Billy the Kid was free for just three months before his final encounter with Pat Garrett. Governor of New Mexico, Bill Richardson, declined to pardon Western outlaw Billy the Kid during his last hours in office. But this time it was a U.S. There are also suggestions that Billy and Garrett were friends and planned the whole incident so the fugitive could escape. History Channel 9 Things You May Not Know About Billy the Kid, History Channel Billy the Kid Convicted of Murder, History Collection Billy the Kid Is Arrested for the First Time (1875). He made a deal with the governor that should he testify against persons involved in the Lincoln County War, he would receive a full pardon for involvement in Sheriff Bradys death and other misdeeds. He raised quickly his pistol, a self-cocker, within a foot of my breast. Brazel used the land to raise goats, which was unacceptable to the Garrets. Rumor has it that the Kid has taken a shine to Maxwells sister Paulita, though its likely shes not the only local girl to have caught his eye. Lew Wallaces descendant William Wallace argues that pardoning Billy the Kid would, declare Lew Wallace to have been a dishonorable liar. Antrim tolerated this briefly but the two eventually had a falling out and McCarty left for good, making sure to steal a gun and some clothes on his way out. While Garrett was there, he was forced to defend himself from a local bully, Mariano Leiva, by shooting him in the shoulder. While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. Richardson appointed Charles Daniels to the state Supreme Court, whom McGinn is married to. But before Garrett could get his prisoners to jail, he had to defend them from a lynch mob that formed around the train on the route to Santa Fe. They mistook OFolliard for Bonney, however,and fatally shot him. A judge apparently ruled against the efforts, but that hasnt stopped present Governor Richardsons interest in the case. Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). Billy became a fugitive. Since that time, debates have raged over Robertss claims, and whether he was truly one of the Wests most notorious gunmen or just an old man looking for attention. A few months later, Garrett married Apolinaria Gutierrez, his sister-in-law. In 1879 he married and settled in Lincoln County, N.M., where he became first deputy sheriff and then sheriff. During a card game, Billy the Kid accused another player of cheating. Noticing it only had three rounds loaded, he subtly rotated the drum to an empty cylinder and handed it back. After three years on the run and several other murders, Pat Garrett finally arrested Billy in early 1881. Interviewed later by a reporter, he took in his surroundings and asked, "Is the jail at Santa Fe any better than this? Portrait of Pat Garrett from The Story of the Outlaws. Even by frontier standards, he was young. Apache scouts, the Pinkertons, and local Republican Party members all joined in to try and locate the Fountains, with no results. What prompted this last minute decision? Word reached him of the death, but he didnt cut his trip short and missed the funeral. His age, appearance, and size won him his 'Kid' moniker. Frank Abrams, a North Carolina attorney, first spotted the tintype photo in Asheville in 2011. McCartys new stepfather was a part-time prospector who frequently went off on extended trips. However, there is no other evidence of this; we are relying on Anayas word alone for the entire existence of the jury and its verdict. In July 1881 he tracked down and shot the escaped murderer Billy the Kid. Garrett related his side of the story in his The Authentic Life of Billy the Kid: I then concluded to go and have a talk with Peter Maxwell, Esq., in whom I felt sure I could rely. For those of you scratching your heads wondering who Billy the Kid is; he is the western outlaw also known as William Bonney. Thinking fast, Billy told Grant that he admired his revolver and asked if he could look at it. To Poes great surprise, he recognized in the camper an old friend and former partner, in Texas, named Jacobs. CNN A Pardon for The Notorious Billy the Kid? On ABCs, Good Morning America Friday, Richardson explained that the evidence of the case simply did not warrant a pardon. WebPat Garrett was elected Sheriff of Lincoln County in 1880 on a reform ticket with the expectation that he would reinstate justice in the area. *Source: Texas State Historical Association. Billy the Kids grave is in Fort Sumner, New Mexico. Henry got the better of Cahill and shot him, inflicting a wound that would kill him the next day. Omissions? He escaped jail on April 28, however, killing two deputies, and remained at large until tracked down and ambushed by Garrett, who shot him dead on the evening of July 14 at the ranch home of Pete Maxwell. What historians do know is that Garrett was elected sheriff of Lincoln County in November 1880, on a platform promising to end the violence between two groups of warring landowners feuding over dry goods and cattle interests in the county. He was plagued by debt in his later years, and while his ranch holdings weren't anywhere near profitable, their locations were desirable for water rights and staging grounds for, shall we say, nefarious activities. What you may not know is that the long dead Kid may be up for a pardon from current New Mexico governor Bill Richardson. Billy the Kid, that heasked Sheriff Kimball to appoint him deputy sheriff until his term officiallybegan in January of 1881. At first, nobody knew which side they were there to take, but when they fell in with Bradys men and set the saloon on fire, Billy the Kid and just a few other Regulators were able to flee. Carl Adamson never appeared at the trial as a witness, and Brazel was acquitted. On his way to freedom, charming Billy killed two of his jailers. All he wanted to do was to get that pardon that hed been promised, and I believe he felt this was his last chance to get it.. The Kid was convicted and sentenced to hang, but the following April, he made an audacious escape from prisonand killed deputies James Bell and Bob Olinger in the process. After his release, Billy the Kid joined up with a posse called the Lincoln County Regulators in order to avenge Tunstalls death. Billy the Kid, byname of William H. Bonney, Jr., original name Henry McCarty?, (born November 23, 1859?, New York, New York, U.S.died July 14, 1881, Fort Sumner, New Mexico), American outlaw who was one of the most notorious gunfighters of the American West. Pat Garrett: The Truth About The Man Who Killed Billy The Kid. The second shot was useless; the Kid fell dead. He never spoke. Now, Billy the Kid and the Regulators were in trouble with the new sheriff that had been appointed for causing so much bloodshed and murder. Each landowner was supported by their own gang. Billy Hathorn / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0), Carol M. Highsmith/Library of Congress/LC-DIG-highsm-29831. I believe all communities are built on legends, and in Hamilton County Brushy Bills stories connect us to those wild days of the frontier.. On April 15th, Judge Warren Bristol sentenced Billy the Kid to hang, but he escaped before the sentence was carried out. Were not trying to deceive anyone. He Was a Fast-Rising Judge in Arkansas. McCarty, a member of the Regulators, vowed to avenge Tunstall's death. Richardson told the Associated Press on Wednesday, I dont know where Ill end up. Outlaws have a romantic air about them and I think the people in Hamilton County really enjoy having this as part of the history.. The following day, the Kid was buried in the Fort Sumner cemetery. Garrett wouldn't find McCarty until two years later, a month after he was appointed sheriff. One of two confirmed photographs of Billy the Kid (left), playing croquet in New Mexico, 1878. Brushy Bill Roberts, who died in 1950, claimed that he was the Kid. Billy agreed and went through with the farce. However, he was unable to remember important events in Billys life such as the Lincoln prison escape, he didnt really look like the outlaw, he was illiterate while the Kid wasnt and finally, his birth date was recorded in his family Bible as 1879. He states, Just think of all the good publicity New Mexico is receiving around the world on thisIts fun. As a society back then, people were tough, strong, and fearless, and yet this little guy is known as the most deadly outlaw of them all, says Daniel A. Edwards, author of Billy the Kid: An Autobiography. He said that the Kid had certainly been about, but he did not know whether he had left or not. Garrett and his lawman tracked down McCarty to modern day Taiban, New Mexico, where the group surrendered in December 1880. WebPat Garrett, byname of Patrick Floyd Garrett, (born June 5, 1850, Chambers County, Ala., U.S.died Feb. 29, 1908, near Las Cruces, N.M.), Western U.S. lawman known as the man He was to outlaws what Wyatt Earp was to lawmen, an iconic figure whose legacy persists on to this day. Richardsons deputy chief of staff Eric Witt wants to clarify that they are not offering a general pardon for all of Kids crimes, but rather a pardon for the individual case of killing a sheriff. Mysteries and theories still surround the outlaw's death and burial in Indiana, 85 years later. The infamous Billy the Kid was no more. Captured and brought in to Las Vegas, New Mexico, he was described as "in a joyous mood" He called out to an acquaintance, "Thought I jes drop in and see how you fellers in Vegas air behavin' yerselves." But his parents did not long survive the Civil War that devastated the South, leaving the children heavily in debt. Pat Garrett, the man who shot Billy the Kid. On July 12, 1898, Garrett and his men encountered Oliver M. Lee and James Gililland at Wildy Well near Orogrande, Texas. https://www.britannica.com/biography/Pat-Garrett, HistoryNet - Pat Garrett Was the Last Great Frontier Lawman, Texas State Historical Association - The Handbook of Texas Online - Biography of Pat Garrett, Robert Garrett - Student Encyclopedia (Ages 11 and up). Billy lights out for old Fort Sumner on the Pecos River, some 150 miles northeast of Lincoln. Mysteries of the Old West: Did Pat Garrett Kill Billy the Kid? He was high-spirited and, as his notoriety grew, so did his cockiness. Once again, Billy the Kid was now on the run. Ethan Hawke and Dane DeHaan ride tall in Vincent DOnofrios fresh take on the saga of Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid. Little as we then suspected it, this man was the Kid. It is believed to be now worth millions of dollars, According to popular legend, Billy the Kid (left) and Garrett were friends before he became known an outlaw, but there is no historical evidence to support the theory. Overall, there are a huge number of unanswered questions. 'I told him "The biggest thing you could do right now is get the picture out and let people look at it and give you feedback",' Stahl said. Brushy Bill and Billy the Kid, the whole story, thats part of who we are now, Eidson says. He was reportedly killed by Sheriff Pat Garrett, who later burnished the legend of the Wild West outlaw. For example, Billy was extremely nave on the night in question. Now a fugitive, Henry McCarty had to lay low. Brushy Bill was very well known around these parts, says Jane Klein, historian at the Billy the Kid Museum. Garrett gets word that the Kid is hiding out near Maxwells place. The months-long war came to a climax with the July 19, 1878, Battle of Lincoln, also called 'The Five-Day Battle'. WebIn the scene where Garrett gets a hot shave, he then leaves clean shaven, as Bob Dylan follows him out. We learned, subsequently, that, when he left his companions that night, he went to the house of a Mexican friend, pulled off his hat and boots, threw himself on a bed, and commenced reading a newspaper. Does Billy the Kid Deserve the Pardon He was Promised? Billy was sentenced to hang on April 13, 1881; The violence kicked off February 1878 with the murder of John Tunstall by the members of the Jesse Evans Gang, led by the then-sheriff of Lincoln County, William Brady. Hines told him a whopper of a tale: Billy the Kid had not been killed in New Mexico but was alive and well and living in a town called Hico in Hamilton County, Texas, as one Ollie Brushy Bill Roberts. After making sure his siblings had homes with relatives, Pat headed west in 1869 and found work as a cowboy in Dallas for about six years. Garrett succeeded in capturing Billy the Kid and a few other outlaws at Stinking Springs on December 23, 1880. Garretts friend George Curry was now the Territorial Governor of New Mexico and promised to appoint him as superintendent of the territorial prison at Santa Fe. He murdered two deputies, James Bell and Bob Olinger, during the escape. Garrett decided to seek out Peter Maxwell, an old friend who lived in the area, in the hope that he could receive some details about the fugitives whereabouts. Adamson agreed to meet with Garrett and Brazel to iron out an agreement. Born in Alabama and reared in Louisiana, Garrett left home at about the age of 17 and headed for Texas and the life of a cowboy and buffalo hunter. McGinn also says that Wallace assured Kid that he had the authority to exempt him from prosecution should he cooperate and share his knowledge, but that Wallace never held up his end of the deal. El Paso Times 1934: Pistol That Killed Billy the Kid Will Be Returned to Garretts Widow. The governor agreed and suggested that, for appearances sake, he should arrest Billy and lock him up in jail before taking his statement about the other murder. I might not pardon him. Every weekday we compile our most wondrous stories and deliver them straight to you. Marshal named Robert Widenmann, there as part of a federal effort to restore order, who let him out (presumably sparing him the hassle of planning his third jail escape). A year after pulling the trigger, Pat Garrett wrote and published an account of what happened that night, and you can find that account here. Whether they produced battlefield images of the dead or daguerreotype portraits of common soldiers, []. Garrett is the man who eventually killed Billy the Kid, born as Henry McCarty. In 1879 he married Juanita Gutierrez, who died in childbirth less than a year after their marriage. 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Four months later, Billy the Kid escaped just after his conviction for murder. Soldier in range wars, cattle rustler, horse thief, but also universally described as charming, funny, a good singer and good dancer, at least bilingual, and an avid reader. Hes since been romanticized in print, and on stage, television, and film as an emblem of the lawless West. The self-described history buff said the group picture of five men was part of a set and sat on his wall for several years. A little over a year later, the New Mexico territorial legislature voted to give Garrett the $500 he was owed. Free shipping for many products! Financially, Garrett was a failure. But then they took him to the jail house Where they try to turn a man into a mouse. Though quick with a joke, he did not hesitate before pulling the trigger. This is the real story of Billy the Kid. This story originally ran in 2017; it has been updated for 2022. History tells us that the outlaw known as Billy the Kid (aka Henry McCarty, aka William Bonney) was gunned downat the ripe old age of 21by Sheriff Pat I think people really like being associated with it now. The two men were fined for disturbing the peace. This article was most recently revised and updated by, https://www.britannica.com/biography/Billy-the-Kid-American-outlaw, American Heritage - Billy the Kid: From Outlaw to Legend, PBS - American Experience - The Life and Legend of Billy the Kid, Billy the Kid - Student Encyclopedia (Ages 11 and up). As a result of one of the many ambushes that occurred, Lincoln County Sheriff William Brady and one of his deputies were found dead, having been shot by the Kid. He came directly towards me. She writes, A promise is a promise and should be enforced. During the Kids time as an outlaw, Pat Garrett was elected Sheriff and sent after him. But surely even the man who shot charming, murderous Billy the Kid deserved a better end than a bullet while watering the desert. However, the true figure is believed to be somewhere between four and nine. Those who oppose the pardon argue that there is no proof that Governor Wallace ever offered one; he may have simply tricked Kid in to offering up information. He also obtained a deputy U.S. Marshals commission to have jurisdiction in other counties. How exactly the tension mounted between Billy and Grant remains unclear (some say Billy pegged Grant for a bounty hunter come to kill him; some say Grant was a loudmouth drunk looking for a fight). Patrick Floyd Jarvis Garrett (June 5, 1850 February 29, 1908) was an American Old West lawman, bartender and customs agent known for killing Billy the Kid. Carl Adamson took Garrett to Las Cruces, New Mexico, and was soon joined by Brazel on horseback. Related story from us: One of the men who killed Bonnie & Clyde was Bonnies secret admirer. Garrett attempted to turn himself in to authorities, but no charges were filed. Following Billy the Kids death, the media turned him into a folk hero and made Garrett out to be the bad guy. This time however, he was sentenced to hang for the death of Sheriff Brady. Exactly what happened after that has been the subject of speculation ever since, but everyone agrees on one fact: On the night of July 14, Billy the Kid was shot to death in Maxwells home. Updates? Offer available only in the U.S. (including Puerto Rico). 'I don't travel with it.'. HistoryNet.com is brought to you by HistoryNet LLC, the worlds largest publisher of history magazines. He declared them matching in a notarized letter in September. In December 1880 he was captured by Garrett and stood trial for murder in Mesilla, New Mexico, in April 1881; he was found guilty and was sentenced to hang. Along with deputies Thomas McKinney and John Poe, Garrett reached the Fort on the night of July 14, 1881. Offer subject to change without notice. Billy the Kid has long been one of the many names associated with the Wild West, alongside the Bob Dalton Gang, Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, Cole Younger, Jesse James, and more. During his downtime, he liked visiting the saloon, drinking, playing cards, and other healthy diversions for a 16-year-old boy. Real Clear Life. New Mexico governor, Bill Richardson, has mere hours left to decide whether or not to pardon Billy the Kid in the killing of a sheriff. While in prison, the Kid escaped againthis time killing two guards in the process. Pat Garrett was away at the time and didnt try to track the Kid until he received information that the outlaw was holed up in a ranch at Fort Sumner, some 140 miles away from Lincoln. On the night ofJuly 14, 1881, Sheriff Pat Garrett gunned down outlaw Billy the Kid in Fort Sumner. He headed west with his family as a youth and had his first brush with the law in 1875 when he was arrested for stealing clothes from a Chinese laundry in Silver City, New Mexico. Returning to the building with pistol in one hand, knife in the other, Billy was startled and instead of opening fire, hesitated, repeatedly asking, in Spanish, "Who is it?" Analysis: Did Pat Garrett Really Kill Outlaw Billy the Kid? A stranger named Joe Grant came into the saloon and sidled up to near the spot where Billy was drinking. Garrett succeeded in capturing Billy the Kid and a few other outlaws at Stinking Springs on December 23, 1880. At about age 21, Billy the Kid was gunned down by Sheriff Pat Garrett. Pat Garrett (2nd from right) with friends on the porch in Roswell, New Mexico. The two men knew each other and had socialized with one another; it might be a stretch to call them friends. Why Billy The Kid Is The Most Infamous Gunslinger Of The Wild West. After he thought about it, though, he told [Morrison] that he was Billy the Kid. One of them suddenly got up, walked out of the orchard, and leaped over a fence. During this fight, the Army was forced to intervene and the Regulators lost many of their men. In 2008, for instance, Bonham sold Billy's gun for $64,350. Billy the Kids life and mystique have inspired countless novels, films, and songs. By 1892 Garrett and his family had relocated to Uvalde, Texas, where he befriended John Nance Garner, a future United States vice-president. Billy the Kid (left) and Brushy Bill Roberts (right). Garrett, who had been tracking the Kid for Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. In 1948, a paralegal named William V. Morrison was investigating a man named Joe Hines, a survivor of the Lincoln County War, the feud that helped make Billy the Kids name. Right, another photo of Billy the Kid, whowas celebrated for his gun skills and, according to popular legend killed 21 men - one for each year of his short life. Join us for a daily celebration of the worlds most wondrous, unexpected, even strange places. The picture is the only known photo of the Regulators gang all together. Ive just killed Pat Garrett! Deputy Lucero locked up Brazel, called for a coroners jury, and rode to the location of the murder. He continues to look into whether the Kid rightfully deserves a posthumous pardon as promised by Governor Wallace. Experts believe a picture that shows the New Mexico outlaw with Garrett would be worth much more. He then worked in Graham County as a farmhand, teamster, and cowboy. Nobody is sure of the exact date he was born but it seems to have been sometime in September 1859 because theres a baptism record for him from the end of that month. As Currys inauguration was not for a few months, Garrett returned to El Paso to look for work. The Lincoln County justice of the peace was convinced but before Brady could be arrested, local deputies loyal to the sheriff arrested Billy and threw him in jail. Shortly after his death, war broke out between the Jesse Evans Gang and the Regulators, who backed Tunstall. The victim, Patrick Floyd Jarvis Pat Garrett, was the former sheriff of Lincoln County best known for having killed outlaw Billy the Kid on July 14, 1881. Garrett served as sheriff of Doa Ana County from 1896 to 1900. He was murdered at about 10:30 on the morning of Feb. 29, 1908, some 5 miles east of Las Cruces.