Film Review: The Kid. On December 19, 1880, Bonney, Billy Wilson, Charlie Bowdre, Tom Pickett, and Tom OFolliard rode into Fort Sumner. 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.". August 10th, 2010. Does Billy the Kid Deserve the Pardon He was Promised? found himself on the wrong side of the law, The authenticity of the photo has since been disputed, Bass Reeves, the bullet-dodging black lone ranger. Garrett learned that The Kid had been in and out of Sumner, New Mexico, and was staying there with Pete Maxwell. 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. For starters, Billy the Kids name wasnt Billy and he wasnt born in the western United States. Quickly as possible I drew my revolver and fired, threw my body aside, and fired again. Rumor has it that the Kid has taken a shine to Maxwells sister Paulita, though its likely shes not the only local girl to have caught his eye. The Regulators and the new sheriffs forces clashed in July 1878 at whats become known as the Battle of Lincoln. Hes since been romanticized in print, and on stage, television, and film as an emblem of the lawless West. Garrett decided to seek out Peter Maxwell, an old friend who lived in the area, in the hope that he could receive some details about the fugitives whereabouts. They lived in a slum on Manhattans east side and his father, Patrick, died soon after his first son was born. 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. While in prison, the Kid escaped againthis time killing two guards in the process. Every weekday we compile our most wondrous stories and deliver them straight to you. Billy the Kid In July, Garrett caught wind that Billy might be staying with a friend in Fort Sumner, New Mexico. Wikimedia CommonsThe full-length version of the sole completely authenticated photo of Billy the Kid. Billy the Kid was born Henry McCarty to Irish immigrants in New York City around 1859. The full-length version of the sole completely authenticated photo of Billy the Kid. 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. These qualities contributed to his image as both a notorious outlaw and a folk hero. McCarty was then brought to Las Vegas where he stood trial for Brady's murder and on April 13, was sentenced to die. Wikimedia CommonsA cropped version of the sole fully authenticated photo of Billy the Kid. Carl Adamson never appeared at the trial as a witness, and Brazel was acquitted. 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. During his downtime, he liked visiting the saloon, drinking, playing cards, and other healthy diversions for a 16-year-old boy. While still young, his family relocated to New Mexico. However, the true figure is believed to be somewhere between four and nine. Henry got the better of Cahill and shot him, inflicting a wound that would kill him the next day. Garrett fired twice, hitting Billy once, and killing him. 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. Pat Garrett. Some believe that the Kid lived on as Brushy Bill Roberts, but others believe that the Kid was in fact buried the next day in the Fort Sumner cemetery. In the darkness, he could not see Garrett well and repeatedly asked: Who is it? Garrett replied with two gunshots, killing Bonney. In December 1880, he had brought in the infamous outlaw Billy the Kid on charges of murdering a former county sheriff. According to popular legend, Garrett and McCarty were friends before he became an outlaw, but there is no historical evidence to support the theory. It is only the fourth known photograph of Billy the Kid and is thought to be a trophy shot taken by Garrett and his posse after they arrested him for murdering a sheriff. McCarty was just 21 when he died. Nevertheless, it says a lot about the continued American fascination with Billy the Kid that a mere photo of him would be valued at $5 million some 135 years after his death. Garrett was well aware that Billy was a cockeyed optimist when it came to hopes for escape. There were various men in the American Southwest who went by the moniker "Billy the Kid." 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. In 1879 he married and settled in Lincoln County, N.M., where he became first deputy sheriff and then sheriff. With his mother gone, teenage Henry McCarty was basically on his own. The Kid was known to be friendly and personable and a smart dresser, often wearing a Mexican sombrero. Join us for a daily celebration of the worlds most wondrous, unexpected, even strange places. He died by the gun of Sherriff Pat Garrett at age 21. The Kid remained and Garrett was true to his word and arrested his former friend. Stealing his gun, Billy shot him dead and hobbled in chains to the wardens office where he grabbed a shotgun and perched in the window. 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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. Garrett had recently caught the Kid, who was sentenced to hanging for killing He added: 'People ask me all the time, what do you think its worth, what do you think its worth. Billy the Kid was also still stealing. Well, let me explain by starting with a little history lesson. Even by frontier standards, he was young. I walked to the head of the bed and sat down on it, beside him, near the pillow. 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). History is who we are and why we are the way we are.. Word reached him of the death, but he didnt cut his trip short and missed the funeral. Billy the Kids life and mystique have inspired countless novels, films, and songs. Frank Abrams, a North Carolina attorney, first spotted the tintype photo in Asheville in 2011. Mysteries and theories still surround the outlaw's death and burial in Indiana, 85 years later. 2023 Atlas Obscura. For example, Billy was extremely nave on the night in question. You can read all about Billys last night from the point of view of the man who shot him. The abandoned U.S. Army post on the Goodnight-Loving cattle trail is now the home of rancher Peter Maxwell. 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. A photo that was bought at a flea market for $10 shows Billy the Kid standing with the lawman who would ultimately kill him, experts have concluded. During an interview in 1983, Pat Garretts last surviving daughter, Elizabeth, claimed that her father did not kill the Kid. Did Billy the Kid Cheat Death and Live on as 'Brushy Bill'? Texas. After the shooting, Garrett claimed the Kid had a .41 caliber pistol in his hand, Poe said it was a .38 caliber. They are personal things, and things that make complete sense for him to be upset about if his story was true.. During the Kids time as an outlaw, Pat Garrett was elected Sheriff and sent after him. At around the same time, Billy was hungry, so he woke up and walked towards the fresh meat that was hanging on the rafter above the porch outside of Maxwells bedroom. As you can imagine, there is much controversy arising from this investigationwhich side will you join? However, Abrams isn't interested in finding out anytime soon. Its now summer 1881. As is the case with so many mythologized historical figures, it can be difficult to separate fact from fiction. We'll see what happens,' Abrams said. The governor agreed and suggested that, for appearances sake, he should arrest Billy and lock him up in jail before taking his statement about the other murder. New Mexico Office of the State Historian. In 1882, Garrett and his ghost writer, Marshall Upson, published The Authentic Life of Billy the Kid. Garrett tried to break the lease when he learned his creditor, W.W. Bill Cox, was financing Brazel. 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 little over a year later, the New Mexico territorial legislature voted to give Garrett the $500 he was owed. Maybe they lacked imagination, though "Willy Wet Behind the Ears" doesn't scan particularly well. Ive just killed Pat Garrett! Deputy Lucero locked up Brazel, called for a coroners jury, and rode to the location of the murder. He got in trouble for petty thefts of things like food and clothing, but things got worse when stole some pistols from a Chinese laundry in 1875 and was sent to jail. Of course, the above is Pat Garretts account which has been disputed by many people ever since. He was a gambler and heavy drinker andoften deeply in debt. This is the real story of Billy the Kid. While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. Despite his young age, Kid was said to have killed anywhere between 9 and 21 men. From gas leaks to eels, James "Smelly" Kelly changed the history of the city's underground. In the aftermath of the apparent shooting, numerous people claimed to have met the Kid. And that included his last escape, from the custody of Sheriff Garrett. The Kid was moved to a jail in Lincoln, New Mexico but escaped on April 28 before the hangmans noose could claim him. The Kid testified as promised, but the pardon was never granted. 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. Lew Wallaces descendant William Wallace argues that pardoning Billy the Kid would, declare Lew Wallace to have been a dishonorable liar. We had ridden to within a short distance of Maxwells grounds when we found a man in camp and stopped. Billy's arrest found him in Garrett's custody. Garrett was away from Lincoln on county business when the Kid made his escape. It was at this point that many sources say the Kid began his life of crimestarting with stealing and progressing to murder. Richard Stockton is a freelance science and technology writer from Sacramento, California. When she succumbed and died in late 1874, Antrim was a couple of days ride away. But this nice, steady job for Billy the Kid grew more turbulent thanks to a dispute between Tunstall and his rivals. Billy the Kids grave is in Fort Sumner, New Mexico. Brazels trial for the murder of Garrett lasted only one day, on May 4, 1909. The Washington Post One Mans Quest to Bury the Wild West Mystery of Billy the Kids Death. The following day, the Kid was buried in the Fort Sumner cemetery. From what Ive heard, [Brushy Bill] told a pretty credible tale, says Hamilton Historical Commission Chairman Jim Eidson. Now, Billy the Kid and the Regulators were in trouble with the new sheriff that had been appointed for causing so much bloodshed and murder. 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). 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. Richardson appointed Charles Daniels to the state Supreme Court, whom McGinn is married to. 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. Wikimedia CommonsLew Wallace, before he became governor. Furthermore, several of Billys friends say he only had a knife and not a gun. And yet with the good cheer came a surprising ruthlessness. Now, the stories of what actually happened next seem to clash, so suffice it to say that the Kid ended up in custody. Garrett is the man who eventually killed Billy the Kid, born as Henry McCarty. Omissions? His age, appearance, and size won him his 'Kid' moniker. Billy The Kid The photo of the Kid discovered in 2015 has since been estimated to be worth $5 million. Another hypothesis is that Billy the Kid was in fact Ollie L. (Brushy Bill) Roberts, who escaped, lived in Mexico and the U.S. Southwest, rode in Wild West shows, and died in 1950 in Hico, Texas. In April 1878, the Regulators ambushed Brady and four of his deputies on a main street in Lincoln. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors. Once again, Billy didnt stay in jail for long. 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. US Marshal Service How Much Did It Cost to Find Billy the Kid? 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. After making sure his siblings had homes with relatives, Pat headed west in 1869 and found work as a cowboy in Dallas for about six years. A few months later, Garrett married Apolinaria Gutierrez, his sister-in-law. He then bought a horse ranch, leased it, and became involved in a heated dispute over the lease. Before he reached the bed, I whispered: Who is it, Pete? but received no reply for a moment. In 1882, Garrett and his ghost writer, Marshall Upson, published The Authentic Life of Billy the Kid. On July 12, 1898, Garrett and his men encountered Oliver M. Lee and James Gililland at Wildy Well near Orogrande, Texas. Yet at the same time, Billy the Kid seemed to be making an attempt at going straight. Soon a man arose from the ground, in full view, but too far away to recognize. Interviewed later by a reporter, he took in his surroundings and asked, "Is the jail at Santa Fe any better than this? McCartys family life was total chaos from the start. All rights reserved. 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. 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. By 1892 Garrett and his family had relocated to Uvalde, Texas, where he befriended John Nance Garner, a future United States vice-president. But they were only able to arrest John Webb, an accused murderer, along with horse thief George Davis. We are no longer accepting comments on this article. They fired at the men from behind a wall, and Brady died after being shot at least a dozen times. 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). Brazel surrendered to Deputy Sheriff Felipe Lucero in Las Cruces, shouting, Lock me up. He moved to Texas, where Governor John Ireland appointed him to the Texas Rangers. In 1964 an Ohio woman took up the challenge that had led to Amelia Earharts disappearance. He also obtained a deputy U.S. Marshals commission to have jurisdiction in other counties. Billy the Kid was up for a posthumous pardon for the murder for which he was to be hanged. 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. A struggle or two, a little strangling sound as he gasped for breath, and the Kid was with his many victims. A tiny stone cabbage has a big backstory stretching from Beijings Forbidden City to Taipei's National Palace Museum. Omissions? 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. Like us on Facebook to get the latest on the world's hidden wonders. ), correspondent Darren Gross has come across a watchable web encoding of a Peckinpah TV drama that seems to be more or less lost. Good star performances (Jean Simmons, Bradford Garrett was correct in his estimation of The Kid Billy was legendary, a man who had managed to escape incarceration more than once. He never spoke. The Regulators found themselves cornered and under siege in a local saloon by elements of the local sheriffs posse.
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