ultimately resulted in the death of an Army Corporal. From robbery, the initial charge had now been increased to include murder too. The Espinosas were able to escape however, and moved in to the safety of the Sangre de Cristo mountains. In English, Sangre de Cristo means the 'Blood of the Christ', a fitting name.

On the other hand, the American military had decided to search the home of the two brothers, and found the money from the previous robbery, as well as stolen goods from other robberies. All was taken back. When the two brothers returned from the mountains days later to ensure their house was alright, they found that the house had been stripped of the most basic possessions, and that the family was in dire straits. This led to the brothers becoming highly infuriated with the Americans, and declaring a war against them. A pact was signed by the two, to kill as many Americans as they possibly could.

According to history records as well as newspaper clippings from that era, the first kill made out of vengeance by the Espinosas was in March of 1863. At first, the Espinosas were quite successful. It wasn't long before they had been able to kill a number of Anglo Americans, starting from the area that is currently known as the Fremont County in Colorado. The corpse of their first kill had been badly mutilated; the heart had been hacked out of his chest.

During the same summer only, they had managed to kill around twenty five more people, all in the same horrific manner. However, on the 9th of May 1863, the two brothers were followed back to their camp, where a shootout ensued and Jose Vivian received a fatal wound, dying soon after. Felipe, however, managed to escape.

He enlisted the help of his cousin as well as his nephew in order to fulfill his quest to murder as many Americans as he could. In this time period, he also wrote a letter to the Territorial Governor John Evans, mentioning that he wanted to kill 600 'Gringos'. He later demanded full pardons for himself and his family, as well as 5,000 acres of land in Conejos County along with appointments in the Colorado Volunteers. The letter also mentioned that in case his wishes were not fulfilled, the Governor himself was likely to die, along with 574 more 'Anglos'.

The military and police were soon up in action. Conejos County Sheriff Emmett Harding along with Colorado Volunteer Commander S. B. Tappan had been assigned to find Felipe Espinosa, though they were virtually unable to track down the men. A party had been made of sixteen men to capture Felipe along with his compatriots, though they were able to meet with little success. Often times, they would travel for days and nights in search for Felipe, and once they were even able to find the camp site of the Espinosas, though Felipe was always able to escape from them. By September 5th of 1863, more and more corpses had been found badly mutilated. A woman, by the name of Dolores, had just survived the Espinosas, but she had been raped by Felipe and Julian however. Her role here is crucial, she was able to provide the best possible description of the Espinosa company. The time had come for Commander Tappan and his men to put an end to the Espinosas.

The Tracking

Thomas Tobin, a famous adventurer, tracker, mountain guide as well as a US Army Scout, was called up by Colonel Tappan to Fort Garland, and was asked to take up the hunt for the Espinosas. His first action upon entering the Fort was to carefully interview both Dolores, along with a member who was traveling with her, Philbrook. At first, Tobin insisted that the travel alone and find the company of Espinosas on his own. The request, was obviously denied. Espinosa was no ordinary criminal.

He was offered a company of full militia men at his disposal, though he politely refused, ultimately setting upon three party soldiers to help him. Tobin was an articulate, meticulous person. When he was able to find the first camp site used by the Espinosas, he would carefully go through each and every smell in the region before finding a path that followed. Soon, a chain emerged. They would reach campsite after campsite, with fresh ash smoldering in the fire pits. The party soon realized that it won't be long before they would finally catch up to Espinosas.

Tobin would allow his company to light no fires. He would also give them very little amounts of sleep. On the fourth day of their hunt, Tobin saw some birds flying about nearby. A kill had been made. Soon, Tobin, along with his men were able to see a ring of smoke in the distance. Instructing his men to lay low, he got down to the ground, and began to crawl on all fours like army men towards the scene. For most of the day, Tobin crawled like this.

However, his slow approach came to an end when he saw Julian and Felipe sitting off in the distance, their faces illuminated by the dim light of the fire. A dead ox, that had been murdered only a few hours before, lay besides the two, about to be put on the skewer as dinner for the two men.

It was obvious that getting the proper shot was not exactly easy. The Espinosas had a powerful reputation, which meant that a missed bullet would definitely get Tobin missed. Fortunately, the bigger of the Espinosas got up, and began to stretch. Tobin took the chance. The bullet hit Felipe Espinosa directly in his sides, catching the man off guard and knocking the wind out of him. As Tobin got about to reload, Julian began running for the woods. The muzzle loader was soon ready to fire however, and the second shot caught Julian directly in his spine, killing the young Espinosa on the spot only.

All this time, Felipe had managed to move himself away from the fire, and was resting against a log when Tobin approached the dying man. Felipe was hurling curses at Tobin. However, Tobin severed his head, and then of the younger Espinosa, and made his way back to Tappan. To this day, the assassination of the Espinosas makes Tom Tobin a famous man around Colorado. There was controversy after wards, as the bounty placed on Espinosa's head was $5500, of which Tobin got not a cent, not from the government anyway. People believed that Tobin wanted the money, though he maintained that he did not know of any bounty till the end. He did receive a number of gifts however, along with money that was raised by the public money. The reign of terror of Felipe Espinosa had come to an end, in what was probably one of the greatest untold stories of the west to have unfolded in those times.