Watson eventually purchased a 60-acre homestead close to her husband’s land. However, the purchase enraged at least one of her new neighbors. As reported by Cattle Kate, cattle baron Albert Bothwell was specifically annoyed, because he had been using the recently purchased land as his own.

Bothwell tried to purchase the land from Watson, but she refused to give it up. He was further outraged when Watson bought 26 head of cattle and installed a fence around the land. Cattle Kate reports Bothwell responded by having a “skull and crossbones pinned to Ella’s and Jim’s doors.” Watson, however, was undeterred by the cattle baron’s threats and continued to care for the cattle and work her land.

On July 20, 1889, Bothwell and five others stormed Watson’s homestead, destroyed her fence, and drove her cattle off the land. They then proceeded to capture and then lynch Watson and her husband.

Following the assault, rumors suggested Watson and Averell (pictured above) were cattle rustlers. Cattle Kate reports the couple was also accused of numerous other crimes, including murder. According to legend, they were both outlaws, who were justifiably hanged for the crimes. However, none of those crimes were ever proven and it is widely accepted that the couple was actually killed because Watson unknowingly purchased a piece of land and water rights that were coveted by another rancher. Per True West Magazine, no one called her Cattle Kate until after her murder — age 29.