Henry Fountain

Date of Birth*: 1887 – 1888
Birthplace:
Age at the Time: 8
Age Group: Child
Biological Sex: Male
Hair: Unknown
Eyes: Unknown
Skin Complexion: Unknown
Shoe Size: Unknown
Ethnicity: Caucasian or White
Nationality: United States
Languages Spoken: Unknown

*If the date says January 1, this is often just a placeholder for an unknown specific date. It usually means “sometime that year”.

Physical Build:

Height:

Weight

Distinguishing Marks:

• Unknown

Medical Condition: Henry was ill at the time of he and his father’s disappearance. It is unclear what was wrong with him.
Physical Abnormality: Unknown
Dental Condition: Unknown
Scars & Other Marks: Unknown
Piercings: Unknown
Tattoos: Unknown

Other Descriptors: Unknown

Clothing

• Unknown

Possessions:

• Unknown

Date of the Disappearance*: February 1, 1896

Description: Colonel Albert Jennings Fountain, a prominent Republican figure in New Mexico, was acting as the chief investigator and prosecutor for the newly formed Southeastern New Mexico Stock Growers’ Association, dedicated to stopping cattle rustling in the region.

In late January 1896, Fountain traveled to Lincoln, New Mexico, accompanied by his eight-year-old son, Henry. He was there to present evidence at the Lincoln County Courthouse and ultimately secured 32 indictments. During the proceedings, Fountain received an anonymous note warning: “If you drop this we will be your friends. If you go on with it you will never reach home alive.” Undeterred, he continued his work.

On January 30, 1896, Albert and Henry set out on their return journey to their home in Mesilla. Traveling by covered buckboard wagon through the Sacramento Mountains, they stopped overnight at the Mescalero Apache village, where they acquired a pinto pony from a friend. The next day, while en route to La Luz, Fountain grew uneasy after noticing two riders trailing them intermittently throughout the day.

On February 1, while crossing the Tularosa Basin and White Sands on his way to Mesilla, Fountain stopped to speak with another stage coach driver. The driver observed that he had seen three riders at a distance, and Fountain took note. Fountain and his son later met with a second stage coach and Fountain also noticed the three riders. Unfortunately, Henry had become ill, so Fountain decided to continue on his way. That evening marked the last time either Albert or Henry was seen alive.

Alarm spread, and two search parties were organized—one led by Albert’s older son, J.J. Fountain, and aided by two Mescalero Apache scouts. Investigators found evidence of foul play: spent shell casings near a shrub, signs of three horses being tended, a pool of blood, and a blood-stained handkerchief containing a nickel and a dime. They followed wagon and horse tracks east for 12 miles into the sand dunes near the Jarilla Mountains, where they discovered the abandoned and plundered buckboard wagon.

Despite intense efforts and a reward offered by the New Mexico governor, the bodies were never found.

On October 20, 1900, the Albuquerque Daily Citizen reported the discovery of charred remains of a man and boy in a canyon in the Sacramento Mountains. Sheriff Pat Garrett stated that the remains could not be positively identified. However, J.J. Fountain noted that some items found with the remains did not belong to his father, though he acknowledged the possibility they were placed there to mislead investigators. Ultimately, J.J. seemed to accept that the remains could be those of his father and brother, citing the lack of any other reported disappearances in the region.

Today, a memorial honoring Albert and Henry Fountain stands in the Masonic Cemetery in Las Cruces.

Multiple Victims?: Yes

Rumored or Actual Sightings: Unknown

*If the date says January 1, this is often just a placeholder for an unknown specific date. It usually means “sometime that year”.

Date the Body was Recovered: Unknown

Description: Unknown

Possible Signs Of . . . : Unknown

Time of Death: Unknown

Cause of Death: Unknown

Recovered Remains (if partial): Unknown

Suspected Homicide?: Unknown

Multiple Victims?: Unknown

DNA Tested (No Match): Unknown

*If the date says January 1, this is often just a placeholder for an unknown specific date. It usually means “sometime that year”.

Description: Unknown

License Plate: Unknown

Description: Suspects Oliver Lee, William McNew, and James Gilliand were arrested for the murder of Henry Fountain. Charges against McNew were later dropped, and both Lee and Gilliand were acquitted.