Always wondered why the town of Mesilla was so close to Las Cruces.
In 1848, the Treaty of Hidalgo put an end to the Mexican-American War. As a result, the border changed. People in the Las Cruces area who wanted to retain Mexican citizenship founded Mesilla, a little south of the new border. Unfortunately for them, the 1853 Gadsden Purchase made Mesilla part of the United States.
Speaking of Mesilla… back in 1871, both Republicans and Democrats wanted to hold rallies on the Plaza on the same day. Each concluded a night spent drinking and discussing politics with a march around the Plaza. When the two parties ran into each other, events took a seriously ugly turn. During the ensuing brawls and gunfire, nine men died and at least 40 more sustained injuries. Soldiers from Fort McRae descended and restored order, but no one was ever prosecuted. How come?
Because the judge assigned to investigate concluded that doing so was too hazardous to his health!
