Despite his young age, Kid was said to have killed anywhere between 9 and 21 men. 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! Following Billy the Kids death, the media turned him into a folk hero and made Garrett out to be the bad guy. Billy the Kid was born Henry McCarty to Irish immigrants in New York City around 1859. Its an area tailor-made for rustlers, and Billy knows it well. With his mother gone, teenage Henry McCarty was basically on his own. Sign up for our newsletter and enter to win the second edition of our book. So, the Kid escaped custody and eluded the law for the next two years. He hoped that Morrison could help him claim the pardon that New Mexico Governor Lew Wallace supposedly promised Billy the Kid back in 1879. 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. 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. In December 1880, he had brought in the infamous outlaw Billy the Kid on charges of murdering a former county sheriff. However, Poe and several other people say they moved the body quickly, dressed it and prepared it for a wake. At some point, someone shot and killed Garrett, but exactly who did it has been a subject of debate. Winner will be selected at random on 04/01/2023. A quick online search reveals more than 50 films in which Billy the Kid is either the main character or a secondary one. These qualities contributed to his image as both a notorious outlaw and a folk hero. Soon a man arose from the ground, in full view, but too far away to recognize. Garrett was fatally shot on the road from the ranch to Las Cruces, N.M. Why Billy The Kid Is The Most Infamous Gunslinger Of The Wild West. As they talked, Billy, said Garrett, "expressed no enmity towards me, but evinced respect and confidence in me acknowledging that I had only done my duty, without malice, and had treated him with marked leniency and kindness.". To Poes great surprise, he recognized in the camper an old friend and former partner, in Texas, named Jacobs. He moved to Texas, where Governor John Ireland appointed him to the Texas Rangers. Garrett, a one-time friend, was the new sheriff of Lincoln County. But they were only able to arrest John Webb, an accused murderer, along with horse thief George Davis. *Source: Texas State Historical Association. Although the book was not successful when it was released, an originaledition became quite valuable over the years. At some point after these murders, Lew Wallace became governor of New Mexico. Biggest diamond EVER sold at auction sells Pavement where disabled woman gestured at cyclist before fatal crash, 'Vindication': Georgia Harrison on ex Stephen Bear's sentencing, Incredible footage of Ukrainian soldiers fighting Russians in Bakhmut, Pro-Ukrainian drone lands on Russian spy planes exposing location, 'Buster is next!' Born Henry McCarty, he was the first of two boys raised by a small Irish Catholic family in New York City. Experts believe a picture that shows the New Mexico outlaw with Garrett would be worth much more. Texas. Film Review: The Kid. At about age 21, Billy the Kid was gunned down by Sheriff Pat Garrett. Real Clear Life. They all moved to Kansas together in 1870 and she married Antrim in 1873. 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. In 2008, for instance, Bonham sold Billy's gun for $64,350. 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. Either way, Billy sensed that trouble was coming and decided to head it off at the pass. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors. In the darkness, he could not see Garrett well and repeatedly asked: Who is it? Garrett replied with two gunshots, killing Bonney. A cropped version of the sole fully authenticated photo of Billy the Kid. He was armed with a knife and a gun. Other sources state that without parental guidance, the Kid simply got a bad start in life. In 1882, Garrett and his ghost writer, Marshall Upson, published The Authentic Life of Billy the Kid. I think people really like being associated with it now. Apache scouts, the Pinkertons, and local Republican Party members all joined in to try and locate the Fountains, with no results. Billy the Kid was free for just three months before his final encounter with Pat Garrett. 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. But then I might. One of Garretts deputies went to check the roof and was fatally shot. Billy's arrest found him in Garrett's custody. When you listen to his real story, he talks about how he wasnt an outlaw, how he never robbed banks or stagecoaches, how he resented the fact that Governor Lew Wallace reneged on his promise of a pardon in 1879 and left him to die, Edwards says. At the same time he served as a deputy U.S. marshal. Consider supporting our work by becoming a member for as little as $5 a month. Related story from us: One of the men who killed Bonnie & Clyde was Bonnies secret admirer. Corrections? While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. 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. Bonney and the others escaped. Garrett learned that The Kid had been in and out of Sumner, New Mexico, and was staying there with Pete Maxwell. He came directly towards me. At almost precisely the same time, Garrett woke Maxwell up; his friend was understandably annoyed at being disturbed. In 1879 he married and settled in Lincoln County, N.M., where he became first deputy sheriff and then sheriff. 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.. It was the last contact he ever had with Antrim. 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. 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. In the aftermath of the apparent shooting, numerous people claimed to have met the Kid. Though quick with a joke, he did not hesitate before pulling the trigger. See. Once more, Sheriff Garrett was sent after the Kid. 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. He Ended His Career in Disgrace. 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. However, the true figure is believed to be somewhere between four and nine. He stated that he decided against the pardon, because of a lack of conclusiveness and the historical ambiguity as to why Gov. Richardson told the Associated Press on Wednesday, I dont know where Ill end up. 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. 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. Our editors will review what youve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. As you can imagine, there is much controversy arising from this investigationwhich side will you join? 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. 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. Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). Billy the Kid was born Henry McCarty to Irish immigrants in New York City around 1859. I now believe without a doubt that Billy the Kid was not killed by Pat Garrett in Fort Sumner. He soon, however, hailed his friend, who was sleeping in the room, told him to get up and make some coffee, adding: Give me a butcher knife and I will go over to Petes and get some beef; Im hungry. The Mexican arose, handed him the knife, and the Kid, hatless and in his stocking-feet, started to Maxwells, which was but a few steps distant. The disputed photo bought by Randy Guijarro, allegedly showing Billy the Kid (center). Garrett then supposedly shot McCarty dead. 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. 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? 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 The moment word got out about his escape, New Mexicos governor put another $500 bounty on the Kid, dead or alive. Mysteries of the Old West: Did Pat Garrett Kill Billy the Kid? By Kelly Mclaughlin For Mailonline and Ashley Collman For Dailymail.com and Associated Press, Published: 06:57 EST, 15 November 2017 | Updated: 10:53 EST, 15 November 2017. Garrett was so impatient to capture the outlawWilliam Bonney, a.k.a. Once inside, he asked Maxwell: Who are these fellows outside Pete? Maxwell said: Thats him! to Garrett, who opened fire almost as soon as Billy said: who are you? in Spanish. Billy lights out for old Fort Sumner on the Pecos River, some 150 miles northeast of Lincoln. Brushy Bill was very well known around these parts, says Jane Klein, historian at the Billy the Kid Museum. Frank Abrams, a North Carolina attorney, first spotted the tintype photo in Asheville in 2011. His parents were Irish immigrants who came to America and married just after turning 20. Historians say that this photo shows outlaw Billy the Kid, circled second from left, and Pat Garrett, circled far right, taken in 1880. The Kid was known to be friendly and personable and a smart dresser, often wearing a Mexican sombrero. 'To me, it's one of the most intriguing and historically significant of those tintypes of the Old West. Billy was sentenced to hang on April 13, 1881; 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?" He was buried in the old military cemetery at Fort Sumner next to two of his gang members. This time however, he was sentenced to hang for the death of Sheriff Brady. In 1881, he was apprehended by Sheriff Pat Garrett and sentenced to death by hanging for murder. When the governors office refused to give Garrett his $500 reward (for reasons that remain unclear), local citizens chipped in and raised $7,000 for him instead. They are personal things, and things that make complete sense for him to be upset about if his story was true.. Brushy Bill and Billy the Kid, the whole story, thats part of who we are now, Eidson says. Web2013-08-26 To Hell on a Fast Horse: Billy the Kid, Pat Garrett, and the Epic Chase to Justice in the Old West ; 2013-08-24 To Hell on a Fast Horse: Billy the Kid, Pat Garrett, and the Epic Chase to Justice in the Old West ; 2013-08-17 The Authentic Life of Billy the Kid ; 2012-03-25 Michael Flynn - The January Dancer Billy agreed and went through with the farce. There are also suggestions that Billy and Garrett were friends and planned the whole incident so the fugitive could escape. One of Bonneys men was killed; Bonney and the rest of his men were captured. There is little or no evidence to back up any of these claims. There is no doubt there that Billy the Kid is one of their own, and theyre happy to tell the world. He Was a Fast-Rising Judge in Arkansas. 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. Well, let me explain by starting with a little history lesson. Thats him! Simultaneously the Kid must have seen, or felt, the presence of a third person at the head of the bed. It was at this point that many sources say the Kid began his life of crimestarting with stealing and progressing to murder. Were not trying to deceive anyone. During an interview in 1983, Pat Garretts last surviving daughter, Elizabeth, claimed that her father did not kill the Kid. 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. He also wouldnt have backed into a darkened doorway where more danger possibly lurked. A little over a year later, the New Mexico territorial legislature voted to give Garrett the $500 he was owed. 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. 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). Free shipping for many products! 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. McCarty, was a member of the Regulators gang. That's when he recognized Garrett in the image. 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. He had stopped his wagon on a lonely road about four miles east of Las Cruces, New Mexico, in order to empty his bladder. Soon after, the family moved farther west where Henry McCarty started getting into trouble. Garrett was away from Lincoln on county business when the Kid made his escape. They saw a group of men nearby who were speaking in Spanish. Wikimedia CommonsThe disputed photo bought by Randy Guijarro, allegedly showing Billy the Kid (center). Garrett settled a truce with the fugitives to retrieve his deputy, who died on the way to Las Cruces. Before I made the discoveries I made in my book, I did not have an opinion on Brushy Bill, says Edwards. 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. When the warden came out into the street to investigate the gunshot, Billy shouted down to him: Look up, old boy, and see what you get! and then he shot him dead (apparently arousing no suspicion from any bystanders in the process). 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 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. The defining issue revolves around the belief that Wallace promised this pardon in exchange for Kids knowledge in a murder case involving three men. Updates? The Kid testified as promised, but the pardon was never granted. The Regulators were able to ambush and kill Brady, but that didnt put an end to things. 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. What you may not know is that the long dead Kid may be up for a pardon from current New Mexico governor Bill Richardson. This story originally ran in 2017; it has been updated for 2022. Meanwhile, Billy encountered Poe and McKinney and apparently said Quien es? which means who is it? in Spanish. Somehow, he managed to reach a friends house, where he was allowed to rest and recover from his ordeal in the desert. 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. And yet with the good cheer came a surprising ruthlessness. One of his first acts was to capture Billy the Kid, sending him to trial for the murder of the Lincoln sheriff and his deputy. Although the book was not successful when it was released, an original edition became quite valuable over the years. He said that the Kid had certainly been about, but he did not know whether he had left or not. 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. Outlaws have a romantic air about them and I think the people in Hamilton County really enjoy having this as part of the history.. On his way to freedom, charming Billy killed two of his jailers. From gas leaks to eels, James "Smelly" Kelly changed the history of the city's underground. He and Garrett went to court, and Brazel agreed to cancel his lease with Garrett providing he could sell his 1,200 goats. But it wasnt to be. We concealed ourselves quickly and listened; but the distance was too great to hear words, or even distinguish voices. Billy then managed to cut through his leg irons and steal a horse to make his escape. In 1931, locals raised money to give him a proper headstone. Ethan Hawke and Dane DeHaan ride tall in Vincent DOnofrios fresh take on the saga of Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid. Garrett and his men had received information that the outlaws were coming and set up an ambush. before being shot dead. As a child, Billy the Kid went under the name of Henry McCarty. He tried to work straight jobs (hotel worker, ranch hand) but quickly found himself on the wrong side of the law. Hewas elected to the office of sheriff of Lincoln County, New Mexico, winning ahead ofincumbent Sheriff George Kimball. The two men knew each other and had socialized with one another; it might be a stretch to call them friends. 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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. 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 New Mexico, Garrett worked as a cowboy for Pedro Pete Maxwell but quit to open a saloon. The case dates back to 1881so why the New Years Eve deadline you may ask? All rights reserved. These absences got longer and more common as McCartys mother got sick with tuberculosis and became more dependent on the men in her family to look after her. I wont put a price on it, quite frankly its priceless. This is a terrible place to put a fellow in.". McCartys family life was total chaos from the start. The full-length version of the sole completely authenticated photo of Billy the Kid. Who is it?' 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. He also obtained a deputy U.S. Marshals commission to have jurisdiction in other counties. 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. In the midst of the act, he was shot in the back of the head. 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. In 1879 he married Juanita Gutierrez, who died in childbirth less than a year after their marriage. Abrams, who lives in Arden, told Albuquerque's KRQE-TV that he spent the next several months consulting various forensic experts. A Los Angeles forensic video expert said facial recognition software indicates that it is most likely Garrett and Billy the Kid in the picture, according to a signed declaration. 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. CNN A Pardon for The Notorious Billy the Kid? Maxwell lit a candle to illuminate the room and the body of Billy the Kid lay motionless, with Garretts bullet lodged in his heart. 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. For example, a Mrs. Wood of Seven Rivers said she served the outlaw dinner three days after he was supposed to have died. Lets get the issue of imposters out of the way quickly. 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. Webliverpool v nottingham forest 1989 team line ups; best crews to join in gta 5. jay chaudhry house; bimbo bakeries buying back routes; pauline taylor seeley cause of death History is a guide to navigation in perilous times. Financially, Garrett was a failure. Garrett was well aware that Billy was a cockeyed optimist when it came to hopes for escape. He was orphaned as a teen. In July, Garrett rode to Fort Sumner and learned the Kid was staying with the same Pedro Maxwell who had employed Garrett when he first arrived in New Mexico. Originally published in the August 2006 issue of American History. 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). Billy the Kid didnt make it all the way to New Mexico. Updates? 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. He had already written down the jurys verdict and asked Segura, Anaya and the rest of the jury to sign it. A very similar situation arose with yet another disputed photo of Billy in 2017. In 1901 Garrett was appointed by President Theodore Roosevelt as Collector of Customs in El Paso. He managed to locate his stepfathers place in New Mexico, where he holed up for a few weeks. 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?' The Kid's freedom was short lived however, when Garrett set down to find him on July 14, 1881. The men inside were pretty tough and the battle started to turn against the lawmen, but then reinforcements arrived from a nearby army base. He left his deputies outside as he entered the room in a bid to rouse his friend and question him. 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Henry Woodson Strong scouted for famed Indian fighter Ranald S. Mackenzie. 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. During the Kids time as an outlaw, Pat Garrett was elected Sheriff and sent after him. Follow us on social media to add even more wonder to your day. Before the sun came up, the Kid was underground with nothing but a wooden marker for his grave. From his step I could perceive he was either barefooted or in his stocking-feet, and held a revolver in his right hand and a butcher knife in his left. 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. Unfortunately, by the time the Kid was fifteen years old his mother had passed away from tuberculosis. After Patricks departure, his widow took the young Henry McCarty and his brother out to Indiana, where she met a man named Bill Antrim. The sheriff and two deputies, John Poe and Thomas McKinney, saddle up and set out in search of their quarry. 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His last days have been the central narrative of many of them, including Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid, a 1973 film by director Sam Peckinpah that endures as a classic among fans of the genre. Richardson is a known Billy the Kid aficionado, and is considering the pardon because of an alleged promise by Governor Lew Wallace. It was a game of two, Billy said, and I got there first.. Now, the stories of what actually happened next seem to clash, so suffice it to say that the Kid ended up in custody. While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. 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. McCarty was just 21 when he died. Billy the Kid, that heasked Sheriff Kimball to appoint him deputy sheriff until his term officiallybegan in January of 1881. Billy the Kidborn William Henry McCarty, but also known as William H. Bonneyoriginally came from New York. 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. It was near midnight and Pete was in bed. 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 Memorial marking spot where Pat Garrett was killed. 'I don't travel with it.'. 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. Offer subject to change without notice. Garrett and his men laid siege to the Dedrick ranch at Bosque Grande on November 30th, expecting to find Billy the Kid. Its the last day of Richardsons term. Billy Hathorn / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0), Carol M. Highsmith/Library of Congress/LC-DIG-highsm-29831. Bill Richardson, the governor of New Mexico, declined to follow through with that pardon. The Kid was catapulted into legend due to the $500 bounty - then a staggering amount - on his head. Furthermore, several of Billys friends say he only had a knife and not a gun. The next time the Kid encountered the sheriff however, it would be his last.