People thought me bad before, but if ever I should get free, he said after finally being captured, Ill let them know what bad means., The following spring after a trial that had more to do with putting on a good show for the papers than searching for the truth of what happened in the Lincoln County War, Billy the Kid was found guilty and sentenced to hang. In Hico Billy is everywhere, from a statue downtown, to the standee in the Chamber of Commerce, to the monumental arch over Robertss grave. In Naples, Praying With Skulls Is an Ancient Tradition, Show & Tell With the Staff of Chicagos Field Museum, A Visit to the Museum of Broken Relationships, A Journey Through Black History in Miniature, The World's Largest Collection of the World's Smallest Versions of the World's Largest Things, See the Mysterious Horned Helmet of Henry VIII, One Street: Chinatown-International District, Seattle, Hawaiis Native-Language Newspaper Archive, 'Discovering' Mexico's Monarch Butterfly Migration, The Real Story Behind George Washington's Dentures. During his downtime, he liked visiting the saloon, drinking, playing cards, and other healthy diversions for a 16-year-old boy. He was orphaned as a teen. US Marshal Service How Much Did It Cost to Find Billy the Kid? The extended dance of The two men were fined for disturbing the peace. Stealing his gun, Billy shot him dead and hobbled in chains to the wardens office where he grabbed a shotgun and perched in the window. Offer available only in the U.S. (including Puerto Rico). Pats son Dudley arranged with Jesse Brazel for a five-year lease of the Garretts Bear Canyon Ranch. Billy the Kid was born Henry McCarty to Irish immigrants in New York City around 1859. 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 *Source: Texas State Historical Association. If not, did someone else shoot the outlaw? On April 15th, Judge Warren Bristol sentenced Billy the Kid to hang, but he escaped before the sentence was carried out. 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. Consider supporting our work by becoming a member for as little as $5 a month. Hewas elected to the office of sheriff of Lincoln County, New Mexico, winning ahead ofincumbent Sheriff George Kimball. As he descended into criminality and fled from town to town to evade the law, he regularly changed his name, eventually becoming known as Billy the Kid. Hes since been romanticized in print, and on stage, television, and film as an emblem of the lawless West. Related story from us: One of the men who killed Bonnie & Clyde was Bonnies secret admirer. Garrett and his lawman tracked down McCarty to modern day Taiban, New Mexico, where the group surrendered in December 1880. The moment word got out about his escape, New Mexicos governor put another $500 bounty on the Kid, dead or alive. The next time the Kid encountered the sheriff however, it would be his last. Mblitch CC BY-SA 3.0. Garrett had recently caught the Kid, who was sentenced to hanging for killing another Sheriff, but Billy managed to escape. Four months later, Billy the Kid escaped just after his conviction for murder. Its an area tailor-made for rustlers, and Billy knows it well. Brushy Bill and Billy the Kid, the whole story, thats part of who we are now, Eidson says. Pat Garrett & Billy the Kid (1973 Wikimedia CommonsLew Wallace, before he became governor. Garrett succeeded in capturing Billy the Kid and a few other outlaws at Stinking Springs on December 23, 1880. Pat Garrett: The Truth About The Man Who Killed Billy The Kid Carl Adamson agreed to take the goats until Brazel discovered his estimate of the number of goats had been wrong and demanded the buyer take all 1,800 goats. He realized that the law had made its way to Fort Sumner, so he fled towards Maxwells compound. Once again, Billy broke out of jail and went on the run. Pat Garrett, the Marshals Posse. To Poes great surprise, he recognized in the camper an old friend and former partner, in Texas, named Jacobs. The image could be the last known picture of Billy the Kid, who was born Henry McCarty. Director Sam Peckinpah Writer We approached these houses cautiously, and when within earshot, heard the sound of voices conversing in Spanish. The report said: We, the jury, find that Billy the Kid (met) his death by a bullet which was fired from a gun in the hands of Pat F. Garrett . Garrett apparently lost the verdict by the next morning. 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. So, the Kid escaped custody and eluded the law for the next two years. While still young, his family relocated to New Mexico. He is thought to have been 17 when he killed his first man in 1877 - although some historians say he could have been as young as 15 as the true year of his birth is not known. 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. Did Billy the Kid Cheat Death and Live on as 'Brushy Bill'? 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. 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. Whether it was time with the infamous Regulators and his exploits during the Lincoln County War, or his dramatic escapes from custody culminating in his death at the hands of Pat Garrett in 1881, Billy the Kid is one of the most mythologized figures in American history. He stated that he decided against the pardon, because of a lack of conclusiveness and the historical ambiguity as to why Gov. Bonney woke up and went into the kitchen, presumably to get something to eat. Frank Abrams, a North Carolina attorney, first spotted the tintype photo in Asheville in 2011. Were not trying to deceive anyone. 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. 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). Garrett claims that he stayed in Maxwells house with his men for the entire night. Portrait of Pat Garrett from The Story of the Outlaws. 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. Garrett settled a truce with the fugitives to retrieve his deputy, who died on the way to Las Cruces. While we await the rumored Blu-ray of Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid to surface (or was Alex Cox misinformed? Garrettwas dismissed in1906 and returned to New Mexico. There is no doubt there that Billy the Kid is one of their own, and theyre happy to tell the world. https://www.historynet.com/death-of-billy-the-kid-as-pat-garrett-tells-it/, Jerrie Mock: Record-Breaking American Female Pilot. He and an accomplice named John Mackie began swiping horses from a nearby Army fort and then selling them. 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. Billy the Kid One particular misstep in the Kids life was his affiliation with the Lincoln County War. Billy lights out for old Fort Sumner on the Pecos River, some 150 miles northeast of Lincoln. 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. Now the law had yet another reason to be after Billy the Kid. McCarty was then brought to Las Vegas where he stood trial for Brady's murder and on April 13, was sentenced to die. He was reportedly killed by Sheriff Pat Garrett, who later burnished the legend of the Wild West outlaw. Pat Garrett, the sheriff of Lincoln County, New Mexico Territory, had been on the trail for months.In December 1880, he had brought in the infamous outlaw Billy the Scholarly opinion is divided over whether that or William H. Bonney, Jr. (the name he used later, as in the trial), was his true name. But when he unwisely returned to the area a few days later, he was locked up in the stockade pending the arrival of law enforcement. But surely even the man who shot charming, murderous Billy the Kid deserved a better end than a bullet while watering the desert. 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). In Chisum (1970), Pat Garret was played by 36-year-old Glenn Corbett, and Billy the Kid was played by 26-year-old Geoffrey Deuel. 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. McCarty, a member of the Regulators, vowed to avenge Tunstall's death. 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. Perhaps he killed an innocent man as the fugitive escaped and fled to Mexico? Garrett was so impatient to capture the outlawWilliam Bonney, a.k.a. Garrett tried to break the lease when he learned his creditor, W.W. Bill Cox, was financing Brazel. Billy the Kid was also still stealing. But Garrett resigned before long and returned to his ranch near Roswell, New Mexico. Following Billy the Kids death, the media turned him into a folk hero and made Garrett out to be the bad guy. Brushy Bill Roberts, who died in 1950, claimed that he was the Kid. Overall, there are a huge number of unanswered questions. Although the incident happened well over a century ago, it remains an intriguing mystery. 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. He had stopped his wagon on a lonely road about four miles east of Las Cruces, New Mexico, in order to empty his bladder. On his way to freedom, charming Billy killed two of his jailers. He was to outlaws what Wyatt Earp was to lawmen, an iconic figure whose legacy persists on to this day. Lee and Gililland stayed on the run for another eight months and finally surrendered. '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. 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 He states, Just think of all the good publicity New Mexico is receiving around the world on thisIts fun. Eidsons official position on the story echoes that of the rest of the Historical Commissionwe keep an open mind. After this look at Billy the Kid, read up on other legendary Wild West figures like legendary sharpshooter Annie Oakley and Bass Reeves, the bullet-dodging black lone ranger. See. 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. These qualities contributed to his image as both a notorious outlaw and a folk hero. Pat Garrett is hired as a lawman on behalf of a group of wealthy New Mexico cattle barons to bring down his old friend Billy the Kid. A struggle or two, a little strangling sound as he gasped for breath, and the Kid was with his many victims. Billy's arrest found him in Garrett's custody. 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. Thinking fast, Billy told Grant that he admired his revolver and asked if he could look at it. From what Ive heard, [Brushy Bill] told a pretty credible tale, says Hamilton Historical Commission Chairman Jim Eidson. 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. The most comprehensive and authoritative history site on the Internet. Billy became a fugitive. A few months later, Garrett married Apolinaria Gutierrez, his sister-in-law. No purchase necessary. For starters, Billy the Kids name wasnt Billy and he wasnt born in the western United States. At about age 21, Billy the Kid was gunned down by Sheriff Pat Garrett. Amid controversy, Garrett was confirmed by the U.S. Senate on January 2, 1902. He moved to Texas, where Governor John Ireland appointed him to the Texas Rangers. As you can imagine, there is much controversy arising from this investigationwhich side will you join? Billy the Kid was free for just three months before his final encounter with Pat Garrett. The Kid was catapulted into legend due to the $500 bounty - then a staggering amount - on his head. For instance, Poe does not remember the significant incident at the peach orchard. Pat Garrett: The Truth About The Man Who Killed Billy The Kid. Follow us on Twitter to get the latest on the world's hidden wonders. He raised quickly his pistol, a self-cocker, within a foot of my breast. The Kid Review: Outlaw Billys Story Told From - Variety What you may not know is that the long dead Kid may be up for a pardon from current New Mexico governor Bill Richardson. Portrait of American gunman Billy the Kid (18591881). Though some say hed previously killed several members of the Apache tribe, the first kill (out of 20 or more total) widely attributed to Billy the Kid came in 1876. 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. Soon after, the family moved farther west where Henry McCarty started getting into trouble. Pat Garrett | American lawman | Britannica He added: 'People ask me all the time, what do you think its worth, what do you think its worth. 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. Whos that?) All this occurred in a moment. WebHe fled to Fort Sumner, New Mexico, where he eventually joined a gang, one of whose members was Billy the Kid.. At Stinking Springs (near present-day Taiban, New Mexico), On December 23, 1880 a posse led by Pat Garrett captured Rudabaugh, Billy the Kid, Billy Wilson, and other members of the gang.They were taken to Las Vegas, but the danger of ), correspondent Darren Gross has come across a watchable web encoding of a Peckinpah TV drama that seems to be more or less lost. Good star performances (Jean Simmons, Bradford Afterward, he moved even farther west to New Mexico Territory. Billy the Kid (left) and Brushy Bill Roberts (right). Billy the Kid was a late 19th-century thief and gunfighter. Once again, Billy the Kid ended up in custody. He, too, knows Fort Sumner; he had once worked for Maxwell as a ranch hand. 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. Billy the Kid Billy the Kid, that heasked Sheriff Kimball to appoint him deputy sheriff until his term officiallybegan in January of 1881. The Kid was known to be friendly and personable and a smart dresser, often wearing a Mexican sombrero. In November 1950, Morrison filed a petition on behalf of Brushy Bill. 'Only known photograph discovered' of Billy the Kid and Pat Yet at the same time, Billy the Kid seemed to be making an attempt at going straight. In the dark, Billy had gone to cut a slice of meat. The Old Man Who Claimed to Be Billy the Kid. From his first robberies to his days as a frontier gunslinger to his epic death, Billy the Kid remains perhaps the definitive legend of the Wild West. Historians say that this photo shows outlaw Billy the Kid, circled second from left, and Pat Garrett, circled far right, taken in 1880. 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!. History is who we are and why we are the way we are.. The other account is that it was McCarty who entered the home, holding his knife, when he noticed a dark figure in the house, and again asked 'Who Is it?' We'll see what happens,' Abrams said. Garrett, a one-time friend, was the new sheriff of Lincoln County. Governor of New Mexico, Bill Richardson, declined to pardon Western outlaw Billy the Kid during his last hours in office. 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. In 1882, Garrett and his ghost writer, Marshall Upson, published The Authentic Life of Billy the Kid. But he came up with a plan to get himself off by providing Governor Lew Wallace with information about the murder of a prominent lawyer that hed witnessed recently. But how much of the myth is actually true? 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. 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 Abrams, who lives in Arden, told Albuquerque's KRQE-TV that he spent the next several months consulting various forensic experts. At about age 21, Billy the Kid was gunned down by Sheriff Pat Garrett. Billy the Kid | Biography, Death, & Facts | Britannica Garrett had recently caught the Kid, who was sentenced to hanging for killing Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). When Notorious Outlaw Billy the Kid Briefly Joined a U.S. One of the residents of Fort Sumner, Paco Anaya, wrote that after the shooting, Garrett handed a piece of paper to Alejandro Segura, the Justice of the Peace. In April 1878, the Regulators ambushed Brady and four of his deputies on a main street in Lincoln. The first is that Garrett sat down down to speak with the homeowner when McCarty unexpectedly came in with his gun drawn, asking 'Who is it? Several said the tintype was likely taken between 1879 and 1880, which coincides with the August 2, 1880, date someone had written on the photo,Abrams said. Noticing it only had three rounds loaded, he subtly rotated the drum to an empty cylinder and handed it back. 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). We depend on ad revenue to craft and curate stories about the worlds hidden wonders. Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree. HistoryNet.com is brought to you by HistoryNet LLC, the worlds largest publisher of history magazines. His parents were Irish immigrants who came to America and married just after turning 20. Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). A suspicion lingered that Brazel or someone else conspired to execute Garrett, a lawman with many enemies. Articles from Britannica Encyclopedias for elementary and high school students. Analysis: Did Pat Garrett Really Kill Outlaw Billy the Kid? This time however, he was sentenced to hang for the death of Sheriff Brady. While Garrett was there, he was forced to defend himself from a local bully, Mariano Leiva, by shooting him in the shoulder. McCarty was just 21 when he died. Garrett learned that The Kid had been in and out of Sumner, New Mexico, and was staying there with Pete Maxwell. He murdered two deputies, James Bell and Bob Olinger, during the escape. It is believed to benow worth millions of dollars. He and Garrett went to court, and Brazel agreed to cancel his lease with Garrett providing he could sell his 1,200 goats. 'I don't travel with it.'. Billy the Kids life and mystique have inspired countless novels, films, and songs.
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