MS 594 - John "Johnnie D" Hopkins Collection, 1887-1887 | McCracken Research Library

The collection is in the originial order that it was recieved.

This collection contains the indictment of the John "Johnnie D" Hopkins. John Hopkins was charged with "unlawfully and willfully" branding one head of cattle with the brand NΛY. The indictment shows the rising tensions that happened in the years leading up to the Johnson County War. In 1884 the Maverick Law was passed in the Wyoming Territory, making cattle ranching hard for smaller ranchers. The Maverick Law was one of the tipping points to the Johnson County War in 1892.

Johnson County (Wyo.)

The Johnson County War occurred in 1892 but had been festering for many years prior to that, as this indictment would seem to indicate. The cattle "kings," who formed the Wyoming Stock Growers' Association, by matter of both custom and law, asserted ownership of all unbranded cattle found loose on the open range. The offense alleged here is that Hopkins was not a foreman on a round-up and had no authority therefore to brand a cow as his own. Such grievances eventually erupted into conflict. Author: Dorothy Sloan

Johnson County War, 1892
Maverick Law of 1884
Wyoming