The Old Man Who Claimed to Be Billy the Kid. There are different accounts regarding the tip-off that brought the lawmen to Fort Sumner, the encounter at the orchard, and the moments before and after the shooting. While in prison, the Kid escaped againthis time killing two guards in the process. 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. But this nice, steady job for Billy the Kid grew more turbulent thanks to a dispute between Tunstall and his rivals. Shortly after his death, war broke out between the Jesse Evans Gang and the Regulators, who backed Tunstall. Omissions? On April 15th, Judge Warren Bristol sentenced Billy the Kid to hang, but he escaped before the sentence was carried out. He and an accomplice named John Mackie began swiping horses from a nearby Army fort and then selling them. Brushy Bill was very well known around these parts, says Jane Klein, historian at the Billy the Kid Museum. Financially, Garrett was a failure. Pat Garrett. At about age 21, Billy the Kid was gunned down by Sheriff Pat Garrett. Set of wooden folding chairs sells for 5.3MILLION after Live like the mob! 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. 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 next scene with Jason Robards, James Coburn is sporting a nice moustache. The Kid was catapulted into legend due to the $500 bounty - then a staggering amount - on his head. They made it safely, however, and Garrett collected the $500 state bounty on Billys head. Detail from a larger photo alleged to show Bonney (left) playing croquet in New Mexico in 1878. The Regulators were able to ambush and kill Brady, but that didnt put an end to things. Garrett claims that he stayed in Maxwells house with his men for the entire night. Billy the Kid Whatever happened, the answer will probably remain a secret forever. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors. Frank Abrams, a North Carolina attorney, first spotted the tintype photo in Asheville in 2011. The two men knew each other and had socialized with one another; it might be a stretch to call them friends. Using the name Billy Antrim and nicknamed the kid for his youth and boyish appearance, McCarty soon came to be known as Billy the Kid and found work as a cowboy and ranch hand in Arizona. Pat Garrett & Billy the Kid (1973 Subscribe to receive our weekly newsletter with top stories from master historians. 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. Although he claimed to have killed 21 men, the actual number is likely less than 10. He wore a broad-brimmed hat, a dark vest and pants, and was in his shirtsleeves. HistoryNet.com is brought to you by HistoryNet LLC, the worlds largest publisher of history magazines. In 1882, Garrett and his ghost writer, Marshall Upson, published The Authentic Life of Billy the Kid. 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). On the evening of July 14, Garrett waited inside Maxwell's bedroom. Billy became a fugitive. Amid controversy, Garrett was confirmed by the U.S. Senate on January 2, 1902. I guess well just all have to anxiously await the outcome of this deceased outlaws judicial fate. McCartys new stepfather was a part-time prospector who frequently went off on extended trips. Film Review: The Kid. Despite these accusations, McGinn claims that her only link to the administration is that she offered to handle the case for free because of Richardsons lifelong interest in Billy the Kid. In July, Garrett caught wind that Billy might be staying with a friend in Fort Sumner, New Mexico. Each landowner was supported by their own gang. ', This undated file photo (left) is thought to be an image of famed gunslinger Billy the Kid near the age of 18. 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. Billy was sentenced to hang on April 13, 1881; Garrett had recently caught the Kid, who was sentenced to hanging for killing another Sheriff, but Billy managed to escape. 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). 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. His end wasn't particularly glamorous. Now a fugitive, Henry McCarty had to lay low. Although the incident happened well over a century ago, it remains an intriguing mystery. 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 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. Overall, there are a huge number of unanswered questions. One of them suddenly got up, walked out of the orchard, and leaped over a fence. What you may not know is that the long dead Kid may be up for a pardon from current New Mexico governor Bill Richardson. After the cease fire, McCarty and most of the Regulators fled town, but they were followed by Garrett, who wanted to cash in on the bounty on McCarty's head. We are no longer accepting comments on this article. Like Atlas Obscura and get our latest and greatest stories in your Facebook feed. Like us on Facebook to get the latest on the world's hidden wonders. The man, local blacksmith Frank Cahill, called Billy a pimp. Lee and Gililland stayed on the run for another eight months and finally surrendered. On November 2, 1880, Garrett turned to law enforcement. He continues to look into whether the Kid rightfully deserves a posthumous pardon as promised by Governor Wallace. 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 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. He had stopped his wagon on a lonely road about four miles east of Las Cruces, New Mexico, in order to empty his bladder. As Currys inauguration was not for a few months, Garrett returned to El Paso to look for work. But this time it was a U.S. But That Was Just the Beginning. He died by the gun of Sherriff Pat Garrett at age 21. The views expressed in the contents above are those of our users and do not necessarily reflect the views of MailOnline. The Kid remained and Garrett was true to his word and arrested his former friend. On July 14, 1881, Sheriff Garrett, under the cover of shadows, shot Billy the Kid dead in a residence in Fort Sumner. They saw a group of men nearby who were speaking in Spanish. We unsaddled here, got some coffee, and, on foot, entered an orchard which runs from this point down to a row of old buildings, some of them occupied by Mexicans, not more than sixty yards from Maxwells house. 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. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. Bonney and the others escaped. A few months later, Garrett married Apolinaria Gutierrez, his sister-in-law. Our editors will review what youve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. In November 1950, Morrison filed a petition on behalf of Brushy Bill. Pat Garrett was a man of the times. Billy the Kids life and mystique have inspired countless novels, films, and songs. Pat Garrett: The Truth About The Man Who Killed Billy The Kid. Whos that?) All this occurred in a moment. He states, Just think of all the good publicity New Mexico is receiving around the world on thisIts fun. Carl Adamson took Garrett to Las Cruces, New Mexico, and was soon joined by Brazel on horseback. And that included his last escape, from the custody of Sheriff Garrett. Frank Abrams, who bought the photo at a flea market says experts in forensics and facial recognition have verified the picture after several months of examination, Jackson Mahomes grabs woman by the throat in security footage, Driver dead after overturned tanker truck explodes in Maryland, Ukrainian solider fighting in Bakhmut fires machine gun at Russians, Judge makes damning comments before sentencing Murdaugh for life, Aftermath of tanker explosion in Maryland seen in drone footage, Trump Jr. leads 'MAGA wrecking crew' in song for Guilfoyle's B-day, Wheel of Fortune contestant answers food puzzle wrong, Drone footage shows aftermath of petrol depot explosion in Jakarta, 17-feet of snow blankets San Bernardino mountain range, CCTV captures women leaving the flat after killing Saul Murray, Shocking moment out-of-control truck veers of the road, Russian mouthpiece claims London is now the 'main evil' during TV rant, 'Now, it's in a safe deposit box,' Abrams said on Tuesday. At midnight, Garrett moved silently towards the Maxwell houses southeast corner, just outside Maxwells bedroom. Sheriff Pat Garrett shoots Henry McCarty, popularly known as Billy the Kid, to death at the Maxwell Ranch in New Mexico. 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 We'll see what happens,' Abrams said. Sheriff Pat Garretts grandson, J.P. Garrett, argues that Richardson should have assigned an impartial historian to aid in the case, and believes that McGinns involvement may be a conflict of interest. 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. Pat Garrett (2nd from right) with friends on the porch in Roswell, New Mexico. He was 57. In 1879 he married and settled in Lincoln County, N.M., where he became first deputy sheriff and then sheriff. Now, the stories of what actually happened next seem to clash, so suffice it to say that the Kid ended up in custody. Henry got the better of Cahill and shot him, inflicting a wound that would kill him the next day. 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. We depend on ad revenue to craft and curate stories about the worlds hidden wonders. Omissions? Thats him! Simultaneously the Kid must have seen, or felt, the presence of a third person at the head of the bed. There were at least 26 newspaper articles written that claimed Billy was still alive after July 14, 1881. 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. In December 1880, he had brought in the infamous outlaw Billy the Kid on charges of murdering a former county sheriff. At almost precisely the same time, Garrett woke Maxwell up; his friend was understandably annoyed at being disturbed. But while under guard by two sheriff's deputies at a home, McCarty killed both men and then fled out of town on horseback. The Regulators found themselves cornered and under siege in a local saloon by elements of the local sheriffs posse. Billy the Kid is shot to death - HISTORY 'I don't travel with it.'. 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 known as the man who killed Billy the Kid (q.v.). 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. As is the case with so many mythologized historical figures, it can be difficult to separate fact from fiction. At some point, someone shot and killed Garrett, but exactly who did it has been a subject of debate. 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. Winner will be selected at random on 04/01/2023. One of Garretts deputies went to check the roof and was fatally shot. Brazel used the land to raise goats, which was unacceptable to the Garrets. Quickly as possible I drew my revolver and fired, threw my body aside, and fired again. New Lincoln County Sheriff Pat Garrett and his posse captured Billy the Kid at a place called Stinking Springs on December 23, 1880. The infamous Billy the Kid was no more. Billy the Kids grave is in Fort Sumner, New Mexico. Word reached him of the death, but he didnt cut his trip short and missed the funeral. The extended dance of In the dark, Billy had gone to cut a slice of meat. On July 12, 1898, Garrett and his men encountered Oliver M. Lee and James Gililland at Wildy Well near Orogrande, Texas. However, just two days later, he escaped and his life as a fugitive began. 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. One of Bonneys men was killed; Bonney and the rest of his men were captured. In 1931, locals raised money to give him a proper headstone. 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. Garrett became involved again when he heard a tip that the Kid was hiding out in the Fort. 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. Thinking fast, Billy told Grant that he admired his revolver and asked if he could look at it. On the night ofJuly 14, 1881, Sheriff Pat Garrett gunned down outlaw Billy the Kid in Fort Sumner. Billy The Kid Ive just killed Pat Garrett! Deputy Lucero locked up Brazel, called for a coroners jury, and rode to the location of the murder. August 10th, 2010. 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). He Ended His Career in Disgrace. Another chance at a famous crime solving came after Colonel Albert Jennings Fountain and his eight-year-old son Henry vanished at White Sands, New Mexico, in 1896. Little as we then suspected it, this man was the Kid. He would tell people around here, You know, I have a secret and one of these days youre going to find out what it is. He didnt want to tell his story at first. No purchase necessary. He murdered two deputies, James Bell and Bob Olinger, during the escape. The second shot was useless; the Kid fell dead. Despite his young age, Kid was said to have killed anywhere between 9 and 21 men. Real Clear Life. 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. After the shooting, Garrett claimed the Kid had a .41 caliber pistol in his hand, Poe said it was a .38 caliber. 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?' Garrett attempted to turn himself in to authorities, but no charges were filed. The abandoned U.S. Army post on the Goodnight-Loving cattle trail is now the home of rancher Peter Maxwell. After he thought about it, though, he told [Morrison] that he was Billy the Kid. On December 19, 1880, Bonney, Billy Wilson, Charlie Bowdre, Tom Pickett, and Tom OFolliard rode into Fort Sumner. Pat Garrett, the man who shot Billy the Kid. In July 1881 he tracked down and shot the escaped murderer Billy the Kid. 15 Most Famous Cowboys and Outlaws of the Wild West A cropped version of the sole fully authenticated photo of Billy the Kid. That same year, a man named Randy Guijarro bought an old photo for $2 at a shop in Fresno, California. Follow us on social media to add even more wonder to your day. 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. The Kid was known to be friendly and personable and a smart dresser, often wearing a Mexican sombrero. 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. Billy then drew fast and shot Grant in the head before making his escape. Offer subject to change without notice. I asked him as to the whereabouts of the Kid. CNN A Pardon for The Notorious Billy the Kid? And yet with the good cheer came a surprising ruthlessness. They all moved to Kansas together in 1870 and she married Antrim in 1873. 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Billy the Kid didnt make it all the way to New Mexico. We approached these houses cautiously, and when within earshot, heard the sound of voices conversing in Spanish. Garrett wouldn't find McCarty until two years later, a month after he was appointed sheriff. Before the sun came up, the Kid was underground with nothing but a wooden marker for his grave. From what Ive heard, [Brushy Bill] told a pretty credible tale, says Hamilton Historical Commission Chairman Jim Eidson. 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. But surely even the man who shot charming, murderous Billy the Kid deserved a better end than a bullet while watering the desert. At about age 21, Billy the Kid was gunned down by Sheriff Pat Garrett. Billy The Kid On ABCs, Good Morning America Friday, Richardson explained that the evidence of the case simply did not warrant a pardon. Billy the Kid was born Henry McCarty to Irish immigrants in New York City around 1859. El Paso Times 1934: Pistol That Killed Billy the Kid Will Be Returned to Garretts Widow. When the Kid, by me unrecognized, left the orchard, I motioned to my companions, and we cautiously retreated a short distance, and, to avoid the persons whom we had heard at the houses, took another route, approaching Maxwells house from the opposite direction. While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. in Spanish. Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for Billy the Kid: A Short and Violent Life at the best online prices at eBay! They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors. Billy's arrest found him in Garrett's custody. He never spoke. I believe he lived, had many more adventures before he finally died in Hico in 1950. A tiny stone cabbage has a big backstory stretching from Beijings Forbidden City to Taipei's National Palace Museum. Nine years older than Billy, he'd been a buffalo hunter, hired gun, and cowboy before he ran for sheriff of Lincoln County, New Mexico, on a law-and-order platform. During the Kids time as an outlaw, Pat Garrett was elected Sheriff and sent after him. 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. Alternate titles: Brushy Bill, Henry McCarty, William H. Bonney, Jr. 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. Billy lights out for old Fort Sumner on the Pecos River, some 150 miles northeast of Lincoln. In the aftermath of the Lincoln County War, Lew Wallace, the new territorial governor of New Mexico, published a wanted list which included the Kid, who was implicated in the murder of Sheriff Brady in 1878, shortly after Brady arrested the Kid. Billy the Kid was up for a posthumous pardon for the murder for which he was to be hanged. He was celebrated for his gun skills and, according to popular legend killed 21 men - one for each year of his short life. John Miller, an Arizona man, also claimed he was the outlaw. 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. Were not trying to deceive anyone. His parents were Irish immigrants who came to America and married just after turning 20. Garrett learned that The Kid had been in and out of Sumner, New Mexico, and was staying there with Pete Maxwell. 'Right now, that is not the first thing on my mind. The Kid was moved to a jail in Lincoln, New Mexico but escaped on April 28 before the hangmans noose could claim him. Read honest and unbiased product reviews from our users. Patrick Floyd Jarvis Garrett was born in Chambers County, Alabama, on June 5, 1850. 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. Corrections? Consider supporting our work by becoming a member for as little as $5 a month. Garrett would encounter him again in July 1881, apparently killing him in a nighttime shootout. Whether his story actually ended in 1881, however, is another matter. Garrett and his men had received information that the outlaws were coming and set up an ambush. Pats son Dudley arranged with Jesse Brazel for a five-year lease of the Garretts Bear Canyon Ranch. Furthermore, several of Billys friends say he only had a knife and not a gun. Second Confirmed Photo of Billy the Kid I now believe without a doubt that Billy the Kid was not killed by Pat Garrett in Fort Sumner. Even by frontier standards, he was young. Richardson appointed Charles Daniels to the state Supreme Court, whom McGinn is married to.