The legend and urban myth that surrounds Billy the Kid, a.k.a William Bonney or William Henry McCarty tells he was a firm friend of Pat Garrett. And indeed the 1970 John Wayne film 'Chisum' did portray the men as acquaintances with the same love interest in Chisum's niece. However there is little evidence to substantiate this.
Following the end of the rancher feud known ad the Lincoln County War, Billy the Kid was on the run. All his time was spent in trying to keep one step ahead of the law and the latest posse. He survived as he had done for virtually all his adult life by gambling and small time cattle rustling.
Pat Garrett, Elected Sherriff
With Billy the Kid on the run, Patrick 'Pat' Floyd Garrett (June 5 1850 - February 29 1908) was elected sheriff of Lincoln County in November 1880. Garret ran his campaign on a reform ticket pledging to rid the area of cattle rustlers and promising to bring law and order to the county.
In December 1880, Garrett formed a posse to search for Billy the Kid. The outlaw had a $500 dollar reward on his head. Notice of this had been posted in the Las Vega gazette by the governor Lew Wallace in spite of previously negotiating an amnesty with the Kid. On December 23rd Garrett and his men had the Kid holed up in an abandoned cabin. The waiting game had begun.
The Surrender of Billy the Kid
As Christmas Eve dawned, one of Billy's companions, Charlie Bowdre stepped out of the cabin to feed his horse. Mistaken for Billy, Bowdre was shot by one of the posse. Billy, realising there was no escape, surrendered himself to Garrett.
Initially Billy was taken to Fort Sumner. From there he was transferred to Las Vegas and then to Santa Fe. During his incarceration, Billy wrote several letters to Lew Wallace. In spite of the fact the governor had offered the Kid an amnesty he wasn't authorised to offer, Billy felt he had to put his trust in him again, however, on this occasion, Wallace refused to intervene and Billy's trail date was set.
The trail of Billy the Kid, a.k.a William Bonney started on April 9th 1881 in Mesilla, New Mexico. After just 2 days of testimony Billy was found guilty of the murder of Sherriff William Brady in March 1878, a crime that occurred during the Lincoln County War which followed the murder of Billy's employer, John Tunstall.
On April 13th, Billy was sentenced to hang by Judge Warren Bristol. Sentence was due to be carried out on May 13th. Billy was transferred to Lincoln County and held on the top floor of the court house. He was to be guarded around the clock by two deputies, James Bell and Robert Ollinger.
Billy had escaped incarceration before, and there are several theories as to how he escaped from the court house on this occasion. One theory is that a supporter hid a gun in the nearby privvy which Billy was permitted to use. Another theory was that due to his slight build he was able to slip out of the manacles he had on and was able to hit Deputy James Bell before shooting him with his own gun. Then as he left the building Billy is supposed to have shot Robert Ollinger as he ran back to the court house.
Once again the Kid was on the run, but by July rumours had reached Pat Garrett that he was hiding in Fort Sumner. Taking just two deputies with him, Garrett set out to capture the Kid.
The Death of Billy the Kid
As with many events in Billy's short life there are several versions of what happened next. One account is that Garrett was hiding in wait in the dark for Billy as he visited a friend. As Billy entered the room he called out 'Who is it?' Recognising Billy's voice, Garrett fired twice, the first bullet hitting Billy just above his heart. The second account is that Billy entered the room armed with a knife. Seeing someone hiding in the dark, he called out in Spanish, 'Who is it?' at which point he was shot and killed. The third version is that Garret had overpowered Paulita Maxwell, a friend of Billy's, who it was rumoured he was about to marry. With Paulita bound and gagged on the bed, Garrett hid in her room waiting for Billy to arrive, shooting him as he entered the room.
Billy the Kid was buried in the old military cemetery of Fort Sumner. He lies between two friends and former gang members, Tom O'Folliard and Charlie Bowdre. In the 1940s a tombstone marker was erected at the head of the three graves. It was inscribed with the outlaw's names and the word 'Pals'. Unfortunately the tombstone was stolen and later recovered on three occasions before the graves were enclosed in a steel cage, which is as it still stands today.
Sources
- All about Billy the Kid.com
- Encyclopaedia Britannica
- Legends of America
- Encarta
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