Consider supporting our work by becoming a member for as little as $5 a month. Now a fugitive, Henry McCarty had to lay low. They fired at the men from behind a wall, and Brady died after being shot at least a dozen times. We depend on ad revenue to craft and curate stories about the worlds hidden wonders. The case dates back to 1881so why the New Years Eve deadline you may ask? However, the true figure is believed to be somewhere between four and nine. Free shipping for many products! He moved to Texas, where Governor John Ireland appointed him to the Texas Rangers. 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. 'To me, it's one of the most intriguing and historically significant of those tintypes of the Old West. Interviewed later by a reporter, he took in his surroundings and asked, "Is the jail at Santa Fe any better than this? He managed to locate his stepfathers place in New Mexico, where he holed up for a few weeks. He and Garrett went to court, and Brazel agreed to cancel his lease with Garrett providing he could sell his 1,200 goats. Join us for a daily celebration of the worlds most wondrous, unexpected, even strange places. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. The next time the Kid encountered the sheriff however, it would be his last. Richardson told the Associated Press on Wednesday, I dont know where Ill end up. William Wallace agrees, also citing that McGinn has, meager qualifications. 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. Before I made the discoveries I made in my book, I did not have an opinion on Brushy Bill, says Edwards. And yet with the good cheer came a surprising ruthlessness. Carl Adamson never appeared at the trial as a witness, and Brazel was acquitted. To Poes great surprise, he recognized in the camper an old friend and former partner, in Texas, named Jacobs. Apache scouts, the Pinkertons, and local Republican Party members all joined in to try and locate the Fountains, with no results. On ABCs, Good Morning America Friday, Richardson explained that the evidence of the case simply did not warrant a pardon. I believe he lived, had many more adventures before he finally died in Hico in 1950. The family moved to New Mexico, and, in his early teens, Billy fell into a career of thievery and lawlessness, wandering throughout the Southwest and northern Mexico, often with gangs. 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. The Regulators and the new sheriffs forces clashed in July 1878 at whats become known as the Battle of Lincoln. In July 1881 he tracked down and shot the escaped murderer Billy the Kid. He was plagued by debt in his later years, and while his ranch holdings weren't anywhere near profitable, their locations were desirable for water rights and staging grounds for, shall we say, nefarious activities. Henry Woodson Strong scouted for famed Indian fighter Ranald S. Mackenzie. In December 1880, he had brought in the infamous outlaw Billy the Kid on charges of murdering a former county sheriff. For those of you scratching your heads wondering who Billy the Kid is; he is the western outlaw also known as William Bonney. The infamous Billy the Kid was no more. Circa 1879-1880. Other sources state that without parental guidance, the Kid simply got a bad start in life. 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. He did, however, manage to escape from jail and go on the run. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors. With his mother gone, teenage Henry McCarty was basically on his own. ', This undated file photo (left) is thought to be an image of famed gunslinger Billy the Kid near the age of 18. Garrett, who had been tracking the Kid for He also wouldnt have backed into a darkened doorway where more danger possibly lurked. In 1964 an Ohio woman took up the challenge that had led to Amelia Earharts disappearance. Billy the Kid, that heasked Sheriff Kimball to appoint him deputy sheriff until his term officiallybegan in January of 1881. 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. Real Clear Life. The two would have nine children over the years. It was at the saloon that Pat Garrett met and often gambled with William Bonney, better known as Billy the Kid. The two were seen together so often they soon took on the nicknames of Big Casino and Little Casino. Those who oppose the pardon argue that there is no proof that Governor Wallace ever offered one; he may have simply tricked Kid in to offering up information. Follow us on Twitter to get the latest on the world's hidden wonders. He Was a Fast-Rising Judge in Arkansas. Here's how Sheriff Pat Garrett related his side of the story. Billy the Kids life and mystique have inspired countless novels, films, and songs. Maxwell lit a candle to illuminate the room and the body of Billy the Kid lay motionless, with Garretts bullet lodged in his heart. Before resigning in disgrace, federal judge William Story preceded the more celebrated hanging judge Isaac Parker in Arkansas Western District. We'll see what happens,' Abrams said. Although he claimed to have killed 21 men, the actual number is likely less than 10. Billy the Kid has long been one of the many names associated with the Wild West, alongside the Bob Dalton Gang, Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, Cole Younger, Jesse James, and more. In 1931, locals raised money to give him a proper headstone. The Old Man Who Claimed to Be Billy the Kid. At about age 21, Billy the Kid was gunned down by Sheriff Pat Garrett. A very similar situation arose with yet another disputed photo of Billy in 2017. Garrett was fatally shot on the road from the ranch to Las Cruces, N.M. Little is known about Billy the Kids early days, but It was a good racket, but he couldnt stay out of trouble long enough to enjoy it. He was armed with a knife and a gun. But then they took him to the jail house Where they try to turn a man into a mouse. Once again, Billy broke out of jail and went on the run. History is a guide to navigation in perilous times. 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. Garrett is the man who eventually killed Billy the Kid, born as Henry McCarty. US Marshal Service How Much Did It Cost to Find Billy the Kid? Soon after, the family moved farther west where Henry McCarty started getting into trouble. 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! Lee and Gililland stayed on the run for another eight months and finally surrendered. They mistook OFolliard for Bonney, however,and fatally shot him. There are two theories about what happened at the house where Garrett found and killed McCarty. He continues to look into whether the Kid rightfully deserves a posthumous pardon as promised by Governor Wallace. The Regulators were able to ambush and kill Brady, but that didnt put an end to things. Garrett fired twice, hitting Billy once, and killing him. Yet at the same time, Billy the Kid seemed to be making an attempt at going straight. I wont put a price on it, quite frankly its priceless. Marshals Posse. For example, a Mrs. Wood of Seven Rivers said she served the outlaw dinner three days after he was supposed to have died. Offer subject to change without notice. Portrait of American gunman Billy the Kid (18591881). Once again, Billy the Kid ended up in custody. Whos that?) All this occurred in a moment. 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. The other known pictures of the outlaw were believed to have been taken in 1877, 1878 and 1879. McCartys new stepfather was a part-time prospector who frequently went off on extended trips. McCarty was then brought to Las Vegas where he stood trial for Brady's murder and on April 13, was sentenced to die. He had already written down the jurys verdict and asked Segura, Anaya and the rest of the jury to sign it. He made a deal with the governor that should he testify against persons involved in the Lincoln County War, he would receive a full pardon for involvement in Sheriff Bradys death and other misdeeds. The Regulators found themselves cornered and under siege in a local saloon by elements of the local sheriffs posse. Instead, he briefly moved to Texas to serve asa Lieutenant in the Texas Rangers before returning to his ranch in New Mexico. The full-length version of the sole completely authenticated photo of Billy the Kid. See. *Source: Texas State Historical Association. Garrett settled a truce with the fugitives to retrieve his deputy, who died on the way to Las Cruces. Billy the Kid was a late 19th-century thief and gunfighter. The defining issue revolves around the belief that Wallace promised this pardon in exchange for Kids knowledge in a murder case involving three men. 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. Unfortunately, by the time the Kid was fifteen years old his mother had passed away from tuberculosis. I might not pardon him. 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. There were various men in the American Southwest who went by the moniker "Billy the Kid." The authenticity of the photo has since been disputed, despite National Geographic standing behind it. But it wasnt to be. 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. The Kid's freedom was short lived however, when Garrett set down to find him on July 14, 1881. New Lincoln County Sheriff Pat Garrett and his posse captured Billy the Kid at a place called Stinking Springs on December 23, 1880. It struck me that it might be Petes brother-in-law, Manuel Abreu, who had seen Poe and McKinney, and wanted to know their business. On the night ofJuly 14, 1881, Sheriff Pat Garrett gunned down outlaw Billy the Kid in Fort Sumner. 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. Billy the Kidborn William Henry McCarty, but also known as William H. Bonneyoriginally came from New York. The Lincoln County justice of the peace was convinced but before Brady could be arrested, local deputies loyal to the sheriff arrested Billy and threw him in jail.