After an election to decide the contest ended with accusations of fraud and protests from both sides, the matter was sent to the Kansas Supreme Court.

When the citizens of Cimarron refused to turn over the records, the Ingalls faction organized a group of raiders to go into town and take them by force.

[2][3] The raiding party, led by Bill Tilghman, also included Jim Masterson, brother of the famous Bat Masterson, Ben Daniels, "Neal" Brown, and Fred Singer, who were all former Dodge City peace officers, in addition to some "cowtown mercenaries," George Bolds, Ed Brooks, and Billy Allensworth.

After pulling up to the courthouse, Watson, Masterson, Singer, and Allensworth quickly entered the building to begin loading the documents into the back of the wagon, while the rest of the men waited outside.

The Cimarron men attempted to storm the building by rushing the front door, but were beaten back by "deadly shots" from the remaining raiders.

[2][3] According to Richard M. Patterson's Historical Atlas of the Outlaw West, only one man – a Cimarron resident named J. W. English – was killed in the entire shootout, although other sources say that as many as three men died as result.