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Nelson, Doc

Medical doctor[1] in Silver Springs, New Mexico Territory in 1878. (March 18, 1812 – August 3, 1890).[2]

In July of 1878,[2] Doc Nelson was called for to attend Bret Maverick, who had been shot in the shoulder with a derringer by Carl Jimson. Nelson told Bret to rest for a few weeks to recover from the wound, but Bret wanted to settle his score with Jimson, so only rested a few days. Donna Seely was with Jimson when Bret confronted him. Jimson asked Bret to hold his fire to let Donna pass out of harm's way, but when Bret stepped aside, Jimson fired at him. The shot startled Donna, causing her to spin around to face Jimson. Jimson fired at Bret again, but his shot accidentally hit Donna in the chest. Again, Doc Nelson was called to attend the injury. With Donna unconscious and no other witnesses to the event, Jimson claimed it was Bret who had shot her. Nelson was unable to remove the bullet until Donna's condition improved. But she had lost a lot of blood, and could not give her favorable chances of recovering. Jimson realized that if Donna did recover, she would be able to identify him as the one who shot her, so he decided to flee Silver Springs under the deception of going to Crown City to bring back another doctor. Nelson approved of the idea. But after Jimson left, Donna regained consciousness and was string enough for Nelson to remove the bullet.[1]

See: Relic of Fort Tejon