Conspiracy
The Trial of Oliver Lee and James Gililland
"It is a case that will change Quentin Peach s life forever."
Based on a true story.
It is May 1899. Quentin Peach, a young reporter for the San Francisco Examiner, is sent to the “Trial of the Century” at the little mining village of Hillsboro, NM. The trial is for the murder of an eight-year old boy, Henry Fountain and his famous father, Albert Fountain, attorney, frontiersman, leading Republican, and father of twelve. Oliver Lee and James Gililland, ranchers, former U.S. Deputy Marshals and Deputy Sheriffs, and Democrats stand accused of the crime. All evidence is circumstantial. The territory claims Lee and his friends conspired to murder Albert Fountain. The defendants claim the territory is conspiring to hang Lee and Gililland regardless of their guilt. Small ranchers and cattle barons, Texas Democrats and Yankee Republicans are on the edge of open warfare at a trial that has become a political war. If the trial is not resolved peacefully, New Mexico statehood will be set back fifty years. Quentin’s assignment is to gather background stories on the trial, try to find out what happened to the bodies, and determine if Lee and Gililland are in fact guilty as charged.
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“I truly enjoyed reading your version [Conspiracy: The Trial of Oliver Lee and James Gililland] of the times. The more I read, the more I enjoyed being drawing into the story with all the characters and their stories which gives rise to their versions. The different personalities and elements involved shares with the reader why there could be many different ideas floating around about what went on with [the] Albert & Henry disappearance. It isn’t narrow thinking at all and your report helps to lead other people to look at the other versions.”
~ Linda Lee, Great Great Granddaughter of Oliver Lee
“Also, being from the Fountain family, I was raised in an atmosphere to believe that Oliver Lee did indeed have a lot to do with the murder. However, I like to think I’m open minded and your story of his roll being inadvertently “drawn” into the fight opened my eyes and I thought “what if it really was like that, or at least similar to it?”….that is ….being approached by the shooter (Red Tally) and asking for a reward for a deed that Lee didn’t really authorize. Interesting facet to think about! “
~ Thomas Vietch, Great Great Grandson of Albert Fountain