Billy the Kid was believed to have been born sometime around 1859 in New York City. His given name was Henry McCarty. After moving across the country, his mother finally settled in New Mexico, where she married a man named William Antrim.
His Billy’s mother died from tuberculosis in 1874 and shortly thereafter, Billy was arrested for the first time. Billy escaped from prison and traveled to Arizona, finding occasional work as a cowboy and teamster. He was given the nickname of “Kid” and used the name of Kid Antrim.
Billy killed his first man in August of 1877, Frank P. Cahill, in the settlement of Bonito. He was arrested, but again broke jail and headed to Mesilla, New Mexico. It was here he began using the name, William H. Bonney.
Billy the Kid and the Lincoln County War
Billy took a job for John Tunstall, a man allied with John Chisum. Chisum and Tunstall were involved in a feud against Lawrence Murphy and Company for government contracts in New Mexico.
When Tunstall was murdered on February 18, 1878, his attorney, Alexander McSween organized a group called the Regulators, with whom Billy began to ride. When the Regulators captured two of Tunstall’s murderer’s and attempted to bring them back to Lincoln for trial, both of the men were killed. Billy the Kid is credited with their deaths.
Billy was involved with a group of men credited for killing Sheriff William Brady and George Hindman on the main street of Lincoln. He took part in the fight at Blazer’s Mill and later became more involved in the leadership of the Regulators.
In July of 1878, McSween was killed in his home in Lincoln and the status of the Regulators changed. It appeared that Murphy and Company had won and Billy and his men became outlaws.
When Lew Wallace became governor of New Mexico, he issued a general pardon for both sides of the feud. However, the pardon didn’t apply to Billy because of his murder of Sheriff Brady.
Billy the Kid and Pat Garret
In 1878, Billy met with Wallace and agreed to surrender in exchange for a full pardon if he testified against some Murphy men who had killed a lawyer named Chapman. Billy was held until the spring of 1879. After growing impatient, he escaped and remained free for several months. Figuring that he was owed money for his services to the Tunstall/McSween faction, Billy rode to John Chisum demanding money in the sum of $500. Chisum refused to pay, so Billy helped himself to the rancher’s cattle and horses.
Pat Garret became the new sheriff of Lincoln County and caught up with Billy at Stinking Springs. A pistol discussion ensued, after which Billy was captured. He was put on trial for the murder of Sheriff Brady and convicted, but killed two deputies and escaped before he could be hung.
Billy the Kid and Western Legend
Garret trailed Billy and on the night of July 14, 1881, supposedly shot and killed the Kid at the ranch of Pete Maxwell. But that is where the legend begins. There was no public display and viewing of the body. No gun was found on the body and Pat Garret was unable to claim the $500 reward that was on Billy’s head. Several men have since stepped forward claiming to be the Kid, most notably, Brushy Bill Roberts.
Sources:
Lamar, Howard R, ed. The New Encyclopedia of the American West. New Haven and London, Yale University Press.
Billy the Kid Museum Retrieved on 6/1/09.
