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Garrettwas dismissed in1906 and returned to New Mexico. 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). About two months later with no amnesty forthcoming, Billy realized hed been had and they were going to hang him instead. He then bought a horse ranch, leased it, and became involved in a heated dispute over the lease. When Garrett was appointed Sheriff of Dona Ana County in April of 1896, it took two years for him to gather enough evidence to ask a judge in Las Cruces for warrants to arrest William McNew, Oliver M. Lee, James Gililland, and Bill Carr. His parents were Irish immigrants who came to America and married just after turning 20. We approached these houses cautiously, and when within earshot, heard the sound of voices conversing in Spanish. Our editors will review what youve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. 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. At the same time he served as a deputy U.S. marshal. Updates? Historians say that this photo shows outlaw Billy the Kid, circled second from left, and Pat Garrett, circled far right, taken in 1880. Mysteries and theories still surround the outlaw's death and burial in Indiana, 85 years later. At some point after these murders, Lew Wallace became governor of New Mexico. There were various men in the American Southwest who went by the moniker "Billy the Kid." He realized that the law had made its way to Fort Sumner, so he fled towards Maxwells compound. Garrett did not pursue re-election for sheriff of Lincoln County in 1882. In 1901 Garrett was appointed by President Theodore Roosevelt as Collector of Customs in El Paso. Once more, Sheriff Garrett was sent after the Kid. But his parents did not long survive the Civil War that devastated the South, leaving the children heavily in debt. 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.. Texas. You can read all about Billys last night from the point of view of the man who shot him. 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. They mistook OFolliard for Bonney, however,and fatally shot him. Garrett had recently caught the Kid, who was sentenced to hanging for killing another Sheriff, but Billy managed to escape. While trying to verify the photo, Abrams approached Robert Stahl, a retired professor emeritus at Arizona State University who is no stranger to the history of Billy the Kid. Although the incident happened well over a century ago, it remains an intriguing mystery. Pat Garrett, the man who shot Billy the Kid. People in Hico, Texaspopulation 1,780 and home to the Billy the Kid Museumtell a slightly different version. 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. A cropped version of the sole fully authenticated photo of Billy the Kid. In 2010, many petitioned the New Mexico governors office to grant Billy the pardon they say Lew Wallace had promised him 130 years before, but it never came to pass. Director Sam Peckinpah Writer On the evening of July 14, Garrett waited inside Maxwell's bedroom. 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. The comments below have not been moderated. The picture is the only known photo of the Regulators gang all together. Adamson agreed to meet with Garrett and Brazel to iron out an agreement. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors. It is only the fourth known photograph of Billy the Kid and is thought to be a trophy shot taken by Garrett and his posse after they arrested him. On July 12, 1898, Garrett and his men encountered Oliver M. Lee and James Gililland at Wildy Well near Orogrande, Texas. A Strong-willed Texan Scout Joined the Confederacy at 15. Brazel surrendered to Deputy Sheriff Felipe Lucero in Las Cruces, shouting, Lock me up. One of Garretts deputies went to check the roof and was fatally shot. Garrett then supposedly shot McCarty dead. Though quick with a joke, he did not hesitate before pulling the trigger. 'To me, it's one of the most intriguing and historically significant of those tintypes of the Old West. Together the couple had nine children four girls and five boys. Billy was sentenced to hang on April 13, 1881; the judge set his execution day for May 13. Ive just killed Pat Garrett! Deputy Lucero locked up Brazel, called for a coroners jury, and rode to the location of the murder. Garrett was away from Lincoln on county business when the Kid made his 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. In 1881, he was apprehended by Sheriff Pat Garrett and sentenced to death by hanging for murder. McCarty, a member of the Regulators, vowed to avenge Tunstall's death. These qualities contributed to his image as both a notorious outlaw and a folk hero. 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. Set of wooden folding chairs sells for 5.3MILLION after Live like the mob! Brushy Bill was very well known around these parts, says Jane Klein, historian at the Billy the Kid Museum. Quickly as possible I drew my revolver and fired, threw my body aside, and fired again. The two men were fined for disturbing the peace. However, the Kid later escaped, shooting dead two deputies and riding out of town Garrett invited Tom Powers to go along and introduced Powers to the President as a prominent Texas cattleman; they sat for photographs with Roosevelt. 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. According to legend, the judge shouted at the 21-year-old Kid that he was to hang by the neck until he was dead, dead, dead! Also according to legend, Billys last words on the record were to tell the judge he could go to hell, hell, hell!. In 1879 he married Juanita Gutierrez, who died in childbirth less than a year after their marriage. 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. Billy agreed and went through with the farce. We'll see what happens,' Abrams said. Like us on Facebook to get the latest on the world's hidden wonders. Following Billy the Kids death, the media turned him into a folk hero and made Garrett out to be the bad guy. I walked to the head of the bed and sat down on it, beside him, near the pillow. A witness agreed, and Brazel went free. In December 1880, he had brought in the infamous outlaw Billy the Kid on charges of murdering a former county sheriff. Billy the Kid didnt make it all the way to New Mexico. McNew and Carr were the first to be arrested. The Regulators found themselves cornered and under siege in a local saloon by elements of the local sheriffs posse. Out on his own, McCarty slipped across the border into Arizona Territory, which technically made him a federal fugitive from justice though the federal government didnt have a huge presence in Arizona at the time and Henry was pretty much free to do as he liked. McCarty, was a member of the Regulators gang. 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. Pat Garrett eventually shot and murdered him in July 1881. Click here to sign a petition for the pardon of Billy the Kid, or click here to sign a petition opposed to that pardon. Did Pat Garrett kill Billy the Kid as per the official tale? He was a wanted young man. Billy then drew fast and shot Grant in the head before making his escape. Billy became a fugitive. Wikimedia CommonsThe disputed photo bought by Randy Guijarro, allegedly showing Billy the Kid (center). Billy the Kid was born Henry McCarty to Irish immigrants in New York City around 1859. Lee and Gililland stayed on the run for another eight months and finally surrendered. Garrett succeeded in capturing Billy the Kid and a few other outlaws at Stinking Springs on December 23, 1880. During the Kids time as an outlaw, Pat Garrett was elected Sheriff and sent after him. A stranger named Joe Grant came into the saloon and sidled up to near the spot where Billy was drinking. Outlaws have a romantic air about them and I think the people in Hamilton County really enjoy having this as part of the history.. Pat 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 Memorial marking spot where Pat Garrett was killed. Wikimedia CommonsLew Wallace, before he became governor. Maxwell lit a candle to illuminate the room and the body of Billy the Kid lay motionless, with Garretts bullet lodged in his heart. Whatever happened, the answer will probably remain a secret forever. In Hico Billy is everywhere, from a statue downtown, to the standee in the Chamber of Commerce, to the monumental arch over Robertss grave. It was near midnight and Pete was in bed. This story originally ran in 2017; it has been updated for 2022. Now, the stories of what actually happened next seem to clash, so suffice it to say that the Kid ended up in custody. During the ensuing confrontation, the sheriff and his posse, loyal to Tunstalls rivals, shot Tunstall off his horse and then picked up his own gun and used it to kill him with a shot to the back of the head. Sure enough, after the two men antagonized each other some more, Grant did soon point his gun at Billy and pull the trigger but all it produced was a click. In the aftermath of the apparent shooting, numerous people claimed to have met the Kid. He also wouldnt have backed into a darkened doorway where more danger possibly lurked. His end wasn't particularly glamorous. 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. What prompted this last minute decision? It was taken at the ranch of John Tunstall, an Englishman rancher who organized the gang to protect his properties against rivals, The photo, zoomed in to see Billy the Kid more closely, wasdiscovered in 2015 and has since been estimated to be worth $5 million. After the escape, Garrett set out to remove Billy from the landscape, one way or another. 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. He had already written down the jurys verdict and asked Segura, Anaya and the rest of the jury to sign it. A suspicion lingered that Brazel or someone else conspired to execute Garrett, a lawman with many enemies. The Old Man Who Claimed to Be Billy the Kid. The Regulators and the new sheriffs forces clashed in July 1878 at whats become known as the Battle of Lincoln. Believing the photo to include Billy the Kid (which would make it just the second known photo of him), Guijarro eventually found an authentication firm that verified his claim with facial recognition analysis and valued it at $5 million. 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. Its an area tailor-made for rustlers, and Billy knows it well. During a card game, Billy the Kid accused another player of cheating. There is little or no evidence to back up any of these claims. He was 57. This is a terrible place to put a fellow in.". On December 19, 1880, Bonney, Billy Wilson, Charlie Bowdre, Tom Pickett, and Tom OFolliard rode into Fort Sumner. The infamous Billy the Kid was no more. HistoryNet.com contains daily features, photo galleries and over 25,000 articles originally published in our nine magazines. 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. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. New Mexico Office of the State Historian. WebFind helpful customer reviews and review ratings for Young Guns 2 at Amazon.com. Word reached him of the death, but he didnt cut his trip short and missed the funeral. Its all just part of the areas mythology. They were acquitted of the Fountain killings, and the charges for killing the deputy were dismissed. in Spanish. The two talked of this and that. Garrett became involved again when he heard a tip that the Kid was hiding out in the Fort. Some of those in favor of Kids pardon have filed a petition, including defense attorney Randi McGinn who has offered to handle the case for free. They saw a group of men nearby who were speaking in Spanish. 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 Articles from Britannica Encyclopedias for elementary and high school students. Hewas elected to the office of sheriff of Lincoln County, New Mexico, winning ahead ofincumbent Sheriff George Kimball. And yet with the good cheer came a surprising ruthlessness. He is either a folk hero that single-handedly stood up against a corrupt government system, or he is a ruthless outlaw and cop killer that left a wake of terror in his path.. 2023 Atlas Obscura. Before resigning in disgrace, federal judge William Story preceded the more celebrated hanging judge Isaac Parker in Arkansas Western District. Why Billy The Kid Is The Most Infamous Gunslinger Of The Wild West. And this was before McDonald's. Subscribe to receive our weekly newsletter with top stories from master historians. In the darkness, he could not see Garrett well and repeatedly asked: Who is it? Garrett replied with two gunshots, killing Bonney. Roberts died a month later, and neither Billy the Kid nor Brushy Bill Roberts ever received a pardon. 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. CNN A Pardon for The Notorious Billy the Kid? It was a good racket, but he couldnt stay out of trouble long enough to enjoy it. He was high-spirited and, as his notoriety grew, so did his cockiness. But before that could happen, Billy snuck out of jail yet again and stole another horse which he rode hard for New Mexico Territory where he was still wanted for robbery. Thereafter, Garrett was a rancher near Roswell, N.M. (188296), deputy sheriff and then sheriff of Dona Ana County, N.M. (18961902), and collector of customs at El Paso, Texas (190206). Wallace reneged on his promise., Copyright 2022 Crime Museum, LLC - All Rights Reserved | Privacy Policy |. After seeing a TV program in 2015 about the discovery of a photo of the outlaw playing croquet, Abrams was inspired to research him further. An experienced outlaw (even at a tender age) would surely have recognized two deputies standing on the porch. So, the Kid escaped custody and eluded the law for the next two years. The moment word got out about his escape, New Mexicos governor put another $500 bounty on the Kid, dead or alive. While Garrett was there, he was forced to defend himself from a local bully, Mariano Leiva, by shooting him in the shoulder. Henry Woodson Strong scouted for famed Indian fighter Ranald S. Mackenzie. He joined the wrong groups and wound up running from the law. President Roosevelt supported Garrett as complaints piled up and went so far as to invite him to a reunion for the Rough Riders in San Antonio in April of 1905. 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. By 1892 Garrett and his family had relocated to Uvalde, Texas, where he befriended John Nance Garner, a future United States vice-president. Garrett settled a truce with the fugitives to retrieve his deputy, who died on the way to Las Cruces. In November 1950, Morrison filed a petition on behalf of Brushy Bill. McCartys family life was total chaos from the start. The case dates back to 1881so why the New Years Eve deadline you may ask? Read honest and unbiased product reviews from our users. The intruder came close to me, leaned both hands on the bed, his right hand almost touching my knee, and asked, in a low tone:Who are they Pete?at the same instant Maxwell whispered to me. 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. He hoped that Morrison could help him claim the pardon that New Mexico Governor Lew Wallace supposedly promised Billy the Kid back in 1879. Richardson is a known Billy the Kid aficionado, and is considering the pardon because of an alleged promise by Governor Lew Wallace. Billy was sentenced to hang on April 13, 1881; Free shipping for many products! New Lincoln County Sheriff Pat Garrett and his posse captured Billy the Kid at a place called Stinking Springs on December 23, 1880. Billy the Kidborn William Henry McCarty, but also known as William H. Bonneyoriginally came from New York. They fired at the men from behind a wall, and Brady died after being shot at least a dozen times. Consider supporting our work by becoming a member for as little as $5 a month. In researching his book, Edwards analyzed photographs of Billy the Kid and Roberts, and dug into the details of Robertss account of his life and compared them with known facts about Billy the Kid. Somewhere on his ride, he was surrounded by Apaches who took his stolen horse and left him to walk through the desert for miles back to civilization. Perhaps he killed an innocent man as the fugitive escaped and fled to Mexico? The views expressed in the contents above are those of our users and do not necessarily reflect the views of MailOnline. Garrett was correct in his estimation of The Kid Billy was legendary, a man who had managed to escape incarceration more than once. There were at least 26 newspaper articles written that claimed Billy was still alive after July 14, 1881. This is the real story of Billy the Kid. "I knew the desperate character of the man," Garrett would later write in his own biography of Billy, "that he was daring and unscrupulous, and that he would sacrifice the lives of a hundred men who stood between him and liberty." Wikimedia CommonsThe full-length version of the sole completely authenticated photo of Billy the Kid. Garrett had hoped to apprehend the men while they were asleep, but Lee and Gililland set themselves up as lookouts on the roof of the bunkhouse. One particular misstep in the Kids life was his affiliation with the Lincoln County War. The man who had leased the ranch, Wayne Brazel, alleged that Garrett had drawn a gun on him and that the killing was self-defense. For example, a Mrs. Wood of Seven Rivers said she served the outlaw dinner three days after he was supposed to have died. Once again, Billy the Kid was now on the run. 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. Garrett and his men laid siege to the Dedrick ranch at Bosque Grande on November 30th, expecting to find Billy the Kid. Following Billy the Kids death, the media turned him into a folk hero and made Garrett out to be the bad guy. And that included his last escape, from the custody of Sheriff Garrett. He tried to work straight jobs (hotel worker, ranch hand) but quickly found himself on the wrong side of the law. The two would have nine children over the years. It was at the saloon that Pat Garrett met and often gambled with William Bonney, better known as Billy the Kid. The two were seen together so often they soon took on the nicknames of Big Casino and Little Casino. 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. Offer subject to change without notice. Meanwhile, Billy encountered Poe and McKinney and apparently said Quien es? which means who is it? in Spanish. found himself on the wrong side of the law, The authenticity of the photo has since been disputed, Bass Reeves, the bullet-dodging black lone ranger. Exactly how Billy the Kid was shot to death on July 14, 1881 has been the subject of widespread speculation. He was orphaned as a teen. A handwriting expert in Texas compared a signature from Garrett on the photo with ten documents with his known handwriting. They are personal things, and things that make complete sense for him to be upset about if his story was true.. Garrett went on to be a rancher, customs collector, sheriff of another county, and terrible gambler. I might not pardon him. 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). He was the sheriff of Lincoln County, New Mexico, as well as Doa Ana County, New Mexico. Historians say that this photo shows outlaw Billy the Kid, circled second from left, and Pat Garrett, circled far right, taken in 1880. Garrett, a one-time friend, was the new sheriff of Lincoln County. He also obtained a deputy U.S. Marshals commission to have jurisdiction in other counties. Its the last day of Richardsons term. At about age 21, Billy the Kid was gunned down by Sheriff Pat Garrett. Bonney woke up and went into the kitchen, presumably to get something to eat. Financially, Garrett was a failure. Yet at the same time, Billy the Kid seemed to be making an attempt at going straight. There are two theories about what happened at the house where Garrett found and killed McCarty. He stated that he decided against the pardon, because of a lack of conclusiveness and the historical ambiguity as to why Gov. Garrett attempted to turn himself in to authorities, but no charges were filed. Garretts adversaries attained copies of the photos and sent them to Roosevelt along with a note telling the President that Powers was not a cattleman, but the proprietor of a rowdy saloon. WebOn the night of July 14, 1881, Sheriff Pat Garrett gunned down outlaw Billy the Kid in Fort Sumner. These qualities contributed to his image as both a notorious outlaw and a folk hero. Corrections? While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. Billy's arrest found him in Garrett's custody. For instance, Poe does not remember the significant incident at the peach orchard. 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. Articles from Britannica Encyclopedias for elementary and high school students. Film Review: The Kid. Another hypothesis is that Billy the Kid was in fact Ollie L. (Brushy Bill) Roberts, who escaped, lived in Mexico and the U.S. Southwest, rode in Wild West shows, and died in 1950 in Hico, Texas. Furthermore, several of Billys friends say he only had a knife and not a gun. Mysteries of the Old West: Did Pat Garrett Kill Billy the Kid? Garrett was well aware that Billy was a cockeyed optimist when it came to hopes for escape. Billy the Kid was there when it happened and went to the courts to convince them that the sheriff and his posse had committed murder. Born on New York Citys East Side, Billy as a child migrated with his parents to Kansas; his father died there, and the mother and her two boys moved to Colorado, where she remarried. WebIn the scene where Garrett gets a hot shave, he then leaves clean shaven, as Bob Dylan follows him out. Four months later, Billy the Kid escaped just after his conviction for murder. He was a gambler and heavy drinker andoften deeply in debt. They lived in a slum on Manhattans east side and his father, Patrick, died soon after his first son was born. 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 Garrett on July 14, 1881, in Fort Sumner, New Mexico. Brushy Bill and Billy the Kid, the whole story, thats part of who we are now, Eidson says. In New Mexico, Garrett worked as a cowboy for Pedro Pete Maxwell but quit to open a saloon. Whether his story actually ended in 1881, however, is another matter. Pat Garrett was a man of the times. 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. Unfortunately, by the time the Kid was fifteen years old his mother had passed away from tuberculosis. It struck me that it might be Petes brother-in-law, Manuel Abreu, who had seen Poe and McKinney, and wanted to know their business. Does Billy the Kid Deserve the Pardon He was Promised? But That Was Just the Beginning. In the midst of the act, he was shot in the back of the head. 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. No purchase necessary. Pat Garrett. But while under guard by two sheriff's deputies at a home, McCarty killed both men and then fled out of town on horseback. They made it safely, however, and Garrett collected the $500 state bounty on Billys head. McCartys new stepfather was a part-time prospector who frequently went off on extended trips. It's my work, he'd say, and I do it for pay And when it's over I'd just as soon go on my way Up to some paradise Where the trout streams flow and the air is nice And ride a horse along a trail. Billy then managed to cut through his leg irons and steal a horse to make his escape. Marshals Posse. At some point, due to the debate, there had been a movement to have the supposed bodies of the Kid and his mother exhumed for DNA testing. Carl Adamson took Garrett to Las Cruces, New Mexico, and was soon joined by Brazel on horseback. *Source: Texas State Historical Association.