No purchase necessary. In 1882, Garrett and his ghost writer, Marshall Upson, published The Authentic Life of Billy the Kid. What you may not know is that the long dead Kid may be up for a pardon from current New Mexico governor Bill Richardson. He did, however, manage to escape from jail and go on the run. Now these are strange things for someone that is a fraud to focus on. For deaths, sure. McNew and Carr were the first to be arrested. There are also suggestions that Billy and Garrett were friends and planned the whole incident so the fugitive could escape. Garrett learned that The Kid had been in and out of Sumner, New Mexico, and was staying there with Pete Maxwell. Amid controversy, Garrett was confirmed by the U.S. Senate on January 2, 1902. In November 1880, he and three of his gang were captured, and the Kid was tried and convicted for the murder of Brady. 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. By 1876 he was hunting buffalo, until a dispute with another hunter, Joe Briscoe, ended up with Garrett killing Briscoe. 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. As is the case with so many mythologized historical figures, it can be difficult to separate fact from fiction. 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. Ive just killed Pat Garrett! Deputy Lucero locked up Brazel, called for a coroners jury, and rode to the location of the murder. Billy then drew fast and shot Grant in the head before making his 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. Billy the Kid, that heasked Sheriff Kimball to appoint him deputy sheriff until his term officiallybegan in January of 1881. Bonney woke up and went into the kitchen, presumably to get something to eat. They were acquitted of the Fountain killings, and the charges for killing the deputy were dismissed. Some argue his book about Billy Bonney is the only reason why The Kid is remembered today. 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. 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 is the man who eventually killed Billy the Kid, born as Henry McCarty. Offer subject to change without notice. That's when he recognized Garrett in the image. The Kid was known to be friendly and personable and a smart dresser, often wearing a Mexican sombrero. 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. 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. Billy's arrest found him in Garrett's custody. The Washington Post One Mans Quest to Bury the Wild West Mystery of Billy the Kids Death. Lets get the issue of imposters out of the way quickly. They fired at the men from behind a wall, and Brady died after being shot at least a dozen times. Every weekday we compile our most wondrous stories and deliver them straight to you. Click here to sign a petition for the pardon of Billy the Kid, or click here to sign a petition opposed to that pardon. 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. The following day, the Kid was buried in the Fort Sumner cemetery. 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!. Billy became a fugitive. Before resigning in disgrace, federal judge William Story preceded the more celebrated hanging judge Isaac Parker in Arkansas Western District. Now a fugitive, Henry McCarty had to lay low. HistoryNet.com is brought to you by HistoryNet LLC, the worlds largest publisher of history magazines. An eye-opening journey through the history, culture, and places of the culinary world. He had stopped his wagon on a lonely road about four miles east of Las Cruces, New Mexico, in order to empty his bladder. We concealed ourselves quickly and listened; but the distance was too great to hear words, or even distinguish voices. A stranger named Joe Grant came into the saloon and sidled up to near the spot where Billy was drinking. 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. Governor of New Mexico, Bill Richardson, declined to pardon Western outlaw Billy the Kid during his last hours in office. He was 57. 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. We are no longer accepting comments on this article. 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. In July, Garrett caught wind that Billy might be staying with a friend in Fort Sumner, New Mexico. He moved to Texas, where Governor John Ireland appointed him to the Texas Rangers. 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. Garrett had recently caught the Kid, who was sentenced to hanging for killing another Sheriff, but Billy managed to escape. A witness agreed, and Brazel went free. What is far more relevant to the case is the issue of discrepancy in the testimonies of Garrett, Poe, the coroner and several other people. The abandoned U.S. Army post on the Goodnight-Loving cattle trail is now the home of rancher Peter Maxwell. On his way to freedom, charming Billy killed two of his jailers. At about age 21, Billy the Kid was gunned down by Sheriff Pat Garrett. It was a good racket, but he couldnt stay out of trouble long enough to enjoy it. He was a wanted young man. During this fight, the Army was forced to intervene and the Regulators lost many of their men. With a few words, which fell like a murmur on our ears, he went to the fence, jumped it, and walked down towards Maxwells house. Sign up for our newsletter and enter to win the second edition of our book. The Billy the Kid Museum opened in Hico nearly 40 years after Robertss death, and the city actively celebrates the connection. Instead, he briefly moved to Texas to serve asa Lieutenant in the Texas Rangers before returning to his ranch in New Mexico. Perhaps he killed an innocent man as the fugitive escaped and fled to Mexico? 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. From what Ive heard, [Brushy Bill] told a pretty credible tale, says Hamilton Historical Commission Chairman Jim Eidson. We depend on ad revenue to craft and curate stories about the worlds hidden wonders. Soon afterwards he was captured and shot by Lincoln County sheriff, Patrick Floyd Garrett in a sting operation. Now, the stories of what actually happened next seem to clash, so suffice it to say that the Kid ended up in custody. Overall, there are a huge number of unanswered questions. I asked him as to the whereabouts of the Kid. And yet with the good cheer came a surprising ruthlessness. Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). Experts believe a picture that shows the New Mexico outlaw with Garrett would be worth much more. Garrett would encounter him again in July 1881, apparently killing him in a nighttime shootout. 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. Carl Adamson never appeared at the trial as a witness, and Brazel was acquitted. While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. New Lincoln County Sheriff Pat Garrett and his posse captured Billy the Kid at a place called Stinking Springs on December 23, 1880. The image could be the last known picture of Billy the Kid, who was born Henry McCarty. Garrett was correct in his estimation of The Kid Billy was legendary, a man who had managed to escape incarceration more than once. 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. Garrett, who had been tracking the Kid for The one that counted the one who still counts was variously known as Henry McCarty, Henry Antrim, Kid Antrim, William H. Bonney, Billy Bonney, and sometimes just The Kid. Soldier in range wars, cattle rustler, horse thief, but also universally described as charming, funny, a good singer and good dancer, at least bilingual, and an avid reader. Related story from us: One of the men who killed Bonnie & Clyde was Bonnies secret admirer. A cropped version of the sole fully authenticated photo of Billy the Kid. CNN A Pardon for The Notorious Billy the Kid? But it wasnt to be. Whether they produced battlefield images of the dead or daguerreotype portraits of common soldiers, []. However, Poe and several other people say they moved the body quickly, dressed it and prepared it for a wake. He and Garrett went to court, and Brazel agreed to cancel his lease with Garrett providing he could sell his 1,200 goats. Once again, Billy the Kid ended up in custody. The most comprehensive and authoritative history site on the Internet. 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 On April 15th, Judge Warren Bristol sentenced Billy the Kid to hang, but he escaped before the sentence was carried out. Bill Richardson, the governor of New Mexico, declined to follow through with that pardon. Garrett went on to be a rancher, customs collector, sheriff of another county, and terrible gambler. 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. Brazels trial for the murder of Garrett lasted only one day, on May 4, 1909. Garrett wouldn't find McCarty until two years later, a month after he was appointed sheriff. Murdaugh is heckled as he leaves court, Two Russian tanks annihilated with bombs by Ukrainian armed forces, Ukraine soldiers shoot down enemy drones with drones of their own, Dozens stuck in car park as staff refuses to open gate for woman, Missing hiker buried under snow forces arm out to wave to helicopter, Insane moment river of rocks falls onto Malibu Canyon in CA, Fleet-footed cop chases an offender riding a scooter, Isabel Oakeshott clashes with Nick Robinson over Hancock texts, MCCARTY, HENRY | The Handbook of Texas Online| Texas State Historical Association (TSHA), Do not sell or share my personal information. A few months later, Garrett married Apolinaria Gutierrez, his sister-in-law. 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. Originally published in the August 2006 issue of American History. It was near midnight and Pete was in bed. 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. Pat Garrett, the man who shot Billy the Kid. The sheriff and two deputies, John Poe and Thomas McKinney, saddle up and set out in search of their quarry. Morrison approached Roberts who, perhaps sensing the end of his life was near (if he had been Billy, hed have been 90 at the time), made a confession. Its now summer 1881. Like Atlas Obscura and get our latest and greatest stories in your Facebook feed. On July 14, 1881, Sheriff Garrett, under the cover of shadows, shot Billy the Kid dead in a residence in Fort Sumner. The men inside were pretty tough and the battle started to turn against the lawmen, but then reinforcements arrived from a nearby army base. Captured and brought in to Las Vegas, New Mexico, he was described as "in a joyous mood" He called out to an acquaintance, "Thought I jes drop in and see how you fellers in Vegas air behavin' yerselves." Real Clear Life. 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.). I think people really like being associated with it now. 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.