 | This article includes a list of references, related reading, or external links, but its sources remain unclear because it lacks inline citations. (September 2015) |
Horrell brothers | |
|---|---|
| Born | Mart, Tom, Merritt, Ben, and Sam Horrell |
| Died |
|
| Cause of death | Ben, Merritt, Mart, and Tom were shot |
| Years active | 1873-1878 |
| Known for | Horrell-Higgins feud |
| Motive | Racism against Hispanic people |
| Details | |
| Country | United States |
| Location(s) | Texas, New Mexico Territory |
| Target(s) | Hispanic people |
| Killed | 18+ |
| Weapons | Guns |
The Horrell brothers, sometimes referred to as the lawless Horrell boys (circa 1873–1878), were five brothers from the Horrell family of Lampasas County, Texas, who were outlaws of the Old West, and who committed numerous murders over a five-year period before four of the brothers were killed in different incidents. The brothers are probably best known for the Horrell-Higgins feud, although it resulted in relatively few deaths compared to other feuds. However, starting in 1873, the brothers went on an ethnically motivated killing spree during which they killed a Hispanic lawman and a white lawman in New Mexico, killed 11 other Hispanic men, and wounded one Hispanic woman. The brothers had previously killed five lawmen in Texas.