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{{Short description|American outlaw and gunfighter (1859–1881)}} | |||
{{Other uses|Billy the Kid (disambiguation)}} | {{Other uses|Billy the Kid (disambiguation)}} | ||
{{redirect|Henry McCarty|the American screenwriter and film director|Henry McCarty (writer)}} | |||
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{{Use mdy dates|date=November 2015}} | |||
{{Use mdy dates|date=September 2020}} | |||
{{Use American English|date=May 2016}} | |||
{{Infobox person | {{Infobox person | ||
| name = Billy the Kid | | name = Billy the Kid | ||
| image = Billy the Kid |
| image = Billy the Kid tintype, Fort Sumner, 1879-80-Edit2.jpg | ||
| caption = |
| caption = Portrait attributed to ], {{circa|1880}} | ||
| birth_name = Henry McCarty<ref name="Nolan2015">{{Cite book |first=Frederick |last=Nolan |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=LdazBgAAQBAJ&pg=PT29 |title=The West of Billy the Kid |year=2015 |publisher=University of Oklahoma Press |isbn=978-0-8061-4887-8 |page=29 |access-date=July 1, 2019 |archive-date=September 2, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210902033606/https://books.google.com/books?id=LdazBgAAQBAJ&pg=PT29 |url-status=live }}</ref> | |||
| birth_name = Henry McCarty | |||
| birth_date = September 17 |
| birth_date = September 17 or {{Birth date|1859|11|23}} | ||
| alias = William H. Bonney |
| alias = {{hlist|William H. Bonney|Henry Antrim|Kid Antrim}} | ||
| birth_place = New York City | | birth_place = New York City, U.S. | ||
| death_date = {{death date and age|1881|7|14|1859|9|17}} | |||
| height = 5' 8" | |||
| death_cause = Gunshot wound | |||
| death_date ={{Death date and age|1881|7|14|1859|11|23}} | |||
| death_place = ] | | death_place = ], ] | ||
| restingplace = Old Fort Sumner Cemetery | |||
| death_cause = ] from Sheriff Pat F. Garrett | |||
| restwoundace = Old Fort Sumner Cemetery | |||
| resting_place_coordinates = {{Coord|34|24|13|N|104|11|37|W|region:US-NM_type:landmark|display=inline|name= Billy the Kid's Gravesite}} | | resting_place_coordinates = {{Coord|34|24|13|N|104|11|37|W|region:US-NM_type:landmark|display=inline|name= Billy the Kid's Gravesite}} | ||
| occupation = |
| occupation = {{hlist|]|] and ranch hand|]|]|]}} | ||
}} | |||
| parents = {{unbulleted list|'''Father''': Patrick McCarty|'''Stepfather''': William Antrim|'''Mother''': Catherine Devine|}} | |||
| relatives = '''Brother''': Joseph McCarty}} | |||
''' |
'''Henry McCarty''' (September 17 or November 23, 1859{{snd}}July 14, 1881), ] '''William H. Bonney''', better known as '''Billy the Kid''', was an American ] and ] of the ] who was linked to nine murders: four for which he was solely responsible, and five in which he may have played a role alongside others. He is also noted for his involvement in ]'s ]. | ||
McCarty was orphaned at the age of 15. His first arrest was for stealing food at the age of 16 in 1875. Ten days later, he robbed a ] and was arrested again but escaped shortly afterwards. He fled from ] into neighboring ], making himself both an outlaw and a federal fugitive. In 1877, he began to call himself "William H. Bonney".{{sfn|Wallis|2007|p=144}} | |||
His first arrest was for stealing food in late 1875, but five months later he had been arrested for stealing clothing and firearms; his escape from jail two days later and flight from ] into ] made him both an outlaw and a fugitive. When he murdered a man in August 1877, Bonney became a wanted man in Arizona Territory, and fled back to New Mexico where he joined a group of cattle rustlers. His subsequent involvement in the Lincoln County War and association with a posse known as the ] made Bonney a well-known outlaw in the region. In April 1878, however, the Regulators posse became known as a gang of killers during a shootout where three opponents of the group were killed, including Lincoln County Sheriff ] and one of his deputies. Bonney and two other Regulators were eventually charged with killing all three men. | |||
After killing a blacksmith during an altercation in August 1877, Bonney became a wanted man in Arizona and returned to New Mexico, where he joined a group of ]. He became well known in the region when he joined the ] and took part in the Lincoln County War of 1878. He and two other Regulators were later charged with killing three men, including Lincoln County Sheriff ] and one of his deputies. | |||
Bonney's notoriety grew in 1881 when ] governor ] placed a bounty on him. The ''Las Vegas Gazette'' in ], and the '']'' carried stories about his crimes.<ref>Utley (1989), pp. 145–146.</ref> He was captured by Sheriff ] in 1880, tried and convicted of the murder of Sheriff Brady in April 1881, and was sentenced to hang in May of that year. Bonney escaped from jail on April 28, 1881, killing two sheriff's deputies in the process, and evaded capture for more than two months. Bonney was ultimately shot and killed by Garrett in ] on July 14, 1881. Over the next several decades, legends grew that Bonney had not died that night, and a number of men claimed to be him. | |||
Bonney's notoriety grew in December 1880 when the ''Las Vegas Gazette'', in ], and '']'', in New York City, carried stories about his crimes.{{sfn|Utley|1989|pp=145–146}} Sheriff ] captured Bonney later that month. In April 1881, Bonney was tried for and convicted of Brady's murder, and was sentenced to hang in May of that year. He escaped from jail on April 28, killing two sheriff's deputies in the process, and evaded capture for more than two months. Garrett shot and killed Bonney, by then aged 21, in ] on July 14, 1881. | |||
== Early life == | |||
During the decades following his death, legends grew that Bonney had survived, and a number of men claimed to be him.<ref>{{Cite news |date=March 30, 2017 |title=The Old Man Who Claimed to Be Billy the Kid |language=en |work=Atlas Obscura |url=http://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/billy-the-kid-survived-hico-texas |url-status=live |access-date=July 19, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170708134218/http://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/billy-the-kid-survived-hico-texas |archive-date=July 8, 2017 |df=mdy-all}}</ref> Billy the Kid remains one of the most notorious figures from the era, whose life and likeness have been ] in ] popular culture. | |||
Henry McCarty was ] in ] on ] 17, 1859, to Catherine (nee Devine) McCarty. While some historians believe his father's first name to be Patrick, others have doubts as to his true identity. McCarty was baptized eleven days following his birth in the ].<ref>Letter from Rev. James B. Roberts, Church of St. Peter, New York City, to Jack DeMattos, March 24, 1979. 210 Greene Street was within walking distance of the Church of St. Peter.</ref> There has been confusion about McCarty's birthplace and birthdate among historians, due, in part, to McCarty giving false information to a census taker during the 1880 U.S. Census.<ref>]. ''The Lincoln County War: A Documentary History'' (2009), p. 4 and p. 6</ref><ref>] High Noon in Lincoln (1987), p. 192.</ref><ref>Rasch, Philip J. "New Light on the Legend of Billy the Kid (1952–53), pp. 1–5.</ref><ref>Rasch, Philip J. and Mullin, Robert N. "Dim Trails: The Pursuit of the McCarty Family" (1953–54), pp. 6–11.</ref> The ] U.S. Census shows the McCarty family living in the Manhattan First Ward, although with the surname listed incorrectly as "McCarthy."<ref>1860 United States Federal Census for New York City, Manhattan First Ward, enumerated by Assistant Marshal Edward Hogan on June 26, 1860, p. 176.</ref> McCarty had a younger brother, Joseph McCarty, who was born on October 14, 1863. Joseph McCarty later took his stepfather's name and became known as Joseph Antrim. | |||
He has been a feature of more than 50 movies and several television series. | |||
{{TOC limit|3}} | |||
Historians note that following the death of McCarty's father, Catherine McCarty and her youngest son moved to Indianapolis, Indiana, where she met a man named William Henry Harrison Antrim. Sometime later, Antrim, along with McCarty's mother and brother, moved to ] in 1870. McCarty joined them there.<ref>Wallis (2007), p. 15.</ref> McCarty's mother married Antrim in March 1873 in ]; both McCarty and his brother Joseph were witnesses.<ref name="Nolan09p7">Nolan (2009), p. 7.</ref><ref>Book of Marriages A, ], pp. 35–36.</ref> Shortly after, the family moved from Santa Fe to ]. McCarty's mother died of ] on September 16, 1874.<ref>Nolan, 2009, p.8</ref> | |||
== |
==Early life== | ||
Henry McCarty was born to parents of ] ancestry,<ref>{{Cite web |date=2010-07-15 |title=Life and death of Billy the Kid |url=https://clarechampion.ie/life-and-death-of-billy-the-kid/ |access-date=2020-11-13 |website=The Clare Champion |language=en-GB |archive-date=February 26, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200226090313/https://clarechampion.ie/life-and-death-of-billy-the-kid/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Catherine ({{nee|Devine}}) and Patrick McCarty, in ].<ref name="Tombstone Epitaph">{{cite news |last1=Slatten |first1=Jeremiah |title=Sign on the Dotted Line: Some truth about the mother of Billy the Kid |access-date= |work=] |volume=CXXXXIII|issue= 11|issn=1940-221X |date=November 2023 |pages=1, 8–9|location=Tombstone, AZ}}</ref> While his birth year has been confirmed as 1859, the exact date of his birth has been disputed as either September 17 or November 23 of that year.{{sfn|Nolan|2009a|pp=1–6}}{{sfn|Rasch|Mullin|1953|pp=1–5}}{{sfn|Rasch|1954|pp=6–11}} There is uncertainty among historians about the exact place and date of McCarty's birth.{{sfn|Nolan|2009|pp=1–6}}{{sfn|Rasch|Mullin|1953|pp=1–5}}{{sfn|Rasch|1954|pp=6–11}} Census records indicate that his younger brother Joseph McCarty was born in 1863.{{sfn|Nolan|1998|pp=15, 29}} | |||
Following the death of her husband, Catherine McCarty and her sons moved to ], where she met William Henry Harrison Antrim. The McCarty family moved with Antrim to ] in 1870.{{sfn|Wallis|2007|p=15}} After moving again a few years later, Catherine married Antrim on March 1, 1873, at the First Presbyterian Church in ], and the McCarty boys served as witnesses.{{sfn|Nolan|1998|pp=17–19}}{{sfn|Nolan|2009a|p=7}} Shortly afterward, the family moved from Santa Fe to ] and Joseph adopted Antrim's surname.{{sfn|Nolan|1998|pp=15, 29}} Shortly before McCarty's mother died of ] on September 16, 1874,{{sfn|Nolan|2009a|p=8}} William Antrim abandoned the McCarty boys, leaving them orphans. | |||
McCarty went to work in a boardinghouse for ] when Sarah Brown, the establishment's owner, took him in after Catherine Antrim's death. Leaving the arrangement a year later, McCarty began his criminal career by stealing food on September 16, 1875, a year after his mother's death.<ref name=PBStimeline/><ref name=billyhistorynet> History.net Retrieved January 4, 2016</ref><ref>''Grant County Herald'' (Silver City, New Mexico), September 26, 1875.</ref> Ten days later, McCarty and a friend, George Schaefer, took part in the robbery of a ]. Having stolen clothing and two pistols, McCarty was charged with theft and put in jail. Escaping two days later by climbing up a chimney, this was the beginning of his life as a fugitive from the law.<ref name=billyhistorynet/><ref name=PBStimeline/> His escape was recorded in the Silver City Herald the next day, the first story published about him. After finding his stepfather, it is believed that Antrim gave McCarty money and told him to leave the area.<ref name=PBStimeline/> | |||
===First crimes=== | |||
Following his escape, McCarty fled to ] and was hired as a ranch hand by well-known rancher, ].<ref name="nmdotorg">{{cite web | url=http://newmexicohistory.org/people/billy-the-kid | title=Billy the Kid | publisher=State of New Mexico | accessdate=January 6, 2016}}</ref><ref>Utley (1989), pp. 10–11.</ref> In 1876, McCarty settled in southeastern Arizona, where he worked on ranches and spent time in local gaming houses.<ref>Wallis (2007), p. 103.</ref> During this time, he became acquainted with John R. Mackie, a Scottish-born former ] private and criminal.<ref>Wallis (2007), p. 107.</ref> The two men became horse thieves. Stealing horses from local soldiers, McCarty became known as "Kid Antrim" because of his youth, slight build, clean-shaven appearance, and personality.<ref>Wallis (2007), pp. 110–111.</ref><ref>Utley, (1989), p. 16.</ref> | |||
], one-time employer of Billy the Kid, at his ] in southeast Arizona]] | |||
McCarty was 14 years old when his mother died. Sarah Brown, the owner of a ], gave him room and board in exchange for work. On September 16, 1875, McCarty was caught stealing food.<ref name="billyhistorynet">{{Cite web |title=Billy The Kid: Facts, information and articles about Billy The Kid, famous outlaw, and a prominent figure from the Wild West |url=http://www.historynet.com/billy-the-kid |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160103175548/http://www.historynet.com/billy-the-kid |archive-date=January 3, 2016 |access-date=January 4, 2016 |publisher=HistoryNet.com |df=mdy-all}}</ref><ref>''Grant County Herald'' (Silver City, New Mexico), September 26, 1875.</ref> Ten days later, McCarty and George Schaefer robbed a ], stealing clothing and two pistols. McCarty was charged with theft and was jailed. He escaped two days later and became a fugitive,<ref name=billyhistorynet /> as reported in the ''Silver City Herald'' the next day, the first story published about him. McCarty located his stepfather and stayed with him until Antrim threw him out; McCarty stole clothing and guns from him. It was the last time the two saw each other.{{sfn|Wallis|2007|pp=94–95}} | |||
After leaving Antrim, McCarty traveled to southeastern ], where he worked as a ranch hand and gambled his wages in nearby gaming houses.{{sfn|Wallis|2007|p=103}} In 1876, he was hired as a ranch hand by well-known rancher ].<ref name="nmdotorg">{{Cite web |title=Billy the Kid |url=http://newmexicohistory.org/people/billy-the-kid |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160126043335/http://newmexicohistory.org/people/billy-the-kid |archive-date=January 26, 2016 |access-date=January 6, 2016 |publisher=State of New Mexico |df=mdy-all}}</ref>{{sfn|Utley|1989|pp=10–11}} During this time, McCarty became acquainted with John R. Mackie, a ]-born criminal and former ] private who, following his discharge, remained near the U.S. Army post at ] in Arizona. The two men soon began stealing horses from local soldiers.{{sfn|Wallis|2007|p=107}}{{sfn|Utley|1989|pp=11–12}} McCarty became known as "Kid Antrim" because of his youth, slight build, clean-shaven appearance, and personality.{{sfn|Wallis|2007|pp=110–111}}{{sfn|Utley|1989|p=16}} | |||
On August 17, 1877, McCarty shot Francis "Windy" Cahill in Arizona after the two had a verbal argument and altercation. Also known as "Frank", Cahill was a ] at ], a U.S. Army post in southeastern Arizona's ]. Reportedly, Cahill frequently would demean McCarty. The event that led to the blacksmith's death began when, in the midst of a poker game, Cahill called McCarty a ]. When he retorted by calling Cahill a "son of a bitch", McCarty found himself thrown to the floor and attacked by Cahill. After hitting his opponent while the pair struggled over McCarty's revolver, Cahill was shot by McCarty. A witness was heard to state, in McCarty's defense, " had no choice; he had to use his equalizer." Cahill died the following day.<ref name="cahill">{{cite journal|last1=Radbourne|first1=Allan|last2=Rasch|first2=Philip J.|date=August 1985|title=The Story of 'Windy' Cahill|journal=Real West|issue=204|pages=22–27}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/billy-the-kid-kills-his-first-man | title=This Date in History - August 17, 1877 - Billy the Kid kills his first man | publisher=History Channel | accessdate=January 17, 2016}}</ref><ref name="PBStimeline">{{cite web | url=http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/features/timeline/billy/ | title=Timeline: The Life and Legend of Billy the Kid | publisher=PBS | work=American Experience | accessdate=January 17, 2016}}</ref> | |||
At some point in 1877, McCarty began to refer to himself by the name "William H. Bonney".{{sfn|Wallis|2007|p=144}} On August 17, 1877, Bonney was at a saloon in the village of ] when he got into an argument with Francis P. "Windy" Cahill, a blacksmith who reportedly had bullied him and on more than one occasion called him a "]". Bonney in turn called Cahill a "]", whereupon Cahill threw Bonney to the floor and the two struggled for Bonney's revolver. Bonney shot and mortally wounded Cahill. A witness said, " had no choice; he had to use his equalizer." Cahill died the following day.<ref name="cahill">{{Cite journal |last1=Radbourne |first1=Allan |last2=Rasch |first2=Philip J. |date=August 1985 |title=The Story of 'Windy' Cahill |journal=Real West |issue=204 |pages=22–27}}</ref> Bonney fled but returned a few days later and was apprehended by Miles Wood, the local ]. He was detained and held in the Camp Grant guardhouse but escaped before law enforcement could arrive.<ref name="NMHistorg">{{Cite web |last=Wroth |first=William H. |title=Billy the Kid |url=http://newmexicohistory.org/people/billy-the-kid |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160126043335/http://newmexicohistory.org/people/billy-the-kid |archive-date=January 26, 2016 |access-date=February 10, 2016 |publisher=New Mexico Office of the State Historian |df=mdy-all}}</ref> | |||
Following the shooting, McCarty was taken into custody and held in the Camp Grant guardhouse. Escaping before law enforcement could arrive, McCarty fled the area fearing retaliation by Cahill's friends.<ref name="legends">{{cite web | url=http://www.legendsofamerica.com/we-billykid.html | title=Old West Legends - Billy The Kid - Teenage Outlaw of the Southwest | publisher=Legends of America | accessdate=January 17, 2016 | author=Kathy Weiser-Alexander}}</ref> | |||
Bonney stole a horse and fled Arizona Territory for New Mexico Territory,{{sfn|Wallis|2007|p=119}} but ]s took the horse from him, leaving him to walk many miles to the nearest settlement. At ],{{sfn|Nolan|1998|p=77}} starving and near death, he went to the home of friend and ] gang member John Jones, whose mother Barbara nursed him back to health.<ref name="TWJones">{{Cite magazine |last=Hays |first=Chad |date=March 19, 2013 |title=Ma'am Jones A stitch in time |url=http://www.truewestmagazine.com/maam-jones/ |url-status=live |magazine=True West Magazine |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151222225253/http://www.truewestmagazine.com/maam-jones/ |archive-date=December 22, 2015 |access-date=February 10, 2016 |df=mdy-all}}</ref>{{sfn|Wallis|2007|p=144}} After regaining his health, Bonney went to Apache Tejo, a former army post, where he joined a band of rustlers who raided herds owned by cattle magnate ] in ]. After he was spotted in Silver City, his involvement with the gang was mentioned in a local newspaper.{{sfn|Wallis|2007|pp=123–131}} | |||
==Lincoln County War== | |||
At some point in 1877, McCarty began to refer to himself as "William H. Bonney".<ref name="Wallis 2007 144">Wallis (2007), p. 144.</ref> | |||
{{Main|Lincoln County War}} | |||
===Prelude=== | |||
== Lincoln County War == | |||
], 1872|left]] | |||
{{main|Lincoln County War}} | |||
After returning to New Mexico, Bonney worked as a cowboy for English businessman and rancher ] (1853–1878), near the Rio Felix, a tributary of the ], in Lincoln County (now in ]). Tunstall and his business partner and lawyer ] were opponents of an alliance formed by ] businessmen ], ], and John Riley. The three men had wielded an economic and political hold over Lincoln County since the early 1870s, due in part to their ownership of a beef contract with nearby ] and a well-patronized dry goods store in the town of ]. | |||
] | |||
After his return from Arizona to New Mexico, Bonney went to work for English businessman ] as a cowboy at his ] ranch located near Rio Felix, a tributary of the ]. Along with local lawyer ], Tunstall presented opposition to the economic and political hold over Lincoln County by three businessmen and gunmen: ], ], and John Riley. Since the early 1870s, the trio's influence was, in part, due to their ownership of the beef contract with nearby Fort Stanton and a well-patronized dry-goods store in the town of Lincoln. As the conflict between the two factions escalated, it became known as the ].<ref>Nolan,Frederick ''The Lincoln County War: A Documentary History, 1992'' - pp. 23–55.</ref> | |||
By February 1878, McSween owed $8,000 to Dolan, who obtained a court order and asked Lincoln County Sheriff ] to ] nearly $40,000 worth of Tunstall's property and livestock. Tunstall put Bonney in charge of nine prime horses and told him to relocate them to his ranch for safekeeping. Meanwhile, Sheriff Brady assembled a large posse to seize Tunstall's cattle.{{sfn|Nolan|2009a|pp=188–190}}<ref name=tunstallfamily /> | |||
When Tunstall was bothered by rustlers who got the local sheriff to attach nearly $40,000 of Tunstall's property,<ref>Nolan, Frederick. ''The Lincoln County War: A Documentary History'', 1992 - p. 188–89.</ref> Bonney rode out with his boss and others to take nine of Tunstall's prime horses to ] for safekeeping. Encountering an eighteen-man posse, Tunstall was shot and killed.<ref>Utley, Robert M. ''Billy the Kid: A Short and Violent Life'', 1989 - p. 46.</ref> Escaping with his companions before they were discovered by the posse, Bonney was arrested on February 20, 1878 for disturbing the peace by Lincoln County sheriff and supporter of Murphy, Dolan, and Riley, ]. Bonney was released two days later. | |||
On February 18, 1878, Tunstall learned of the posse's presence on his land and rode out to intervene. During the encounter, one member of the posse shot Tunstall in the chest, knocking him off his horse. Another posse member took Tunstall's gun and killed him with a shot to the back of his head.<ref name="tunstallfamily">{{Cite magazine |last=Boardman |first=Mark |date=September 25, 2010 |title=The Tunstalls Return – John Tunstall's kin traveled from England to fathom death in Lincoln. |url=http://www.truewestmagazine.com/the-tunstalls-return/ |url-status=live |magazine=True West Magazine |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160216031421/http://www.truewestmagazine.com/the-tunstalls-return/ |archive-date=February 16, 2016 |access-date=February 10, 2016 |df=mdy-all}}</ref>{{sfn|Utley|1989|p=46}} Tunstall's murder ignited the conflict between the two factions that became known as the ].<ref name=tunstallfamily />{{sfn|Nolan|2009a|pp=23–55}} | |||
Soon afterward, Bonney joined the ], a posse led by cowboy and lawman ]. On March 9, two of Tunstall's accused murderers, Frank Baker and William Morton, were captured by the Regulators and killed "while trying to escape".<ref>Utley, Robert M. ''Billy the Kid: A Short and Violent Life'', 1989 - pp. 56–60.</ref> On April 1, during an ambush on Sheriff Brady and his deputies, Bonney was shot in the thigh.<ref>Nolan, Frederick. ''The Lincoln County War: A Documentary History'', 1992 - pp. 233–249, 549 n. 1.</ref> | |||
===Build-up=== | |||
On the morning of April 4, 1878, during a shootout at ] between the Regulators and buffalo hunter ], Dick Brewer was killed.<ref>Rickards, Colin. ''The Gunfight at Blazer's Mill'', 1974 - pp. 36–37.</ref> During the shootout, Roberts, Sheriff Brady, and a sheriff's deputy were also killed. Warrants were issued for several participants on both sides of the war, with Bonney and two others charged for the killings of Brady, the deputy, and Roberts.<ref>Wroth, William H. Retrieved 9 January 2016.</ref> | |||
], {{circa|1875}}]] | |||
After Tunstall was killed, Bonney and ] swore affidavits against Brady and those in his posse, and obtained murder warrants from Lincoln County justice of the peace John B. Wilson.{{sfn|Utley|1989|pp=48–49}} On February 20, 1878, while attempting to arrest Brady, the sheriff and his deputies found and arrested Bonney and two other men riding with him.<ref name="TWfebarrest">{{Cite magazine |last=Bell |first=Bob Boze |date=April 1, 2004 |title=I Shot the Sheriff (and I Killed a Deputy, Too) – Billy Kid and the Regulators vs Sheriff Brady and His Deputies |url=http://www.truewestmagazine.com/i-shot-the-sheriff-and-i-killed-a-deputy-too/ |url-status=live |magazine=True West Magazine |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160216031605/http://www.truewestmagazine.com/i-shot-the-sheriff-and-i-killed-a-deputy-too/ |archive-date=February 16, 2016 |access-date=February 10, 2016 |df=mdy-all}}</ref> Deputy ] ], a friend of Bonney, and a detachment of soldiers captured Sheriff Brady's jail guards, put them behind bars, and released Bonney and Brewer.<ref name="TWtunstallambush">{{Cite magazine |last=Bell |first=Bob Boze |date=September 11, 2015 |title=Tunstall Ambushed – Regulators vs Dolan's Henchmen |url=http://www.truewestmagazine.com/tunstall-ambushed/ |url-status=live |magazine=True West Magazine |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160216032547/http://www.truewestmagazine.com/tunstall-ambushed/ |archive-date=February 16, 2016 |access-date=February 11, 2016 |df=mdy-all}}</ref> | |||
Bonney then joined the ]; on March 9 they captured Frank Baker and William Morton, both of whom were accused of killing Tunstall. Baker and Morton were killed while allegedly trying to escape.{{sfn|Utley|1989|pp=56–60}} | |||
=== Battle of Lincoln (1878) === | |||
{{main|Battle of Lincoln (1878)}} | |||
On April 1, the Regulators ambushed Sheriff Brady and his deputies; Bonney was wounded in the thigh during the battle. Brady and Deputy Sheriff ] were killed.{{sfn|Nolan|2009a|pp=233–49, 549}} On the morning of April 4, 1878, ] and Dick Brewer were killed during ].<ref>Rickards, Colin. ''The Gunfight at Blazer's Mill'', 1974 – pp. 36–37.</ref> Warrants were issued for several participants on both sides, and Bonney and two others were charged with killing Brady, Hindman and Roberts.<ref>Wroth, William H. {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160126043335/http://newmexicohistory.org/people/billy-the-kid |date=January 26, 2016 }}. Retrieved January 9, 2016.</ref> | |||
On the night of Sunday, July 14, McSween and the Regulators, by now a group of fifty or sixty men, gathered in Lincoln and stationed themselves there among several buildings.<ref>Jacobsen (1994), p. 173.</ref> At the McSween residence were Bonney, Florencio Chavez, ], Jim French, Harvey Morris, ] (born Folliard),<ref>Gardner, Mark Lee. To Hell on a Fast Horse: The Untold Story of Billy the Kid and Pat Garrett, 2011, pp. 85, 275</ref> ], among others. Another group led by Marin Chavez and ] positioned themselves on the roof of a saloon. Henry Newton Brown, Dick Smith and George Coe defended a nearby adobe bunkhouse.<ref>Nolan (1992), pp. 312–313.</ref><ref>Utley (1987), p. 87.</ref> | |||
==== Battle of Lincoln (1878) ==== | |||
On Tuesday, July 16, the newly appointed sheriff, ], sent sharpshooters to kill the McSween defenders at the saloon. Peppin's men retreated when one of the snipers, Charles Crawford, was killed by Fernando Herrera. Peppin then sent a request for assistance to Colonel ], commandant of ]. Dudley wrote a reply to Peppin turning him down.<ref>Nolan (1992), p. 513.</ref> | |||
{{Main|Battle of Lincoln (1878)}} | |||
On the night of Sunday, July 14, McSween and the Regulators—now a group of fifty or sixty men—went to Lincoln and stationed themselves in the town among several buildings.{{sfn|Jacobsen|1994|p=173}} At the McSween residence were Bonney, Florencio Chavez, ], Jim French, Harvey Morris, ], and ], among others. Another group led by Marin Chavez and ] positioned themselves on the roof of a saloon. ], Dick Smith, and ] defended a nearby adobe bunkhouse.{{sfn|Nolan|1992|pp=312–313}}{{sfn|Utley|1987|p=87}} | |||
On Tuesday, July 16, newly appointed sheriff ] sent sharpshooters to kill the McSween defenders at the saloon. Peppin's men retreated when one of the snipers, Charles Crawford, was killed by Fernando Herrera. Peppin then sent a request for assistance to Colonel ], commandant of nearby ]. In a reply to Peppin, Dudley refused to intervene but later arrived in Lincoln with troops, turning the battle in favor of the Murphy-Dolan faction.{{sfn|Nolan|1992|p=513}}<ref>{{Cite web |title=New Mexico Office of the State Historian {{!}} people |url=http://newmexicohistory.org/people/billy-the-kid |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170629050035/http://newmexicohistory.org/people/billy-the-kid |archive-date=June 29, 2017 |access-date=July 19, 2017 |website=newmexicohistory.org |language=en}}</ref> | |||
On Friday, July 19, the actual battle began. The McSween supporters who had been in other buildings were all gathered inside the McSween house. When Deputy Sheriff Jack Long and Buck Powell set fire to the McSween house, the occupants opened fire. After all but one room of the home had been engulfed by flames, Bonney and his crew retreated. During the confusion, Alexander McSween was shot and killed by Robert W. Beckwith, who was then shot and killed by Bonney.<ref>Nolan (1992), pp. 322–331</ref><ref>Utley (1987), pp. 96–111.</ref> | |||
A gunfight broke out on Friday, July 19. McSween's supporters gathered inside his house; when Buck Powell and Deputy Sheriff Jack Long set fire to the building, the occupants began shooting. Bonney and the other men fled the building when all rooms but one were burning. During the confusion, McSween was shot and killed by Robert W. Beckwith, who was then shot and killed by Bonney.{{sfn|Nolan|1992|pp=322–331}}{{sfn|Utley|1987|pp=96–111}} | |||
== Outlaw == | |||
==Outlaw== | |||
] | |||
] in 1893]] | |||
Bonney and three other survivors of the ] were near the Mescalero Indian Agency when the agency bookkeeper, Morris Bernstein, was murdered on August 5, 1878. All four were indicted for the murder, despite conflicting evidence that Bernstein had been killed by Constable Atanacio Martinez. All of the indictments, except Bonney's, were later quashed.{{sfn|Utley|1989|pp=104–105, 107, 110}}{{sfn|Nolan|2009a|pp=339–340, 342, 445, 514}} | |||
On October 5, 1878, ] John Sherman informed newly appointed Territorial Governor and former Union Army general ] that he held warrants for several men, including "William H. Antrim, alias Kid, alias Bonny{{sic}}" but was unable to execute them "owing to the disturbed condition of affairs in that county, resulting from the acts of a desperate class of men".{{sfn|Utley|1987|p=120}} Wallace issued an amnesty proclamation on November 13, 1878, which pardoned anyone involved in the Lincoln County War since Tunstall's murder. It specifically excluded persons who had been convicted of or indicted for a crime, and therefore excluded Bonney.{{sfn|Nolan|2009a|pp=315, 515}}{{sfn|Utley|1987|pp=122–123, 126–128, 141, 150, 154, 156–158}} | |||
Bonney and three other survivors of the Battle of Lincoln were near the Mescalero Indian Agency when the agency bookkeeper, Morris Bernstein, was murdered on August 5, 1878. All four were indicted for the murder, despite conflicting evidence that Bernstein had actually been killed by Constable Atanacio Martinez. All of these indictments were later quashed, except for Bonney's.<ref>Utley, Robert M. ''Billy the Kid: A Short and Violent Life'', 1989 - pp. 104–105, 107, 110 and Nolan Frederick. ''The Lincoln County War: A Documentary History'', 1992 - pp. 339–340, 342, 445,514.</ref> | |||
On February 18, 1879, Bonney and friend ] were in Lincoln and watched as attorney Huston Chapman was shot and his corpse set on fire. According to eyewitnesses, the pair were innocent bystanders forced at gunpoint by ] to witness the murder.{{sfn|Utley|1987|pp=132–136, 139, 141, 143–144}}{{sfn|Nolan|1992|pp=375–376, 378, 516–517}} Bonney wrote to Governor Wallace on March 13, 1879, with an offer to provide information on the Chapman murder in exchange for amnesty. On March 15, Governor Wallace replied, agreeing to a secret meeting to discuss the situation. He met with Wallace in Lincoln on March 17, 1879. During the meeting and in subsequent correspondence, Wallace promised Bonney protection from his enemies and clemency if he would offer his testimony to a ].{{efn|For years Wallace denied that he had agreed to the bargain with Bonney; however, in a newspaper article published in 1902, Wallace changed his story and said he had promised him a pardon in exchange for the testimony.{{sfn|Cooper|2017|pages=556–561}} }} | |||
On October 5, 1878, U.S. Marshal John Sherman informed newly inaugurated Governor ] that he held warrants for several men including "William H. Antrim, alias Kid, alias Bonny " but was unable to execute them "owing to the disturbed condition of affairs in that county, resulting from the acts of a desperate class of men."<ref>Utley, Robert M. ''High Noon in Lincoln: Violence on the Western Frontier'', 1987 - p. 120.</ref> | |||
On March 20, Wallace wrote to Bonney, "to remove all suspicion of understanding, I think it better to put the arresting party in charge of Sheriff Kimbrell who shall be instructed to see that no violence is used."{{efn|Letter from Governor Wallace to W.H. Bonney, March 20, 1879.{{sfn| Cooper |2017|pages=563–565}} }} Bonney responded on the same day, agreeing to testify and confirming Wallace's proposal for his arrest and detention in a local jail to assure his safety.{{sfn|Cooper|2017|p=565}}{{sfn|Boomhower|2005|p=103}} On March 21, he let himself be captured by a posse led by Sheriff George Kimball of Lincoln County. As agreed, Bonney provided a statement about Chapman's murder and testified in court.{{sfn|Boomhower|2005|p=104}} However, after his testimony, the local district attorney refused to set him free.{{sfn|Boomhower|2005|pp=106–107}}{{sfn|Lifson|2009}} Still in custody several weeks later, Bonney began to suspect Wallace had used subterfuge and would never grant him amnesty. He escaped from the Lincoln County jail on June 17, 1879.{{sfn|Utley|1989|pp=111–125}}], {{circa|1875}}]] | |||
Governor Wallace issued an ] on November 13, 1878, which pardoned anyone involved in the Lincoln County War since the Tunstall murder of February 18, 1878. It specifically did not apply to any person who had been convicted of or was under indictment for a crime, and therefore excluded Bonney.<ref>Nolan, Frederick. ''The Lincoln County War: A Documentary History'', 1992 = pp. 315, 515, and Utley, Robert M. ''High Noon in Lincoln: Violence on the Western Frontier'', 1987 - pp. 122–123, 126–128, 141, 150, 154, 156–158.</ref> | |||
Bonney avoided further violence until January 10, 1880, when he shot and killed Joe Grant, a newcomer to the area, at Hargrove's Saloon in ].<ref name="truewestmag">{{Cite magazine |last=Bell |first=Bob Boze |date=May 2, 2007 |title=The Tale of the Empty Chamber Billy the Kid vs Joe Grant |url=http://www.truewestmagazine.com/billy-the-kid-vs-joe-grant/ |url-status=live |magazine=True West Magazine |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160216031739/http://www.truewestmagazine.com/billy-the-kid-vs-joe-grant/ |archive-date=February 16, 2016 |access-date=January 10, 2016 |df=mdy-all}}</ref> The ''Santa Fe Weekly New Mexican'' reported, "Billy Bonney, more extensively known as 'the Kid', shot and killed Joe Grant. The origin of the difficulty was not learned."<ref>''Santa Fe Weekly New Mexican'', January 17, 1880.</ref> According to other contemporary sources, Bonney had been warned Grant intended to kill him. He walked up to Grant, told him he admired his revolver, and asked to examine it. Grant handed it over. Before returning the pistol, which he noticed contained only three cartridges, Bonney positioned the cylinder so the next hammer fall would land on an empty chamber. Grant suddenly pointed his pistol at Bonney's face and pulled the trigger. When it failed to fire, he drew his own weapon and shot Grant in the head. A reporter for the ''Las Vegas Optic'' quoted Bonney as saying the encounter "was a game of two and I got there first".{{sfn|Utley|1989|pp=131–133, 145, 203, 249–250}}{{sfn|Nolan|1992|pp=397, 518, 572}} | |||
On February 18, 1879, Bonney and friend Tom O'Folliard were in Lincoln when attorney Huston Chapman was shot and his corpse set on fire while Bonney and O'Folliard watched. According to eyewitnesses, the pair were innocent bystanders forced at gunpoint by ] to witness the murder.<ref>Utley, Robert M. ''High Noon in Lincoln: Violence on the Western Frontier'', 1987 - pp. 132–136, 139, 141, 143–144 and Nolan, Frederick. ''The Lincoln County War: A Documentary History'', 1992 - 375–376, 378, 516–517.</ref> Bonney later wrote Governor Wallace with an offer to provide information on the Chapman murder in exchange for amnesty. Bonney met with Wallace in Lincoln on March 15, 1879, talking for over an hour. Wallace promised Bonney a complete pardon if he would offer his testimony to a ] regarding what he knew in regard to the Chapman murder. On March 20, Wallace wrote to Bonney, "to remove all suspicion of understanding, I think it better to put the arresting party in charge of Sheriff Kimbrell who shall be instructed to see that no violence is used."<ref>Governor Lew Wallace to W.H. Bonney, March 20, 1879.</ref> On March 21, Bonney allowed himself to be "captured" by a posse led by Sheriff George Kimball of Lincoln County. As agreed, Bonney provided a statement about Chapman's murder. Still jailed, weeks passed and Bonney began to suspect he had been used by Wallace and would never be granted the promised amnesty. Bonney escaped the Lincoln County Jail on June 17, 1879.<ref>Utley, Robert M. ''Billy the Kid: A Short and Violent Life'', 1989 - p. 111–125.</ref> | |||
In 1880, Bonney formed a friendship with a rancher named Jim Greathouse, who later introduced him to ]. On November 29, 1880, Bonney, Rudabaugh, and ] ran from a posse led by sheriff's deputy James Carlysle. Cornered at Greathouse's ranch, he told the posse they were holding Greathouse as a hostage. Carlysle offered to exchange places with Greathouse, and Bonney accepted the offer. Carlysle later attempted to escape by jumping through a window but he was shot three times and killed.<ref name="ODMP2007">{{Cite web |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |title=Deputy Sheriff James Carlysle |url=https://www.odmp.org/officer/2797-deputy-sheriff-james-carlysle |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200925131942/http://www.odmp.org/officer/2797-deputy-sheriff-james-carlysle |archive-date=25 September 2020 |access-date=19 November 2020 |website=The Officer Down Memorial Page (ODMP)}}</ref> The shootout ended in a standoff; the posse withdrew and Bonney, Rudabaugh, and Wilson rode away.{{sfn|Utley|1989|pp=143–146, 179, 204}}{{sfn|Nolan|1992|pp=398–401}} | |||
Bonney avoided further violence until January 10, 1880, when he shot and killed a newcomer to the area, Joe Grant, at Hargrove's Saloon in ].<ref name="truewestmag">{{cite web | url=http://www.truewestmagazine.com/billy-the-kid-vs-joe-grant/ | title=The Tale of the Empty Chamber Billy the Kid vs Joe Grant | publisher=True West Magazine | date=May 2, 2007 | accessdate=January 10, 2016 | author=Bob Boze Bell}}</ref> The ''Santa Fe Weekly New Mexican'' reported, "Billy Bonney, more extensively known as 'the Kid,' shot and killed Joe Grant. The origin of the difficulty was not learned."<ref>''Santa Fe Weekly New Mexican'', January 17, 1880.</ref> According to other sources, after Bonney had been advised that Grant intended to kill him. He walked up to Grant, told him he admired his revolver, and asked to examine it. Grant complied. Before handing the pistol holding only three shells back to Grant, Bonney positioned the cylinder so the next shot would fire on an empty chamber. Again in possession of his weapon, Grant stuck the pistol in Bonney's face and pulled the trigger. After the revolver failed to fire, Bonney drew his own pistol, shooting Grant in the head. A reporter for the ''Las Vegas Optic'' later quoted Bonney as saying his encounter with Grant "was a game of two and I got there first."<ref>Utley, Robert M. ''Billy the Kid: A Short and Violent Life'', 1989 - pp. 131–133, 145, 203, 249–250 and Nolan, Frederick. ''The Lincoln County War: A Documentary History'', 1992 - pp. 397, 518, 572.</ref> | |||
A few weeks after the Greathouse incident, Bonney, Rudabaugh, Wilson, O'Folliard, ], and ] rode into Fort Sumner. Unbeknownst to Bonney and his companions, a posse led by ] was waiting for them. The posse opened fire, killing O'Folliard; the rest of the outlaws escaped unharmed.{{sfn|Metz|1974|pp=74–75}}{{sfn|Utley|1989|pp=155–157, 256–257}} | |||
] | |||
===Capture and escape=== | |||
Bonney formed a friendship in 1880 with rancher Jim Greathouse, who later introduced him to ]. On November 29, 1880, Bonney, Rudabaugh and ] ran from a posse led by sheriff's deputy James Carlyle. Cornered at Greathouse's ranch, Bonney let the posse know they were holding Greathouse as a hostage. Carlyle offered to exchange places with Greathouse, and Bonney took him up on the offer. Carlyle later attempted to escape by jumping through a window but was shot three times and killed. The gunfight ended in a standoff when the posse withdrew and Bonney, Rudabaugh, and Wilson rode off.<ref>Utley, Robert M. ''Billy the Kid: A Short and Violent Life'', 1989 - pp. 143–146, 179, 204 and Nolan, Frederick. ''The Lincoln County War: A Documentary History'', 1992 - pp. 398–401.</ref> | |||
] | |||
On December 13, 1880, Governor Wallace posted a $500 bounty for Bonney's capture.{{sfn|Utley|1989|p=147}} Pat Garrett continued his search for Bonney; on December 23, following the siege in which Bowdre was killed, Garrett and his posse captured Bonney along with Pickett, Rudabaugh, and Wilson at ]. The prisoners, including Bonney, were shackled and taken to Fort Sumner, then later to ]. When they arrived on December 26, they were met by crowds of curious onlookers. | |||
The following day, an armed mob gathered at the train depot before the prisoners, who were already on board the train with Garrett, departed for Santa Fe.{{sfn|Wallis|2007|p=240}} Deputy Sheriff Romero, backed by the angry group of men, demanded custody of Dave Rudabaugh, who during an unsuccessful escape attempt on April 5, 1880 shot and killed deputy Antonio Lino Valdez in the process.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Deputy Sheriff Antonio Lino Valdez profile |url=http://www.odmp.org/officer/13549-deputy-sheriff-antonio-lino-valdez |access-date=30 December 2019 |website=] |archive-date=November 27, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201127004003/http://www.odmp.org/officer/13549-deputy-sheriff-antonio-lino-valdez |url-status=live }}</ref> Garrett refused to surrender the prisoner, and a tense confrontation ensued until he agreed to let the sheriff and two other men accompany the party to Santa Fe, where they would petition the governor to release Rudabaugh to them.{{sfn|Wallis|2007|pp=126–127}} In a later interview with a reporter, Bonney said he was unafraid during the incident, saying, "if I only had my Winchester I'd lick the whole crowd."{{sfn|Metz|1974|pp=76–85}}{{sfn|Utley|1989|pp=157–166}} The ''Las Vegas Gazette'' ran a story from a jailhouse interview following Bonney's capture; when the reporter said Bonney appeared relaxed, he replied, "What's the use of looking on the gloomy side of everything? The laugh's on me this time."<ref name="historynetbookreview">{{Cite web |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |date=November 29, 2012 |title=Book Review: Billy the Kid's Writings, Words & Wit, by Gale Cooper |url=http://www.historynet.com/book-review-billy-the-kids-writings-words-wit-by-gale-cooper.htm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150919050505/http://www.historynet.com/book-review-billy-the-kids-writings-words-wit-by-gale-cooper.htm |archive-date=September 19, 2015 |access-date=February 10, 2016 |website=HistoryNet |df=mdy-all}}</ref> During his short career as an outlaw, Bonney was the subject of numerous U.S. newspaper articles, some as far away as New York.{{sfn|Utley|1989|pp=145–147}} | |||
A few weeks after the Greathouse incident, Bonney, Rudabaugh, Wilson, Charlie Bowdre, ], and O'Folliard rode into Fort Sumner. Unknown to Bonney and the group, a posse led by Pat Garrett was waiting for them at the fort. As they approached, the posse opened fire, killing O'Folliard. Bonney and the rest escaped unharmed.<ref>Metz, Leon C. ''Pat Garrett: The Story of a Western Lawman'', 1974 - pp. 74–75 and Utley, Robert M. ''Billy the Kid: A Short and Violent Life'', 1989 - pp. 155–157, 256–257. | |||
</ref> | |||
After arriving in Santa Fe, Bonney, seeking clemency, sent Governor Wallace four letters over the next three months. Wallace refused to intervene,{{sfn|Wallis|2007|pp=240–241}} and he went to trial in April 1881 in ].{{sfn|Wallis|2007|p=242}} Following two days of testimony, Bonney was found guilty of Sheriff Brady's murder; it was the only conviction secured against any of the combatants in the Lincoln County War. On April 13, Judge Warren Bristol sentenced him to ], with his execution scheduled for May 13, 1881.{{sfn|Wallis|2007|p=242}} According to legend, upon sentencing, the judge told Bonney he was going to hang until he was "dead, dead, dead"; his response was, "you can go to hell, hell, hell."<ref name="historydotcom">{{Cite web |title=1881 Billy the Kid is shot to death |url=http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/billy-the-kid-is-shot-to-death |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160215230740/http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/billy-the-kid-is-shot-to-death |archive-date=February 15, 2016 |access-date=February 10, 2016 |website=History.com |df=mdy-all}}</ref> According to the historical record, he did not speak after the reading of his sentence.<ref name="TWMagBtKlegends">{{Cite web |last=Nolan |first=Frederick |date=April 28, 2015 |title='What if everything we know about Billy the Kid is wrong?' – Special Report |url=http://www.truewestmagazine.com/what-if-everything-we-know-about-billy-the-kid-is-wrong/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160216044410/http://www.truewestmagazine.com/what-if-everything-we-know-about-billy-the-kid-is-wrong/ |archive-date=February 16, 2016 |access-date=February 12, 2016 |website=True West Magazine |df=mdy-all}}</ref> | |||
== Capture and escape == | |||
]]] | |||
On December 23, 1880, Garrett and his posse captured Bonney along with Pickett, Rudabaugh and Wilson at Stinking Springs. The capture followed a siege in which Bowdre was killed. Along with the other three captured, Bonney was taken to Santa Fe. While en route and at ] on December 27, a lynch mob formed. Bonney was unthreatened by the mob and later told a reporter, "if I only had my Winchester I'd lick the whole crowd."<ref>Metz (1974), pp. 76–85</ref><ref>Utley (1989), pp. 157–166.</ref> | |||
Following his sentencing, Bonney was moved to Lincoln, where he was held under guard on the top floor of the town courthouse. On the evening of April 28, 1881, while Garrett was in ] collecting taxes, Deputy ] took five other prisoners across the street for a meal, leaving ],<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.odmp.org/officer/1713-deputy-sheriff-james-w-bell|title=Deputy Sheriff James W. Bell|website=The Officer Down Memorial Page (ODMP)|access-date=August 14, 2020|archive-date=October 23, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201023222958/https://www.odmp.org/officer/1713-deputy-sheriff-james-w-bell|url-status=live}}</ref> another deputy, alone with Bonney at the jail. He asked to be taken outside to use the ] behind the courthouse; on their return to the jail, Bonney—who was walking ahead of Bell up the stairs to his cell—hid around a blind corner, slipped out of his handcuffs, and beat Bell with the loose end of the cuffs. During the ensuing scuffle, Bonney grabbed Bell's revolver and fatally shot him in the back as Bell tried to get away.{{sfn|Utley|1989|p=181}} | |||
Bonney, with his legs still shackled, broke into Garrett's office and took a loaded shotgun left behind by Olinger. He waited at the upstairs window for Olinger to respond to the gunshot that killed Bell and called out to him, "Look up, old boy, and see what you get." When Olinger looked up, Bonney shot and killed him.{{sfn|Utley|1989|p=181}}{{sfn|Wallis|2007|pp=243–244}}<ref>{{Cite web |title=Deputy U.S. Marshal Robert Olinger |url=https://www.odmp.org/officer/10157-deputy-us-marshal-robert-olinger |website=The Officer Down Memorial Page (ODMP) |access-date=August 14, 2020 |archive-date=August 4, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200804003517/https://www.odmp.org/officer/10157-deputy-us-marshal-robert-olinger |url-status=live }}</ref> After about an hour, Bonney freed himself from the leg irons with an axe.{{sfn|Jacobsen|1994|p=232}} He obtained a horse and rode out of town; according to some stories he was singing as he left Lincoln.{{sfn|Wallis|2007|pp=243–244}} | |||
] | |||
After arriving in Santa Fe, Bonney sent four separate letters over the next three months to Governor Wallace seeking clemency. After Wallace refused to intervene,<ref name="Wallis240241">Wallis (2007), pp. 240–241.</ref> Bonney went to trial in April 1881 in ].<ref name="Wallis242">Wallis (2007), p. 242.</ref> Following two days of testimony, Bonney was found guilty of Sheriff Brady's murder; it was the only conviction secured against any of the combatants in the Lincoln County War. On April 13, he was sentenced by Judge Warren Bristol to ], with his execution scheduled for May 13, 1881.<ref name="Wallis242" /> | |||
===Recapture and death=== | |||
Bonney was moved to Lincoln, where he was held under guard on the top floor of the town courthouse. On the evening of April 28, 1881, Garrett was in ] collecting taxes. Deputy Bob Olinger left the jail to take five other prisoners across the street for a meal, leaving the other deputy, James Bell, alone with Bonney. Bonney requested to be taken outside to use the ] located behind the courthouse. On the way back to the jail, Bonney, who was walking ahead of Bell up the stairs to his cell, hid around a blind corner, slipped out of his handcuffs, and surprised Bell, beating him with the loose end of the cuffs. During the ensuing scuffle, Bonney was able to get Bell's revolver and shot Bell in the back as the deputy made for the stairs to get away.<ref name="Utley89181">Utley (1989), p. 181.</ref> | |||
While Bonney was on the run, Governor Wallace placed a new $500 bounty on the fugitive's head.{{sfn|Utley|1989|p=188}}<ref name="TWbounty">{{cite web |url = http://www.truewestmagazine.com/the-holy-grail-for-sale/ |title = The Holy Grail for Sale – The Billy the Kid tintype is on the auction block, and it might just clear half a million |work = True West Magazine |date = May 24, 2011 |access-date = February 10, 2016 |last = Boardman |first = Mark |url-status = live |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160305011909/http://www.truewestmagazine.com/the-holy-grail-for-sale/ |archive-date = March 5, 2016 |df = mdy-all }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url = https://www.abqjournal.com/311743/is-this-the-kid.html |title = Is this Billy the Kid? |work = Albuquerque Journal – Las Cruces Bureau |date = December 1, 2013 |access-date = February 6, 2016 |first = Lauren |last = Villagran |url-status = live |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20161215113858/https://www.abqjournal.com/311743/is-this-the-kid.html |archive-date = December 15, 2016 |df = mdy-all }}</ref> Almost three months after his escape, Garrett, responding to rumors that Bonney was in the vicinity of Fort Sumner, left Lincoln with two deputies on July 14, 1881, to question resident Pete Maxwell, a friend of Bonney's.{{sfn|Wallis|2007|pp=245–246}} Maxwell, son of land baron ], spoke with Garrett the same day for several hours. Around midnight, the pair were sitting in Maxwell's darkened bedroom when Bonney unexpectedly entered.{{sfn|Wallis|2007|p=247}} | |||
Accounts vary as to the course of events. According to the canonical version, as he entered the room, Bonney failed to recognize Garrett due to the poor lighting. Drawing his revolver and backing away, Bonney asked ''"¿Quién es? ¿Quién es?"'' (Spanish for "Who is it? Who is it?").<ref name="Nolan201486">{{cite book|author=Frederick Nolan|title=The Billy the Kid Reader|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=MwjjBAAAQBAJ&pg=PA86|year=2014|publisher=University of Oklahoma Press|isbn=978-0806182544|page=86|access-date=July 4, 2021|archive-date=July 9, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210709200650/https://books.google.com/books?id=MwjjBAAAQBAJ&pg=PA86|url-status=live}}</ref> Recognizing Bonney's voice, Garrett drew his revolver and fired twice.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2003/06/05/us/122-years-later-lawmen-are-still-chasing-billy-the-kid.html |title=122 Years Later, Lawmen Are Still Chasing Billy the Kid |first=Michael |last=Janofsky |date=June 5, 2003 |access-date=January 25, 2019 |page=24 |newspaper=] |archive-date=January 25, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190125130848/https://www.nytimes.com/2003/06/05/us/122-years-later-lawmen-are-still-chasing-billy-the-kid.html |url-status=live }}</ref> The first bullet struck Bonney in the chest just above his heart, while the second missed. Garrett's account leaves it unclear whether Bonney was killed instantly or took some time to die.{{sfn|Wallis|2007|p=247}}<ref>{{cite web|title=The Death Of Billy The Kid, 1881|url=http://www.eyewitnesstohistory.com/billythekid.htm|publisher=Eyewitness to History/Ibis Communications|access-date=February 18, 2020|archive-date=February 19, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200219215459/http://eyewitnesstohistory.com/billythekid.htm|url-status=live}}</ref> | |||
] | |||
A few hours after the shooting, a local justice of the peace assembled a ] of six people. The jury members interviewed Maxwell and Garrett, and Bonney's body and the location of the shooting were examined. The jury certified the body as Bonney's and, according to a local newspaper, the jury foreman said, "It was the Kid's body that we examined."<ref name="deathcert">{{cite web |url = http://www.history.com/news/historian-seeks-death-certificate-to-end-billy-the-kid-rumors |title = Historian Seeks Death Certificate to End Billy the Kid Rumors |work = History.com |date = February 27, 2015 |access-date = February 10, 2016 |first = Christopher |last = Klein |url-status = live |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160304060901/http://www.history.com/news/historian-seeks-death-certificate-to-end-billy-the-kid-rumors |archive-date = March 4, 2016 |df = mdy-all }}</ref> Bonney was given a wake by candlelight; he was buried the next day and his grave was denoted with a wooden marker.<ref name="SantaFeExaminer">{{citation |title = Ft. Sumner New Mexico: Where Billy The Kid met his demise |work = Santa Fe Examiner |date = December 31, 2012 |first = Elizabeth R. |last = Rose }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url = http://www.truewestmagazine.com/a-shot-in-the-dark/ |title = A Shot in the Dark: Billy the Kid vs Pat Garrett |work = True West Magazine |date = August 12, 2014 |access-date = February 10, 2016 |first1 = Bob Boze |last1 = Bell |first2 = Mark Lee |last2 = Gardner |url-status = live |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160216031417/http://www.truewestmagazine.com/a-shot-in-the-dark/ |archive-date = February 16, 2016 |df = mdy-all }}</ref> | |||
While Bonney's legs were still shackled, he was able to get into Garrett's office, where he took a loaded shotgun left behind by Olinger. Waiting at the upstairs window for Olinger to respond to the gunshot that killed Bell, Bonney called out to the deputy, "Look up, old boy, and see what you get". When Olinger looked up, Bonney shot and killed him.<ref name="Utley89181" /><ref name="Wallis243244">Wallis (2007), pp. 243–244.</ref> After about an hour, Bonney was able to free himself from the leg irons with an axe.<ref>Jacobsen (1994), p. 232.</ref> He obtained a horse and rode out of town. Some stories say that he was singing as he left Lincoln.<ref name="Wallis243244"/> | |||
Five days after Bonney's killing, Garrett traveled to ], to collect the $500 reward offered by Governor Lew Wallace for his capture, dead or alive. ], the acting New Mexico governor, refused to pay the reward.<ref name="DNM">{{Citation|title=Santa Fe Daily New Mexican Newspaper|date=July 21, 1881|newspaper=Santa Fe Daily New Mexican|page=4}}</ref> Over the next few weeks, the residents of Las Vegas, Mesilla, Santa Fe, White Oaks, and other New Mexico cities raised over $7,000 in reward money for Garrett. A year and four days after Bonney's death, the New Mexico territorial legislature passed a special act to grant Garrett the $500 bounty reward promised by Governor Wallace.<ref name=ACT>{{Cite court |court=New Mexico Territorial Legislature |date=July 18, 1882}}</ref> | |||
== Death == | |||
Because people had begun to claim Garrett unfairly ambushed Bonney, Garrett felt the need to tell his side of the story and called upon his friend, journalist ], to ] a book for him.{{sfn|Utley|1989|pp=198–199}} The book, '']'',{{efn|The full title of the Garrett-Upson book was ''The Authentic Life of Billy, the Kid, the Noted Desperado of the Southwest, Whose Deeds of Daring and Blood Made His Name a Terror in New Mexico, Arizona and Northern Mexico. By Pat. F. Garrett, Sheriff of Lincoln Co., N.M., By Whom He Was Finally Hunted Down and Captured by Killing Him.''{{sfn|Utley|1989|p=199}}}} was first published in April 1882.<ref>{{cite book |last = LeMay |first = John and Stahl, Robert J. |date = 2020 | |||
Almost three months after his escape, Garrett responded to rumors that Bonney was in the vicinity of Fort Sumner. Garrett and two deputies left Lincoln on July 14, 1881 to question one of the town's residents, a friend of McCarty's named Pete Maxwell.<ref>Wallis, Michael. ''Billy the Kid: The Endless Ride'', 2007 pp. 245–246.</ref> Maxwell, son of land baron ], spoke with Garrett the same day for several hours. Around midnight, the pair sat in Maxwell's darkened bedroom when Bonney unexpectedly entered the room.<ref name="Ref-1">Wallis, Michael. ''Billy the Kid: The Endless Ride'', 2007 - p. 247.</ref> | |||
|title = The Man Who Invented Billy the Kid: The Authentic Life of Ash Upson | |||
] | |||
|location = Roswell, NM |publisher = Bicep Books |pages = 127–133 |isbn = 978-1953221919}}</ref> Although only a few copies sold following its release, in time, it became a reference for later historians who wrote about Bonney's life.{{sfn|Utley|1989|pp=198–199}} | |||
Accounts vary as to the course of events. The canonical version states that as Bonney entered the room, he failed to recognize Garrett due to the poor lighting. Drawing his revolver and backing away, Bonney asked "''¿Quién es? ¿Quién es?''", Spanish for "Who is it? Who is it?".<ref name="Ref-1"/> Recognizing Bonney's voice, Garrett drew his revolver, firing twice. The first bullet struck Bonney in the chest just above his heart. He fell to the floor, gasped for a minute, and died.<ref name="Ref-1"/> | |||
==Rumors of survival== | |||
Following his death, Bonney's friends made plans to give him a wake. The morning after the shooting, Bonney's body was examined by Justice of the Peace Milnor Rudulf, and a death certificate was issued. Garrett objected to Rudulf's summary of the events surrounding the shooting, feeling it did not depict his role favorably. After Garrett gave his approval to release the body, it was prepared for burial and Bonney was laid to rest at Fort Sumner cemetery next to his friends O'Folliard and Bowdre.<ref name="lastdays">{{cite web|url=http://www.aboutbillythekid.com/Last_Days.htm|title=Last Days|publisher=aboutbillythekid.com|accessdate=August 4, 2013}}</ref> | |||
Over time, legends grew claiming that Bonney was not killed, and that Garrett staged the incident and death out of friendship so that Bonney could evade the law.{{sfn|Wallis|2007|p=xiv}} During the next 50 years, a number of men claimed they were Billy the Kid.{{citation needed|date=March 2019}} Most of these claims were easily disproven, but two have remained topics of discussion and debate. | |||
In 1948, a central Texas man, Ollie P. Roberts, also known as ], began claiming he was Billy the Kid and went before New Mexico Governor ] seeking a pardon. Mabry dismissed Roberts' claims, and Roberts died shortly afterward.<ref>{{cite journal |title = Field & Stream |journal = Field & Stream 2007–08 |url = https://books.google.com/books?id=Ewn0bxhvvbYC&pg=PA106 |date = July 1981 |pages = 106– |issn = 8755-8599 |access-date = July 20, 2017 |archive-date = November 1, 2017 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20171101132237/https://books.google.com/books?id=Ewn0bxhvvbYC&pg=PA106 |url-status = live }}</ref> Nevertheless, ], Roberts' town of residence, capitalized on his claim by opening a Billy the Kid museum.<ref>Texas Department of Transportation, ''Texas State Travel Guide, 2008'', pp. 200–201</ref> | |||
In the weeks following Bonney's death, Garrett felt the need to tell his side of the story. People had begun to claim that Garrett unfairly ambushed Bonney. In response, Garrett called upon his friend, journalist Marshall Upson, to ] a book for him.<ref name="Ref-2">Utley, Robert M. ''Billy the Kid: A Short and Violent Life'', 1989 - pp. 198–199.</ref> The collaboration led to the book '']'',<ref>The full title of the Garrett-Upson book was ''The Authentic Life of Billy, the Kid, the Noted Desperado of the Southwest, Whose Deeds of Daring and Blood Made His Name a Terror in New Mexico, Arizona and Northern Mexico. By Pat. F. Garrett, Sheriff of Lincoln Co., N.M., By Whom He Was Finally Hunted Down and Captured by Killing Him.''</ref> which was first published in April 1882. Although only a few copies sold following its release, the book eventually became a reference for historians who later wrote about Bonney's life.<ref name="Ref-2"/> | |||
John Miller, an Arizona man, also claimed he was Bonney. This was unsupported by his family until 1938, some time after his death. Miller's body was buried in the state-owned Arizona Pioneers' Home Cemetery in ]; in May 2005, Miller's teeth and bones<ref name="post">{{cite news |url = https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/morning-mix/wp/2015/07/21/one-mans-quest-to-bury-the-wild-west-mystery-of-billy-the-kids-death/ |title = One man's quest to bury the Wild West mystery of Billy the Kid's death |last = Miller |first = Michael E. |date = July 21, 2015 |newspaper = ] |access-date = December 25, 2015 |quote = "A family Bible put his age in 1881 at just 2 years old: far too young for even a criminal nicknamed 'the Kid'." |url-status = live |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20151223231630/https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/morning-mix/wp/2015/07/21/one-mans-quest-to-bury-the-wild-west-mystery-of-billy-the-kids-death/ |archive-date = December 23, 2015 |df = mdy-all }}</ref> were exhumed and examined,<ref name="lbanks">{{cite web |url = https://www.tucsonweekly.com/tucson/a-new-billy-the-kid/Content?oid=1083797 |first = Leo W. |last = Banks |title = A New Billy the Kid? |work = Tucson Weekly |access-date = August 4, 2008 |url-status = live |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090616130840/http://www.tucsonweekly.com/tucson/a-new-billy-the-kid/Content?oid=1083797 |archive-date = June 16, 2009 |df = mdy-all }}</ref> without permission from the state.<ref>Associated Press (October 24, 2006) {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160201035347/http://www.deseretnews.com/article/650201170/2-wont-face-charges-in-Billy-the-Kid-quest.html |date=February 1, 2016 }}, ''Deseret News''. Retrieved August 29, 2008.</ref> DNA samples from the remains were sent to a laboratory in ] and tested to compare Miller's DNA with blood samples obtained from floorboards in the ] and a bench where Bonney's body allegedly was placed after he was shot.<ref name="burns" /> According to a July 2015 article in ''The Washington Post'', the lab results were "useless".<ref name="post" /> | |||
== Rumors of survival == | |||
Over time, legends formed and grew that claimed Bonney was not killed, rather, that Garrett staged the incident and death out of friendship so that the gunman could evade the law.<ref name="wallisxiv">Wallis (2007), p. xiv.</ref> In the years following the shooting, men came forward to claim they were the real Billy the Kid. While most of the claimants were debunked, two have remained topics of discussion and debate. | |||
In 2004, researchers sought to ] the remains of Catherine Antrim, Bonney's mother, whose DNA would be tested and compared with that of the body buried in William Bonney's grave.<ref>{{cite news |url = https://www.csmonitor.com/2004/0318/p11s02-ussc.html |title = Shootout over Billy the Kid |last = Miller |first = Patrick |date = March 18, 2004 |work = ] |access-date = December 13, 2015 |url-status = live |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20151222091453/http://www.csmonitor.com/2004/0318/p11s02-ussc.html |archive-date = December 22, 2015 |df = mdy-all }}</ref> {{as of|2012}}, her body had not been exhumed.<ref name="burns">{{cite web |url = http://www.albuquerquebusinesslaw.com/business-law/billy-the-kid-and-new-mexico-open-records-law/ |title = Billy the Kid and New Mexico Open Records Law |last1 = Burns |first1 = James T. |date = April 28, 2012 |website = Albuquerque Business Law |access-date = December 25, 2015 |url-status = dead |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20151226160552/http://www.albuquerquebusinesslaw.com/business-law/billy-the-kid-and-new-mexico-open-records-law/ |archive-date = December 26, 2015 |df = mdy-all }}</ref> | |||
In 1948, a Central Texas man known as Ollie Partridge Roberts, who went by the nickname "]", began to claim he was Billy the Kid. His claims were summarily dismissed, even by his own family.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/morning-mix/wp/2015/07/21/one-mans-quest-to-bury-the-wild-west-mystery-of-billy-the-kids-death/ |title=One man's quest to bury the Wild West mystery of Billy the Kid's death |last=Miller| first=Michael E.| date=21 July 2015|work=]|accessdate=December 25, 2015 |quote="A family Bible put his age in 1881 at just 2 years old: far too young for even a criminal nicknamed 'the Kid.'"}}</ref> ], his town of residence, capitalized on the claim by opening a Billy the Kid museum.<ref>Texas Department of Transportation, ''Texas State Travel Guide, 2008'', pp. 200–201</ref> | |||
In 2007,<ref name="abqj" /> author and amateur historian Gale Cooper filed a lawsuit against the Lincoln County Sheriff's Office under the state Inspection of Public Records Act to produce records of the results of the 2006 DNA tests and other forensic evidence collected in the Billy the Kid investigations.<ref>Associated Press (August 28, 2008) , Fox News Channel. Retrieved August 29, 2008.</ref> In April 2012, 133 pages of documents were provided; they offered no conclusive evidence confirming or disproving the generally accepted story of Garrett's killing of Bonney,<ref name="abqj" /> but confirmed the records' existence, and that they could have been produced earlier.<ref name="burns" /> In 2014, Cooper was awarded $100,000 in punitive damages but the decision was later overturned by the New Mexico Court of Appeals.<ref>{{cite web |url = https://www.pressreader.com/usa/las-vegas-review-journal-sunday/20160626/281874412709878 |title = Billy the Kid quest evolves into records fight |via = PressReader |access-date = August 18, 2017 |url-status = live |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20170819020746/https://www.pressreader.com/usa/las-vegas-review-journal-sunday/20160626/281874412709878 |archive-date = August 19, 2017 |df = mdy-all }}</ref> The lawsuit ultimately cost Lincoln County nearly $300,000.<ref name="abqj">{{cite web |url = https://www.abqjournal.com/403158/award-ends-lawsuit-over-records-on-billy-the-kid.html |title = Award ends suit over Billy the Kid records |last1 = Villagran |first1 = Lauren |date = May 20, 2014 |website = Albuquerque Journal |access-date = December 25, 2015 |url-status = live |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20170819061108/https://www.abqjournal.com/403158/award-ends-lawsuit-over-records-on-billy-the-kid.html |archive-date = August 19, 2017 |df = mdy-all }}</ref> | |||
John Miller, an Arizona man also claiming to be Billy the Kid, had his story supported by his family beginning in 1938, some time after his death. Buried in the Arizona state-owned Pioneers' Home Cemetery in ], his bones and teeth<ref name="post"/> were dug up in May 2005<ref name="lbanks">{{cite web|url=http://www.tucsonweekly.com/gbase/Currents/Content?oid=81013|first=Leo W.|last=Banks|title=A New Billy the Kid? |publisher=Tucson Weekly|accessdate=August 4, 2008}}</ref> without clearance from the state.<ref>Associated Press (October 24, 2006) ", ''Deseret News'' via FindArticles.com; retrieved August 29, 2008.</ref> DNA samples from the remains were sent to a lab in ] for testing and examination. The intent was to compare Miller's DNA with blood obtained from floorboards in the ] and a bench where it was believed Bonney's body was placed after he was shot.<ref name="burns"/> According to a July 2015 article in the Washington Post, however, the lab results were "useless."<ref name="post">{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/morning-mix/wp/2015/07/21/one-mans-quest-to-bury-the-wild-west-mystery-of-billy-the-kids-death/|title=One man's quest to bury the Wild West mystery of Billy the Kid's death|last=Miller|first=Michael E.|date=21 July 2015|work=]|accessdate=14 December 2015}}</ref> | |||
In February 2015, historian Robert Stahl petitioned a district court in Fort Sumner asking the state of New Mexico to issue a death certificate for Bonney.<ref name="deathcert" /> In July 2015, Stahl filed suit in the New Mexico Supreme Court. The suit asked the court to order the state's Office of the Medical Investigator to officially certify Bonney's death under New Mexico state law.<ref>{{cite news |url = http://www.santafenewmexican.com/life/features/historian-asks-state-s-high-court-to-help-set-record/article_97c4476d-782b-535b-8584-1da98cad441d.html |title = Historian asks state's high court to help set record straight on Billy the Kid's death |last = Constable |first = Anne |date = July 17, 2015 |work = ] |access-date = December 14, 2015 |archive-date = November 8, 2020 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20201108165155/https://www.santafenewmexican.com/life/features/historian-asks-state-s-high-court-to-help-set-record/article_97c4476d-782b-535b-8584-1da98cad441d.html |url-status = live }}</ref> | |||
In 2004, researchers sought to exhume the remains of Catherine Antrim, McCarty's mother, "so her DNA could be tested and compared with DNA to be taken from the body buried under the Kid's gravestone".<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.csmonitor.com/2004/0318/p11s02-ussc.html|title=Shootout over Billy the Kid|last=Miller|first=Patrick|date=18 March 2004|work=]|accessdate=13 December 2015}}</ref> As of 2012, her body had not been exhumed.<ref name="burns">{{cite web |url=http://www.albuquerquebusinesslaw.com/business-law/billy-the-kid-and-new-mexico-open-records-law/ |title=Billy the Kid and New Mexico Open Records Law |last1=Burns |first1=James T. |date=April 28, 2012 |website=Albuquerque Business Law |access-date=December 25, 2015}}</ref> | |||
==Photographs== | |||
In 2007,<ref name="abqj"/> a lawsuit was filed by author and amateur historian Gale Cooper against the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office pursuant to the state Inspection of Public Records Act to produce records of the results of the 2006 DNA tests and other forensic evidence collected in the Billy the Kid investigations.<ref>Associated Press (August 28, 2008) , foxnews.com; retrieved August 29, 2008.</ref> In April 2012, 133 pages of documents were provided which, "although they offered no conclusive evidence to prove or disprove the generally accepted story of the Kid's death at Garrett's hand,"<ref name="abqj"/> they did "reveal that the records sought not only exist, but that they could have been easily produced long ago."<ref name="burns"/> In 2014, Cooper was awarded $100,000 in punitive damages. The lawsuit ultimately cost Lincoln County a combined amount of nearly $300,000 for the judgement and associated fees.<ref name="abqj">{{cite web |url=http://www.abqjournal.com/403158/news/award-ends-lawsuit-over-records-on-billy-the-kid.html |title=Award ends suit over Billy the Kid records |last1=Villagran |first1=Lauren |date=May 20, 2014 |website=Albuquerque Journal |access-date=December 25, 2015}}</ref> | |||
{{As of|2021}}, only one authenticated photograph showing Billy exists; others thought to depict him are disputed.<ref name="BBC-42089464">{{cite web |title = Flea market photo 'shows Billy the Kid' |url = https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-42089464 |website = BBC News |access-date = November 23, 2017 |date = November 22, 2017 |url-status = live |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20171122235312/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-42089464 |archive-date = November 22, 2017 |df = mdy-all }}</ref> | |||
===Dedrick ferrotype=== | |||
In February 2015, historian Robert Stahl petitioned a district court in Fort Sumner, asking the state of New Mexico to posthumously issue a death certificate for Bonney.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.history.com/news/historian-seeks-death-certificate-to-end-billy-the-kid-rumors|title=Historian Seeks Death Certificate to End Billy the Kid Rumors|last=Klein|first=Christopher|date=27 February 2015|work=]|accessdate=14 December 2015}}</ref> Taking a step further in July 2015, Stahl filed suit in the New Mexico Supreme Court. The suit asked the court to order the state's Office of the Medical Investigator to officially certify Bonney's death under New Mexico state law.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.santafenewmexican.com/life/features/historian-asks-state-s-high-court-to-help-set-record/article_97c4476d-782b-535b-8584-1da98cad441d.html|title=Historian asks state's high court to help set record straight on Billy the Kid's death|last=Constable|first=Anne|date=17 July 2015|work=]|accessdate=14 December 2015}}</ref> | |||
] of Billy the Kid, {{circa|1880}}|227x227px]] | |||
One of the few remaining artifacts of Bonney's life is a {{convert|2|x|3|in|cm|adj=on|abbr=off|sp=us}} ] photograph of him, attributed to photographer ]<ref name="BowersMuseum2022">{{cite web |author1=Staff |title=Four Views of Walpi |url=https://www.bowers.org/index.php/collection/collection-blog/four-views-of-walpi |website=Bowers Museum |access-date=21 March 2024 |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20220703153447/https://bowers.org/index.php/collection/collection-blog/four-views-of-walpi |archive-date=3 July 2022}}</ref> in late 1879 or early 1880. The image shows Bonney wearing a vest under a sweater, a ] and a bandana, while holding an ] rifle with its butt resting on the floor. For years, this was the only photograph of Bonney accepted by scholars and historians.<ref name="TWbounty" /> The original ferrotype survived because Bonney's friend Dan Dedrick kept it after the outlaw's death. It was passed down through Dedrick's family, and was copied several times, appearing in numerous publications during the 20th century. In June 2011, the original plate was bought at auction for $2.3 million by businessman ].<ref>{{cite news |last1 = Tripp |first1 = Leslie |title = Billy the Kid photograph fetches $2.3 million at auction |url = http://www.cnn.com/2011/US/06/26/colorado.billy.the.kid.photo/index.html |publisher = CNN |access-date = July 4, 2015 |date = June 26, 2011 |url-status = live |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150706031600/http://www.cnn.com/2011/US/06/26/colorado.billy.the.kid.photo/index.html |archive-date = July 6, 2015 |df = mdy-all }}</ref><ref name="BBCphoto">{{cite news |url = https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-13919013 |title = Billy the Kid portrait fetches $2.3m at Denver auction |publisher = BBC News US & Canada |date = June 26, 2011 |access-date = January 26, 2016 |url-status = live |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160229211130/http://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-13919013 |archive-date = February 29, 2016 |df = mdy-all }}</ref> | |||
The image shows Bonney wearing his holstered Colt revolver on his left side. This led to the belief that he was left-handed, without taking into account that the ferrotype process produces reversed images.<ref name="left hand">{{cite web |url = https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2011/jun/27/billy-the-kid-photograph-sold |title = Billy the Kid photograph sold at auction in Colorado for $2.3m |work = The Guardian |date = June 26, 2011 |access-date = December 28, 2015 |first = Jo |last = Adetunji |url-status = live |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160305042431/http://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2011/jun/27/billy-the-kid-photograph-sold |archive-date = March 5, 2016 |df = mdy-all }}</ref> In 1954, western historians James D. Horan and Paul Sann wrote that Bonney was right-handed and carried his pistol on his right hip.<ref>Horan, James D. and Sann, Paul. ''Pictorial History of the Wild West'', New York: Crown Publishers, Inc., 1954 – p. 57.</ref> The opinion was confirmed by Clyde Jeavons, a former curator of the ].<ref>{{cite news |url = https://www.theguardian.com/books/2001/mar/03/1 |last = Mayes |first = Ian |title = I kid you not |newspaper = ] |date = March 3, 2001 |access-date = June 19, 2009 |url-status = live |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140312000916/http://www.theguardian.com/books/2001/mar/03/1 |archive-date = March 12, 2014 |df = mdy-all }}</ref> Several historians have written that Bonney was ].<ref>Gardner, Mark Lee: ''To Hell on a Fast Horse: The Untold Story of Billy the Kid and Pat Garrett'' (2011), pp. 91, 277</ref>{{sfn|Nolan|1998|p=29}}{{sfn|Wallis|2007|p=83}}<ref>{{cite web |url = http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2007/jun/10/the-fact-and-fiction-32of-americas-outlaw/print/ |title = The fact and fiction of America's outlaw |last = Goode |first = Stephen |work = The Washington Times |date = June 10, 2007 |archive-url = https://archive.today/20200611180357/https://www.webcitation.org/5hfNVN6Db?url=http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2007/jun/10/the-fact-and-fiction-32of-americas-outlaw/print/ |archive-date = June 11, 2020 |access-date = December 25, 2015 |quote = Billy loved to sing and had a good voice, those who knew him claimed ... He was ambidextrous and wrote well with both hands. |url-status = dead |df = mdy }}</ref> | |||
== Legacy == | |||
===Croquet tintype=== | |||
=== Authenticated photographs === | |||
] | |||
A {{convert|4|x|6|in|mm|adj=on}} ferrotype purchased at a memorabilia shop in ], in 2010 has been claimed to show Bonney and members of the Regulators playing croquet. If authentic, it is the only known photo of Billy the Kid and the Regulators together and the only image to feature their wives and female companions.<ref>{{cite news |url = http://www.santafenewmexican.com/news/local_news/billy-the-kid-a-fan-of-croquet/article_5a5d7d2c-09e1-58b3-9f2b-dcad9004b1c1.html |title = Billy the Kid: A fan of croquet? |last = Constable |first = Anne |date = August 24, 2015 |access-date = December 10, 2017 |newspaper = ] |archive-date = May 8, 2020 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20200508201010/https://www.santafenewmexican.com/news/local_news/billy-the-kid-a-fan-of-croquet/article_5a5d7d2c-09e1-58b3-9f2b-dcad9004b1c1.html |url-status = live }}</ref> Collector Robert{{nbsp}}G. McCubbin and outlaw historian John Boessenecker concluded in 2013 that the photograph does not show Bonney.<ref name="truewestmag2" /> ], a professor and researcher, located an advertisement for croquet sets sold at Chapman's General Store in Las Vegas, New Mexico, dated to June 1878. Kent Gibson, a forensic video and still image expert, offered the services of his facial recognition software, and stated that Bonney is indeed one of the individuals in the image.<ref name="Constable">{{cite news |first = Anne |last = Constable |title = Billy the Kid: A fan of croquet? |newspaper = ] |date = August 24, 2015 |url = http://www.santafenewmexican.com/news/local_news/billy-the-kid-a-fan-of-croquet/article_5a5d7d2c-09e1-58b3-9f2b-dcad9004b1c1.html |access-date = September 23, 2015 |archive-date = May 8, 2020 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20200508201010/https://www.santafenewmexican.com/news/local_news/billy-the-kid-a-fan-of-croquet/article_5a5d7d2c-09e1-58b3-9f2b-dcad9004b1c1.html |url-status = live }}</ref> | |||
In August 2015, ] officials and the ] said that despite the new research, they could not confirm that the image showed Bonney or others from the Lincoln County War era, according to Monument manager Gary Cozzens. A photograph curator at the ] archives, Daniel Kosharek, said the image is "problematic on a lot of fronts", including the small size of the figures and the lack of resemblance of the background landscape to Lincoln County or the state in general.<ref name="Constable" /> Editors from the '']'' staff said, "no one in our office thinks this photo is of the Kid ."<ref name=truewestmag2>{{cite web |url = http://www.truewestmagazine.com/billy-the-kid-experts-weigh-in-on-the-croquet-photo/ |title = Billy the Kid Experts Weigh in on the Croquet Photo |date = October 14, 2015 |access-date = February 3, 2016 |work = ] |url-status = live |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160301175846/http://www.truewestmagazine.com/billy-the-kid-experts-weigh-in-on-the-croquet-photo |archive-date = March 1, 2016 |df = mdy-all }}</ref> | |||
] | |||
In early October 2015, Kagin's, Inc., a ] authentication firm, said the image was authentic after a number of experts, including those associated with a recent ] program,<ref>{{cite news |last = Guijarro |first = Randy |title = Billy the Kid: New Evidence. Found Photograph |url = http://channel.nationalgeographic.com/galleries/billy-the-kid-new-evidence/at/billy-the-kid-new-evidence14-2100466/ |newspaper = ] |date = October 18, 2015 |access-date = December 10, 2017 |archive-date = December 14, 2017 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20171214023054/http://channel.nationalgeographic.com/galleries/billy-the-kid-new-evidence/at/billy-the-kid-new-evidence14-2100466/ |url-status = dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url = http://www.natgeotv.com/int/billy-the-kid-new-evidence |title = Billy the Kid: New Evidence |work = ] |date = October 18, 2015 |access-date = December 10, 2017 |archive-date = December 11, 2017 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20171211053555/http://www.natgeotv.com/int/billy-the-kid-new-evidence |url-status = dead }}</ref> | |||
==== Dedrick ferrotype ==== | |||
examined it.<ref name="NPRcroquet">{{cite web |url = https://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2015/10/15/448993361/-2-photo-found-at-junk-store-has-billy-the-kid-in-it-could-be-worth-5-million |title = $2 Photo Found at Junk Store Has Billy The Kid in It, Could Be Worth $5M |publisher = ] |date = October 15, 2015 |access-date = January 25, 2016 |first = Brakkton |last = Booker |url-status = live |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160126002311/http://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2015/10/15/448993361/-2-photo-found-at-junk-store-has-billy-the-kid-in-it-could-be-worth-5-million |archive-date = January 26, 2016 |df = mdy-all }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |title = Man who discovered rare Billy the Kid photo: 'The hunt is a really grand thing' |url = https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2015/oct/19/man-who-discovered-rare-billy-the-kid-photo-the-hunt-is-a-really-grand-thing |date = October 19, 2015 |last = Carroll |first = Rory |author-link = Rory Carroll |newspaper = ] |access-date = October 27, 2015 |url-status = live |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20151028141516/http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2015/oct/19/man-who-discovered-rare-billy-the-kid-photo-the-hunt-is-a-really-grand-thing |archive-date = October 28, 2015 |df = mdy-all }}</ref> | |||
==Posthumous pardon request== | |||
One of the few remaining artifacts of Bonney's life is the iconic 2x3 inch ] taken of Bonney by an unknown portrait photographer sometime in late 1879 or early 1880. The image shows Bonney wearing a vest over a sweater, a slouch cowboy hat on his head and a bandanna around his neck, while holding an 1873 Winchester rifle with the weapon's butt resting on the floor. For years the photo of Bonney was the only one agreed upon by scholars and historians to be authentic.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.truewestmagazine.com/the-holy-grail-for-sale/|title=The Holy Grail for Sale|author=Mark Boardman|work=True West Magazine|accessdate=March 17, 2015}}</ref> The ferrotype survived due to a friend of Bonney, Dan Dedrick, keeping the image following the outlaw's death. Passed down through Dedrick's family, the image was copied several times and appeared in numerous publications during the 20th century. In June 2011, the original was bought at auction for $2.3 million by billionaire businessman ].<ref>{{cite web|last1=Tripp|first1=Leslie|title=Billy the Kid photograph fetches $2.3 million at auction|url=http://www.cnn.com/2011/US/06/26/colorado.billy.the.kid.photo/index.html?&hpt=hp_c2|website=CNN|publisher=CNN|accessdate=July 4, 2015|date=June 26, 2011}}</ref> At the time of the ferrotype auction, the image became the most expensive item ever sold through Brian Lebel's Annual Old West Show & Auction.<ref>. Bbc.co.uk (June 26, 2011). Retrieved on August 1, 2011.</ref> | |||
In 2010, New Mexico Governor ] turned down a request for a posthumous pardon of Bonney for the murder of Sheriff William Brady. The pardon was considered to fulfill Governor Lew Wallace's 1879 promise to Bonney. Richardson's decision, citing "historical ambiguity", was announced on December 31, 2010, his last day in office.<ref>{{cite news |url = http://www.cnn.com/2010/CRIME/12/31/new.mexico.billy/index.html |title = No pardon for Billy the Kid |publisher = CNN |access-date = December 31, 2010 |date = December 31, 2010 |url-status = live |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20121109024425/http://www.cnn.com/2010/CRIME/12/31/new.mexico.billy/index.html |archive-date = November 9, 2012 |df = mdy-all }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title = An Outlaw by Any Name: Billy the Kid |url = https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/projects/cp/obituaries/archives/billy-the-kid |newspaper=] |date = July 14, 2016 |url-status = live |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20170129080342/https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/projects/cp/obituaries/archives/billy-the-kid |archive-date = January 29, 2017 |df = mdy-all }}</ref> | |||
==Grave markers== | |||
The image, which had been copied and published in various ways over the years, showed Bonney with his holstered Colt revolver on his left side. This fueled the belief that the gunman was left-handed. This belief, however, did not take into account that the method used to make the original ferrotype was to use metal plates that produced reverse images. As a result, the photo showed Bonney's pistol on his left side, leading modern historians to believe he shot with his left hand.<ref name="left hand">{{cite web | url=http://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2011/jun/27/billy-the-kid-photograph-sold | title=Billy the Kid photograph sold at auction in Colorado for $2.3m | publisher=The Guardian | date=June 26, 2011 | accessdate=December 28, 2015 | author=Jo Adetunji}}</ref> In 1954 western historians James D. Horan and Paul Sann wrote that Bonney was "right-handed and carried his pistol on his right hip".<ref>Horan, James D. and Sann, Paul. ''Pictorial History of the Wild West'', New York: Crown Publishers, Inc., 1954 - p. 57.</ref> The opinion was confirmed by Clyde Jeavons, a former curator of the ].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2001/mar/03/1|last=Mayes|first=Ian|title=I kid you not|newspaper=]|date=March 3, 2001|accessdate=June 19, 2009}}</ref> Historian ] wrote in 2007 that Bonney was ].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.webcitation.org/5hfNVN6Db |title=The fact and fiction of America's outlaw|last=Goode|first=Stephen|work=The Washington Times|date=June 10, 2007|archiveurl=http://www.webcitation.org/5hfNVN6Db|archivedate=June 20, 2009 |accessdate=December 25, 2015|quote=Billy loved to sing and had a good voice, those who knew him claimed ... He was ambidextrous and wrote well with both hands.}}</ref> | |||
] | |||
In 1931, Charles{{nbsp}}W.{{nbsp}}Foor, an unofficial tour guide at Fort Sumner Cemetery, campaigned to raise funds for a permanent marker for the graves of Bonney, O'Folliard, and Bowdre. As a result of his efforts, a stone memorial marked with the names of the three men and their death dates beneath the word "Pals" was erected in the center of the burial area.{{sfn|Simmons|2006|pp=161–163}} | |||
] | |||
In 1940, stone cutter James N. Warner of ], made and donated to the cemetery a new marker for Bonney's grave.{{sfn|Simmons|2006|pp=164–165}} It was stolen on February 8, 1981, but recovered days later in ]. New Mexico Governor ] arranged for the county sheriff to fly to California to return it to Fort Sumner,<ref>{{cite web |title = Billy the Kid's Elusive Tombstone / Old Fort Sumner and Billy the Kid's Grave |publisher = Cemeteries-of-tx.com |url = http://www.cemeteries-of-tx.com/newmexico/DeBaca/Sumner.html |access-date = February 9, 2016 |url-status = live |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160527081257/http://www.cemeteries-of-tx.com/newmexico/DeBaca/Sumner.html |archive-date = May 27, 2016 |df = mdy-all }}</ref> where it was reinstalled in May 1981. Although both markers are behind iron fencing, a group of vandals entered the enclosure at night in June 2012 and tipped the stone over.<ref>{{cite news |title = 'Billy the Kid' tombstone in New Mexico vandalized |last = Lohr |first = David |author-link = David Lohr |url = http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/06/29/billy-the-kid-tombstone-vandalized_n_1638484.html |access-date = March 21, 2013 |work = The Huffington Post |date = June 30, 2012 |url-status = live |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120704000850/http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/06/29/billy-the-kid-tombstone-vandalized_n_1638484.html |archive-date = July 4, 2012 |df = mdy-all }}</ref> | |||
==== Playing croquet ==== | |||
==In literature and the arts== | |||
A tintype purchased in 2010 for $2.00 at a sale in ], appears to show Bonney and the Regulators playing croquet. The image was reviewed by experts on Old West history in order to authenticate it.<ref>{{cite news |first=Anne |last=Constable |title = Billy the Kid: A fan of croquet? |newspaper=Santa Fe New Mexican |date=August 24, 2015 |url=http://www.santafenewmexican.com/news/local_news/billy-the-kid-a-fan-of-croquet/article_5a5d7d2c-09e1-58b3-9f2b-dcad9004b1c1.html |accessdate=September 23, 2015}}</ref> On October 5, 2015, Kagin's, Inc., a California-based ] authentication firm, verified the image to be authentic after a number of experts had examined it for over a year. A special show describing the examination of the photo was shown on the ] on October 23, 2015. Other experts do not believe that the photo shows Billy the Kid or the Regulators.<ref name="Billy the Kid Experts Weigh in on the Croquet Photo">{{cite web|url=http://www.truewestmagazine.com/billy-the-kid-experts-weigh-in-on-the-croquet-photo/|title=Billy the Kid Experts Weigh in on the Croquet Photo}}</ref> Kagin's has insured the tintype for $5 million.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Man who discovered rare Billy the Kid photo: 'The hunt is a really grand thing' |url=http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2015/oct/19/man-who-discovered-rare-billy-the-kid-photo-the-hunt-is-a-really-grand-thing |date=October 19, 2015 |last=Carroll |first=Rory |authorlink=Rory Carroll |newspaper=] |accessdate=October 27, 2015}}</ref> | |||
{{Main|List of works about Billy the Kid}} | |||
The life and likeness of Billy the Kid have been frequently represented in comics, literature, film, music, theater, radio, television, and video games. | |||
=== Posthumous pardon === | |||
In 2010, New Mexico Governor ] considered a posthumous pardon of Bonney for the murder of Sheriff William Brady. The pardon was considered to be a follow-through on a purported promise made by former Governor Lew Wallace in 1879. On December 31, 2010, his last day in office, Richardson announced his decision not to issue the pardon on the nationally broadcast morning television program, '']'', citing "historical ambiguity" surrounding the conditions of the original pardon.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.cnn.com/2010/CRIME/12/31/new.mexico.billy/index.html?hpt=T2|title=No pardon for Billy the Kid|publisher=CNN|accessdate=December 31, 2010|date=December 31, 2010}}</ref> | |||
=== Grave marker === | |||
] | |||
In 1932, Charles W. Foor, at the time an unofficial tour guide at the Fort Sumner Cemetery, spearheaded a drive to raise funds for a permanent marker at the graves of Bonney, O'Folliard, and Bowdre.<ref>Wallis, Michael. ''Billy the Kid: The Endless Ride'', 2007 = pp. 249–250.</ref><ref name="aboutbilly">{{cite web|url=http://www.aboutbillythekid.com/frequently_asked_questions.htm|title=Frequently Asked Questions|accessdate=March 17, 2015}}</ref> | |||
] | |||
Eight years later, ] used a Billy the Kid grave marker as a prop in the movie '']''. James N. Warner of ], donated the marker to the cemetery when it was no longer required for the movie.<ref> The J-TAC (Stephenville, Texas), Vol. 148, No. 10, Ed. 1, texashistory.unt.edu, November 3, 1994.</ref> It was stolen on February 8, 1981, but recovered days later in ]. New Mexico Governor ] arranged for the county sheriff to fly to California to bring it back to Fort Sumner,<ref>.</ref> where it was re-installed in May 1981. Although both markers are behind iron fencing, a group of vandals entered the enclosure at night in June 2012 and tipped over the stone.<ref>{{cite news|title='Billy the Kid' tombstone in New Mexico vandalized|author=Lohr, David|authorlink=David Lohr|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/06/29/billy-the-kid-tombstone-vandalized_n_1638484.html|accessdate=March 21, 2013|publisher=Huffington Post|date=June 30, 2012}}</ref> | |||
=== Selected references in popular culture === | |||
<!-- "Selected" means that the inclusion of items in these sections are limited to the highest profile, most historically reflective, or most well known. The section is not meant to be an exhaustive listing of everything about Billy the Kid that has ever been done. Please do not add to these sections unless you have broached it on the article talk page first. The article cannot encompass all pop culture references to Billy the Kid, nor should it. Don't add "The Simpsons" – it isn't a real reflection of this person. The music section is limited to music contained in films about him, or complete works focusing on him or the genre of Western and/of gunfighting. Billy Joel doesn't meet that definition. Thanks. NO MORE ADDITIONS. --> | |||
==== Literature ==== | |||
<!-- "Selected" means that the inclusion of items in these sections are limited to the highest profile, most historically reflective, or most well known. The section is not meant to be an exhaustive listing of everything about Billy the Kid that has ever been done. Please do not add to this section unless you have broached it on the article talk page first. The article cannot encompass all pop culture references to Billy the Kid, nor should it. Thanks. NO MORE ADDITIONS. --> | |||
* "The Disinterested Killer Bill Harrigan," by ]. | |||
* ''Billy The Kid'' (1958), a ] by ]. | |||
* ''Billy the Kid'' (1962), an episode in the ongoing adventures of ] by Goscinny and Morris. | |||
* ''El bandido adolescente'' ("The teenage outlaw") (1965), a biography written by Spanish author ]. | |||
* ''The Collected Works of Billy the Kid: Left-handed Poems'', by ], 1970 ]-winning biography in the form of experimental poetry. | |||
* ''The Illegal Rebirth of Billy the Kid'' (1991) is a science fiction novel by ]. | |||
* ''Anything for Billy'' (1988) is a fictionalized account of Billy's last year by ]. | |||
* ''Lucky Billy: a novel about Billy the Kid'' (2008), is a novel by John Vernon, a professor at ]. | |||
* The novels, '']'' and ''],'' by ] and ], feature interactions between the novels' contemporary main characters traversing ] '']'' and Billy the Kid. | |||
* ''Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel'' he is first introduced in the Sorceress and is there until the end of the Enchantress by ] | |||
* ''Billy the Kid and the Vampyres of Vegas'' ebook by ] | |||
==== Film ==== | |||
<!-- "Selected" means that the inclusion of items in this section are limited to the highest profile, most historically reflective, or most well known. The section is not meant to be an exhaustive listing of everything about Billy the Kid that has ever been done. Please do not add to these sections unless you have broached it on the article talk page first. The article cannot encompass all pop culture references to Billy the Kid, nor should it. Don't add "The Simpsons" – it isn't a real reflection of this person. Thanks. NO MORE ADDITIONS. --> | |||
<!-- Sorted by release date --> | |||
* ''Billy the Kid'', a 1911 silent film directed by ] and starring ]. All copies are believed to be lost. | |||
* '']'', 1930 ] film directed by ] and starring ] as Billy and ] as Pat Garrett<ref name="wallisxvi">Wallis (2007), p. xvi.</ref> | |||
* '']'', 1938: ] plays a dual role, Billy the Kid and his dead-ringer lookalike who shows up after the Kid has been shot by Pat Garrett. | |||
* '']'', 1941 remake of the 1930 film, starring ] and ] | |||
* ] and ] played Billy the Kid in a series of 42 western films from 1940 through 1946, released by ] studio ]. Some of the titles include ''Blazing Frontier'', ''The Renegade'', ''Cattle Stampede'', and ''Western Cyclone'' (1943).<ref>{{cite book |last= Rowan|first= Terry|date= 2013|title= The American Western: A Complete Film Guide|url= |location= |publisher= |page= 50|isbn=978-1-300-41858-0}}</ref> In a 1952 film, ] goes after Billy the Kid's lost treasure.<ref>Johnny D. Boggs. | |||
Billy the Kid on Film, 1911–2012. McFarland</ref> | |||
* '']'', ]' 1943 motion picture starring ] as Billy and featuring ] in her breakthrough role as the Kid's fictional love interest. | |||
* ''I Shot Billy the Kid'', a 1950 film directed by ] and starring ] as Billy. | |||
* '']'' (1950) starring ] as Billy the Kid | |||
* ''The Law vs. Billy the Kid'' (1954, ]) starring ] as the Kid, ] as Pat Garrett, ] as Nita Maxwell, and ] as Bob Olinger | |||
* '']'', ]'s 1958 motion picture based on a ] ], starring ] as Billy and ] as Garrett | |||
* ''The Boy from Oklahoma'' (1954), with ] in the role of Billy the Kid | |||
* '']'' (1961), is the only film directed by ], who also played its lead character, Rio. This story is from an adaptation by ] of a Charles Neider novelization of Billy the Kid's life, with a later revision by ] among others. | |||
* '']'' (1966), directed by ], has ], played by ], traveling to the ], where he takes a shine to Billy's fiancee and tries to turn her into a vampire. Chuck Courtney co-stars as Billy. | |||
* ''I'll Kill Him and Return Alone'', a 1967 "]" directed by ], starred ] as Billy and ] as Pat Garrett. | |||
* '']'' (1970), set during the Lincoln County War, was directed by Andrew V. McLaglen and stars Geoffrey Deuel as Billy and ] as Pat Garrett. | |||
* '']'' (1972), set during Billy's early years as a criminal, starred ]. | |||
* '']'', ]'s 1973 motion picture with ] as Billy, ] as Pat Garrett, and with a soundtrack by ], who also appears in the movie | |||
* '']'', Christopher Cain's 1988 motion picture starring ] as Billy and ] as Pat Garrett | |||
* '']'' (1989) features Billy the Kid (played by ]) as the "Historical Figure" that Bill and Ted pick up in the Old West. | |||
* '']'', Gore Vidal's 1989 film starring ] as Billy and ] as Pat Garrett | |||
* '']'', ]'s 1990 motion picture starring ] as Billy and ] as Pat Garrett | |||
* '']'', ]'s 1999 made-for-TV movie starring ] as Deputy Glen/Billy The Kid | |||
* ''Requiem for Billy the Kid'', Anne Feinsilber's 2006 motion picture starring ]. | |||
* '']'' featured a vampiric Billy the Kid as the film's main antagonist, played by ]. | |||
* ''Birth of a Legend'', a 2011 film in two parts based on ]'s book ''The Lincoln County War: A Documentary History'' directed by Andrew Wilkinson | |||
==== Music ==== | |||
<!-- "Selected" means that the inclusion of items in this section are limited to the highest profile, most historically reflective, or most well known. The section is not meant to be an exhaustive listing of everything about Billy the Kid that has ever been done. Please do not add to this section unless you have broached it on the article talk page first. The article cannot encompass all pop culture references to Billy the Kid, nor should it. The music section is limited to music contained in films about him, or complete works focusing on him or the genre of Western and/of gunfighting. Billy Joel doesn't meet that definition. Thanks. NO MORE ADDITIONS. --> | |||
* "Billy the Kid", a folksong in the public domain, was published in ] and ]'s ''American Ballads and Folksongs'' album,<ref>MacMillan, (1934), p. 137</ref> and also their ''Cowboy Songs and Other Frontier Ballads'' album.<ref>MacMillan, (1938), pp. 140–141. From Jim Marby, recorded in 1911, Library of Congress E659098.</ref> Members of the ] chose it as one of the Top 100 Western songs of all time.<ref name="Top100">{{Cite web|title=The Top 100 Western Songs|author=Western Writers of America|year=2010|authorlink=Western Writers of America|publisher=American Cowboy|url=http://www.americancowboy.com/culture/top-100-western-songs|archiveurl=http://www.webcitation.org/6RjFQXqGy|archivedate=August 10, 2014|deadurl=yes}}</ref> | |||
* "Billy the Kid" folksong sung by ], recorded by Alan Lomax in 1940 for the Library of Congress (#3412 B<sub>2</sub>), with a melody Guthrie later used for his song "So Long, it's Been Good to Know You". He also recorded it in 1944 for Moe Asch's Asch/Folkways label (MA67).<ref> media.smithsonianfolkways.org. Retrieved January 7, 2010</ref> | |||
* ]'s "]", a ballet that premiered in 1938. | |||
* On his album '']'' (1973), ] performs a song titled "]", which was intended to be a western-themed ballad rather than an account of the life of Bonney or any other outlaw; the title refers in part to a bartender Joel was friendly with.<ref>{{Cite web|author=Gamboa, Glenn|title=Billy Joel talks about his top Long Island songs|url=http://www.newsday.com/entertainment/music/billy-joel-talks-about-his-top-long-island-songs-1.3880655|website=Newsday|date=August 6, 2012}}</ref> | |||
* ]'s album '']'', soundtrack of the 1973 film by ]. | |||
* Takeoff's verse from the ] remix to ]'s "Quintana mentions Billy the Kid" | |||
* ]'s album, '']'', was used as part of the soundtrack for ''Young Guns II'', and featured the song "Billy Get Your Guns". | |||
* ]' song "Billy the Kid" from the album ''Gunfighter Ballads & Trail Songs Volume 3''. | |||
* ] recorded the folk song "Billy the Kid", on the album ''Into The Purple Valley'',<ref>1972 Reprise K44142</ref> with his own melody and instrumental. It was also on ''Ry Cooder Classics Volume II''.<ref>Japan 1992 P-Vine PCD 2541</ref> | |||
* ] wrote the song "Billy the Kid", released on his 1999 album ]. | |||
* ] "Billy the Kid," on the 2011 album ] | |||
* ] recorded the song "Billy the Kid" on his 1976 album ]. ] also covered the song on his album ]. | |||
* ] recorded the song "Me and Billy the Kid" on his 1987 album ''Lord of the Highway''. | |||
* ] recorded the song "Billy the Kid" on their 1991 album ''Blazon Stone''. | |||
* "Song of the Sad Assassin" by ] ends with ] repeating the line, "Billy the Kid did what he did and he died" nine times. In an interview,<ref>Currin, Grayson. 2 June 2008. Web. Retrieved 16 January 2016.</ref> Wolf said that he first heard the line in the ] poem "Geographer" and liked it for its rhythm. | |||
==== Stage ==== | |||
* ]'s 1906 Broadway play, co-written by Santley, in which he also starred | |||
* ]'s 1965 play ] recounts a fictional meeting between Billy the Kid and ]. | |||
* ]'s 1973 play, ''The Collected Works of Billy the Kid''.<!-- NO MORE ADDITIONS. --> | |||
* , 2013, presented by Livestock | |||
==== Television and radio ==== | |||
<!-- "Selected" means that the inclusion of items in these sections are limited to the highest profile, most historically reflective, or well known. The section is not meant to be an exhaustive listing of Please do not add to these sections unless you have broached it on the article talk page first. The article cannot encompass all pop culture references to Billy the Kid, nor should it. Don't add "The Simpsons" – it isn't a real reflection of this person. NO MORE ADDITIONS. Thanks. --> | |||
* The '']'' radio show had an episode titled "Billy the Kid", broadcast on April 2, 1952. It purports to tell of Billy the Kid's first murder as a runaway boy and credits ] with giving him the "Billy the Kid" moniker.<ref>Gunsmoke radio show "Billy the Kid", first broadcast May 26, 1952</ref> | |||
* The ] radio series ] told the story of Billy the Kid in its October 21, 1953 episode entitled "Billy Bonney - Bloodletter." The episode featured ] as Billy the Kid and ] as ]. | |||
* ] played The Kid in a 1954 episode of the ] television series '']''. | |||
* ] starred as The Kid in the 1966 episode "The Kid from Hell's Kitchen" of the syndicated western series, '']''. He sets out to avenge the death of his friend ] played by ]. | |||
* ] starred as Billy The Kid in a 1967 episode of the Irwin Allen science fiction series '']'' | |||
* The ] series '']'' ran from 1960 to 1962, starring ] as Billy and ] as Pat Garrett. | |||
* ], ''Billy the Kid'', aired on ] January 9, 2012<ref>{{cite web|url=http://video.pbs.org/video/2185484678/|title=Video: Billy the Kid - Watch American Experience Online - PBS Video|work=PBS Video|accessdate=March 17, 2015}}</ref> | |||
== See also == | |||
{{Portal|Biography}} | |||
==See also== | |||
* ] | * ] | ||
* ] | * ] | ||
* ] | * ] | ||
== |
==Notes== | ||
{{ |
{{notelist}} | ||
==References== | |||
; Sources | |||
{{reflist}} | |||
===Sources=== | |||
{{refbegin|30em}} | {{refbegin|30em}} | ||
* {{cite book |last = Adams |first = Ramon F. |title = A Fitting Death for Billy the Kid |url = https://archive.org/details/fittingdeathforb00adam |url-access = registration |date = 1960 |publisher = University of Oklahoma Press |location = Norman |oclc = 8937525 }} | |||
* {{cite book|last= |
* {{cite book |last=Boomhower |first=Ray E. |title=The Sword and the Pen |location=Indianapolis |publisher=Indiana Historical Society Press |year=2005 |page=103|isbn=0-87195-185-1}} | ||
* {{cite book|last=Burns|first=Walter|title=The Saga of Billy the Kid: The Thrilling Life of America's Original Outlaw|url= |
* {{cite book |last = Burns |first = Walter |title = The Saga of Billy the Kid: The Thrilling Life of America's Original Outlaw |url = https://books.google.com/books?id=mzNgBgAAQBAJ |date = 2014 |publisher = Skyhorse Publishing |location = Garden City, New York |isbn = 978-1-63220-112-6 |oclc = 894170041 |access-date = May 12, 2016 }} | ||
* {{cite book|last=Coe|first= |
* {{cite book |last = Coe |first = George W. |title = Frontier Fighter: The Autobiography of George W. Coe Who Fought and Rode with Billy the Kid, as Related to Nan Hillary Harrison |url = https://books.google.com/books?id=hCAzAQAAIAAJ |date = 1934 |publisher = Houghton Mifflin |location = Boston |oclc = 692143776 |access-date = August 29, 2016 |archive-date = June 13, 2019 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20190613213318/https://books.google.com/books?id=hCAzAQAAIAAJ |url-status = live }} | ||
* {{cite book|last= |
* {{cite book |last=Cooper |first=Gale |title=The Lost Pardon of Billy the Kid: An Analysis Factoring in the Santa Fe Ring, Governor Lew Wallace's Dilemma, and a Territory in Rebellion |location=Albuquerque, New Mexico |publisher=Gelcour Books |year=2017 |isbn=978-0986070723}} | ||
* {{cite |
* {{cite magazine |last = DeMattos |first = Jack |date = November 1978 |title = The Search for Billy the Kid's Roots |magazine = Real West |issue = 160 |publisher = Real West }} | ||
* {{cite |
* {{cite magazine |last = DeMattos |first = Jack |date = January 1980 |title = The Search for Billy the Kid's Roots – Is Over! |magazine = Real West |issue = 167 |publisher = Real West }} | ||
* {{cite magazine |last = DeMattos |first = Jack |date = August 1983 |title = Gunfighters of the Real West: Henry McCarty, Alias 'Billy the Kid' |magazine = Real West |issue = 192 |publisher = Real West }} | |||
* {{cite book|last=Fable|first=Edmund, Jr.|title=The True Life of Billy the Kid, The Noted New Mexican Outlaw|edition=facsimile|year=1980|publisher=Creative Publishing Co.|location=College Station, Texas|isbn= 0-932702-11-2|oclc=6487191|ref=harv}} | |||
* {{cite book |last = Dworkin |first = Mark J. |date = 2015 |title = American Mythmaker: Walter Noble Burns and the Legends of Billy the Kid, Wyatt Earp, and Joaquín Murrieta |url = https://books.google.com/books?id=YFbZBgAAQBAJ |location = Norman|publisher = University of Oklahoma Press |isbn = 978-0-8061-4902-8 |access-date = June 13, 2016 |archive-date = June 12, 2019 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20190612085727/https://books.google.com/books?id=YFbZBgAAQBAJ |url-status = live }} | |||
* {{cite book|last=Fulton|first=Maurice Garland|editor=Robert N. Nullin|authorlink=Maurice Garland Fulton|title=History of the Lincoln County War|year=1968|publisher=University of Arizona Press|location=Tucson, Arizona|oclc=437868|ref=harv}} | |||
* {{cite book |last = Dykes |first = Jefferson |title = Billy the Kid: The Bibliography of a Legend |url = https://books.google.com/books?id=9NwSAAAAIAAJ |date = 1952 |publisher = The University of New Mexico Press |location = Albuquerque|access-date = August 29, 2016 |archive-date = June 9, 2019 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20190609175456/https://books.google.com/books?id=9NwSAAAAIAAJ |url-status = live }} | |||
* {{cite book|last=Gardner|first=Mark Lee|title=To Hell On a Fast Horse: Billy the Kid, Pat Garrett, and the Epic Chase to Justice in the Old West|year=2010|publisher=William Morrow|location=New York|isbn=978-0-06-136827-1|oclc=419859633|ref=harv}} | |||
* {{cite book|last= |
* {{cite book |last = Earle |first = James H. |title = The Capture of Billy the Kid |year = 1988 |publisher = Creative Publishing Co. |location = College Station, Texas |isbn = 0-932702-44-9 |oclc = 18052460 |url = https://archive.org/details/captureofbillyki00earl }} | ||
* {{cite book|last= |
* {{cite book |last = Edwards |first = Harold L. |title = Goodbye Billy the Kid |year = 1995 |publisher = Creative Publishing Co. |location = College Station, Texas |isbn = 1-57208-000-0 |oclc = 33335740 }} | ||
* {{cite book|last= |
* {{cite book |last = Fable | first = Edmund Jr. |title = The True Life of Billy the Kid, The Noted New Mexican Outlaw |url = https://books.google.com/books?id=hT3XAAAAMAAJ |date = 1980 |orig-year = 1881 |publisher = Creative Publishing Co. |location = College Station, Texas |isbn = 0-932702-11-2 |oclc = 6487191 }} | ||
* {{cite book|last= |
* {{cite book |last = Fulton |first = Maurice Garland |editor = Robert N. Nullin |author-link = Maurice Garland Fulton |title = History of the Lincoln County War |date = 1968 |publisher = University of Arizona Press |location = Tucson |oclc = 437868 }} | ||
* {{cite book |last = Gardner |first = Mark Lee |title = To Hell on a Fast Horse: Billy the Kid, Pat Garrett, and the Epic Chase to Justice in the Old West |date = 2010 |publisher = William Morrow |location = New York |isbn = 978-0-06-136827-1 |oclc = 419859633 |url = https://archive.org/details/isbn_9780061368271 }} | |||
* {{cite book|last1=Klasner|first1=Lily|last2=Chisum|first2=John Simpson|authorlink2=John Chisum|last3=Ball|first3=Eve|title=My Girlhood Among Outlaws|year=1972|publisher=University of Arizona Press|location=Tucson, Arizona|isbn=978-0-8165-0328-5|oclc=793846355|ref=harv}} | |||
* {{cite book|last= |
* {{cite book |last = Garrett |first = Pat F. |author-link = Pat Garrett |title = The Authentic Life of Billy, the Kid |url = https://books.google.com/books?id=vGVNAAAAYAAJ |edition = 1st |date = 1882 |publisher = New Mexican Printing and Publishing Co. |location = Santa Fe |oclc = 748293298 }} | ||
* {{cite magazine |last = Hough |first = Emerson |date = September 1901 |title = Billy the Kid: The True Story of a Western 'Bad Man' |url = https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=mdp.39015023579140;view=1up;seq=316 |magazine = Everybody's Magazine |publisher = The Ridgeway Company |location = New York |access-date = August 28, 2016 |archive-date = September 2, 2021 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20210902033610/https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=mdp.39015023579140&view=1up&seq=316 |url-status = live }} | |||
* Nolan, Frederick. ''The Life and Death of John Henry Tunstall''. Albuquerque: University of New Mexico Press, 1965. | |||
* {{cite book|last= |
* {{cite book |last = Hunt |first = Frazier |author-link = Frazier Hunt |title = The Tragic Days of Billy the Kid |url = https://books.google.com/books?id=A1Lw1k5WRA0C |year = 2009 |orig-year = 1956 |publisher = Sunstone Press |isbn = 978-0-86534-717-5 |location = Santa Fe, New Mexico |oclc = 316327276 |access-date = November 21, 2017 |archive-date = December 23, 2016 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20161223154622/https://books.google.com/books?id=A1Lw1k5WRA0C |url-status = live }} | ||
* {{cite book|last= |
* {{cite book |last = Jacobsen |first = Joel |title = Such Men as Billy the Kid: The Lincoln County War Reconsidered |url = https://books.google.com/books?id=SR9A9s2QHfkC |date = 1994 |publisher = University of Nebraska Press |location = Lincoln |isbn = 978-0-8032-2576-3 |oclc = 29429457 }} | ||
* {{cite book |last = Keleher |first = William Aloysius |title = Violence in Lincoln County 1869–1881 |url = https://books.google.com/books?id=gABJ88abRooC |date = 2007 |orig-year = 1957 |publisher = Sunstone Press |location = Santa Fe, New Mexico |isbn = 978-0-86534-622-2 |oclc = 182573474 }} | |||
* Nolan, Frederick. ''The West of Billy the Kid''. Norman, OK: University of Oklahoma Press, 1998. ISBN 0-8061-3082-2. | |||
* {{cite book |last1 = Klasner |first1 = Lily |last2 = Chisum |first2 = John Simpson |author-link2 = John Chisum |last3 = Ball |first3 = Eve |title = My Girlhood Among Outlaws |url = https://archive.org/details/mygirlhoodamongo00klas |url-access = registration |date = 1972 |publisher = University of Arizona Press |location = Tucson |isbn = 978-0-8165-0354-4 |oclc = 166482848 }} | |||
* Nolan, Frederick. "The Private Life of Billy the Kid". ''True West'', July 2000. | |||
* {{cite journal |last = Koop |first = Waldo E. |year = 1964 |title = Billy the Kid: The Trail of a Kansas Legend |journal = Kansas City Posse of Westerners |volume = IX |issue = 3 }} | |||
* Nolan, Frederick. ''The Billy the Kid Reader''. Norman, OK: University of Oklahoma Press, 2007. | |||
* {{cite magazine|last=Lifson |first=Amy |title=Ben-Hur |magazine=Humanities |volume=30 |issue=6 |publisher=National Endowment for the Humanities |location=Washington, D.C. |date=2009 |url=http://www.neh.gov/news/humanities/2009-11/BenHur.html |access-date=August 27, 2014 |archive-date=March 5, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120305215400/http://www.neh.gov/news/humanities/2009-11/BenHur.html |url-status=live }} | |||
* {{cite book|last=Nolan|first=Frederick|title=The Lincoln County War: A Documentary History|year=2009|publisher=Sunstone Press|ref=harv}} | |||
* {{cite magazine |last = McCubbin |first = Robert G. |date = May 2007 |title = The Many Faces of Billy the Kid |magazine = True West |publisher = True West }} | |||
* Otero, Miguel Antonio. ''The Real Billy the Kid, With New Light on the Lincoln County War''. New York: Rufus Rockwell Wilson, Inc., 1936. | |||
* {{cite magazine |last = Metz |first = Leon C. |date = August 1983 |title = My Search for Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid |magazine = True West |publisher = True West }} | |||
* Poe, John William. ''The Death of Billy the Kid''. Boston, MA: Houghton Mifflin Company, 1933. | |||
* {{cite book |last = Metz |first = Leon C. |title = Pat Garrett: The Story of a Western Lawman |url = https://books.google.com/books?id=_E7r2iowX6QC |date = 1983 |edition = reprint, revised |orig-year = 1974 |publisher = University of Oklahoma Press |location = Norman |isbn = 978-0-8061-1838-3 |oclc = 18722891 |ref = {{harvid|Metz|1974}} }} | |||
* Rasch, Philip J. ''Trailing Billy the Kid''. Stillwater, OK: Western Publications, 1995. ISBN 0-935269-19-3. | |||
* {{cite book |last = Nolan |first = Frederick W. |author-link = Frederick W. Nolan |date = 2009a |title = The Life and Death of John Henry Tunstall |url = https://books.google.com/books?id=c5AZj3dbzj4C |publisher = Sunstone Press |location = Santa Fe, New Mexico |isbn = 978-0-86534-722-9 |oclc = 440562959 }} | |||
* Rasch, Philip J. ''Gunsmoke in Lincoln County''. Stillwater, OK: Western Publications, 1997. ISBN 0-935269-24-X | |||
* {{cite book |last = Nolan |first = Frederick W. |author-link = Frederick W. Nolan |title = The Lincoln County War: A Documentary History |url = https://books.google.com/books?id=VRpiOdgkFDEC |edition = revised |date = 2009 |orig-year = 1992 |publisher = Sunstone Press |location = Santa Fe, New Mexico |isbn = 978-0-86534-721-2 |oclc = 319064671 |access-date = May 12, 2016 |archive-date = June 11, 2019 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20190611135227/https://books.google.com/books?id=VRpiOdgkFDEC |url-status = live }} | |||
* Rasch, Philip J. ''Warriors of Lincoln County''. Stillwater, OK: Western Publications, 1998. ISBN 978-0-935269-26-0 | |||
* {{cite book |last = Nolan |first = Frederick W. |author-link = Frederick W. Nolan |title = The Lincoln County War: A Documentary History |date = 1992 |publisher = University of Oklahoma Press |location = Norman }} | |||
* Rickards, Colin W. ''The Gunfight at Blazer's Mill'', Southwestern Studies Monograph No. 40. El Paso: Texas Western Press, 1974. | |||
* {{cite magazine |last = Nolan |first = Frederick W. |author-link = Frederick W. Nolan |date = June 2003 |title = The Hunting of Billy the Kid |magazine = Wild West |publisher = Wild West }} | |||
* Tuska, Jon. ''Billy the Kid: A Handbook''. Lincoln, NE: University of Nebraska Press, 1983 ISBN 0-8032-9406-9. | |||
* {{cite book|last= |
* {{cite book |last = Nolan |first = Frederick W. |author-link = Frederick W. Nolan |date = 1998 |title = The West of Billy the Kid |url = https://books.google.com/books?id=mYhw78YF12IC |location = Norman |publisher = University of Oklahoma Press |isbn = 0-8061-3082-2 }} | ||
* {{cite magazine |last = Nolan |first = Frederick W. |author-link = Frederick W. Nolan |date = July 2000 |title = The Private Life of Billy the Kid |magazine = True West |publisher = True West }} | |||
* {{cite book|last=Utley|first=Robert M.|title=Billy the Kid: A Short and Violent Life|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=MKqfZ_U5MgAC|year=1989|publisher=University of Nebraska Press|location=Lincoln, Nebraska|isbn=978-0-8032-9558-2|oclc=37868038|ref=harv}} | |||
* {{cite book|last= |
* {{cite book |last = Nolan |first = Frederick W. |author-link = Frederick W. Nolan |date = 2007 |title = The Billy the Kid Reader |url = https://books.google.com/books?id=AQ3FQtqmXuAC |location = Norman |publisher = University of Oklahoma Press |isbn = 978-0-8061-8446-3 }} | ||
* {{cite book |last = Otero |first = Miguel |date = 2006 |orig-year = 1936 |title = The Real Billy the Kid, With New Light on the Lincoln County War |url = https://books.google.com/books?id=JloxyqgoJnkC |location = New York |publisher = Sunstone Press |isbn = 978-1-61139-100-8 }} | |||
* {{cite book |last = Poe |first = John William |date = 2006 |orig-year = 1933 |title = The Death of Billy the Kid |url = https://books.google.com/books?id=myQ6bUwH_UwC |publisher = Sunstone Press Company |location = Santa Fe |edition = reprint |isbn = 978-0-86534-532-4 }} | |||
* {{cite magazine |last1 = Radbourne |first1 = Allan |last2 = Rasch |first2 = Phillip J. |date = August 1985 |title = The Story of 'Windy' Cahill |magazine = Real West |issue = 204 |publisher = Real West }} | |||
* {{cite journal |last1 = Rasch |first1 = Philip J. |last2 = Mullin |first2 = Robert N. |year = 1953 |title = New Light on the Legend of Billy the Kid |journal = New Mexico Folklore Record 7 }} | |||
* {{cite journal |last = Rasch |first = Philip J. |year = 1954 |title = Dim Trails: The Pursuit of the McCarty Family |journal = New Mexico Folklore Record 8 }} | |||
* {{cite journal |last = Rasch |first = Philip J. |year = 1955 |title = The Twenty-One Men He Put Bullets Through |journal = New Mexico Folklore Record 9 }} | |||
* {{cite magazine |last = Rasch |first = Philip J. |date = January 1969 |title = A Second Look at the Blazer's Mill Affair |magazine = Frontier Times }} | |||
* {{cite magazine |last = Rasch |first = Philip J. |date = November 1987 |title = The Trials of Billy the Kid |magazine = Real West |issue = 216 |publisher = Real West }} | |||
* {{cite book |last = Rasch |first = Philip J. |date = 1995 |title = Trailing Billy the Kid |url = https://books.google.com/books?id=JRVYPQAACAAJ |location = Stillwater, Oklahoma |publisher = Western Publications |isbn = 978-0-935269-19-2 }} | |||
* {{cite book |last = Rasch |first = Philip J. |date = 1997 |title = Gunsmoke in Lincoln County |url = https://books.google.com/books?id=4ygEAAAACAAJ |location = Stillwater, Oklahoma |publisher = Western Publications |isbn = 978-0-935269-24-6 }} | |||
* {{cite book |last = Rasch |first = Philip J. |date = 1998 |title = Warriors of Lincoln County |location = Stillwater, Oklahoma |publisher = Western Publications |isbn = 978-0-935269-26-0 }} | |||
* {{cite journal |last = Rickards |first = Colin W. |year = 1974 |title = The Gunfight at Blazer's Mill |journal = Southwestern Studies Monograph No. 40 |location = El Paso, Texas |publisher = Western Press }} | |||
* {{cite book |last = Simmons |first = Mark |date = 2006 |title = Stalking Billy the Kid: Brief Sketches of a Short Life |publisher = Sunstone Press |isbn = 0-86534-525-2 }} | |||
* {{cite web |last = Turk |first = David S. | authorlink = David S. Turk |url = http://www.historynet.com/billy-the-kid-and-the-us-marshals-service.htm |title = Billy the Kid and the U.S. Marshals Service |work = Wild West Magazine |date = February 2007 |access-date = November 2, 2017 |archive-date = August 17, 2018 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20180817161341/http://www.historynet.com/billy-the-kid-and-the-us-marshals-service.htm |url-status = live }} | |||
* {{cite book |last = Tuska |first = Jon |date = 1983 |title = Billy the Kid: A Handbook |url = https://books.google.com/books?id=6VbGeSIyfNcC |location = Lincoln |publisher = University of Nebraska Press |isbn = 0-8032-9406-9 }} | |||
* {{cite book |last = Utley |first = Robert M. |author-link = Robert M. Utley |title = High Noon in Lincoln: Violence on the Western Frontier |url = https://archive.org/details/highnooninlincol00utle |url-access = registration |date = 1987 |publisher = University of New Mexico Press |location = Albuquerque|isbn = 978-0-8263-1201-3 |oclc = 15629305 |access-date = May 12, 2016 }} | |||
* {{cite book |last = Utley |first = Robert M. |title = Billy the Kid: A Short and Violent Life |url = https://books.google.com/books?id=MKqfZ_U5MgAC |year = 1989 |publisher = University of Nebraska Press |location = Lincoln |isbn = 978-0-8032-9558-2 |oclc = 37868038 |access-date = May 12, 2016 |archive-date = June 11, 2019 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20190611080048/https://books.google.com/books?id=MKqfZ_U5MgAC |url-status = live }} | |||
* {{cite book |last = Wallis |first = Michael |author-link = Michael Wallis |title = Billy the Kid: The Endless Ride |url = https://archive.org/details/billykidendlessr00wall |url-access = registration |year = 2007 |publisher = W.W. Norton & Co. |location = New York |isbn = 978-0-393-06068-3 |oclc = 77270750 |access-date = November 21, 2017 }} | |||
{{refend}} | {{refend}} | ||
==External links== | |||
; Periodicals | |||
* – guide by New Mexico Tourism Department | |||
* , at the ], Indianapolis | |||
{{refbegin}} | |||
* , at the Indiana Historical Society, Indianapolis | |||
* DeMattos, Jack. "The Search for Billy the Kid's Roots," ''Real West'' (No. 160), November 1978. | |||
* DeMattos, Jack. "The Search for Billy the Kid's Roots - Is Over! ''Real West'' (No. 167), January 1980. | |||
* DeMattos, Jack. "Gunfighters of the Real West: Henry McCarty, Alias "Billy the Kid.'" ''Real West'' (No. 192). August 1983. | |||
* Hough, Emerson. "Billy the Kid: The True Story of a Western 'Bad Man{{'"}}. ''Everybody's Magazine'', September 1901. | |||
* {{cite journal|last=Koop|first=Waldo E.|year=1964|title=Billy the Kid: The Trail of a Kansas Legend|journal=Kansas City Posse of Westerners|volume=IX|issue=3|ref=harv}} | |||
* McCubbin, Robert G. "The Many Faces of Billy the Kid". ''True West'', May 2007. | |||
* Metz, Leon C. "My Search for Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid". ''True West'', August 1983. | |||
* Nolan, Frederick. "The Private Life of Billy the Kid". ''True West'', July 2000. | |||
* Nolan, Frederick. "The Hunting of Billy the Kid." ''Wild West'', June 2003. | |||
* Radbourne, Allan and Rasch, Philip J. "The Story of 'Windy' Cahill." ''Real West'' (No. 204), August 1885. | |||
* Rasch, Philip J. "New Light on the Legend of Billy the Kid." ''New Mexico Folklore Record 7'' (1952–53). | |||
* Rasch, Philip J. and Mullin, Robert N. "Dim Trails: The Pursuit of the McCarty Family." ''New Mexico Folklore Record 8'' (1953–54). | |||
* Rasch, Philip J. "The Twenty-One Men He Put Bullets Through." ''New Mexico Folklore Record 9'' (1954–55). | |||
* Rasch, Philip J. "A Second Look at the Blazer's Mill Affair." ''Frontier Times'', January 1969. | |||
* Rasch, Philip J. "The Trials of Billy the Kid." ''Real West'' (No. 216), November 1987. | |||
* Rickards, Colin W. ''The Gunfight at Blazer's Mill'', Southwestern Studies Monograph No. 40. El Paso: Texas Western Press, 1974. | |||
{{refend}} | |||
== External links == | |||
{{Commons}} | |||
{{Wikiquote}} | |||
* – guide by New Mexico Tourism Department | |||
* Turk, David S. ''Wild West Magazine''. February 2007 (issued December 2006) | |||
* {{Find a Grave|94|William "Billy The Kid" Bonney|date=January 1, 2001|accessdate=December 13, 2015}} | |||
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Latest revision as of 10:20, 1 January 2025
American outlaw and gunfighter (1859–1881) For other uses, see Billy the Kid (disambiguation). "Henry McCarty" redirects here. For the American screenwriter and film director, see Henry McCarty (writer).
Billy the Kid | |
---|---|
Portrait attributed to Ben Wittick, c. 1880 | |
Born | Henry McCarty September 17 or (1859-11-23)November 23, 1859 New York City, U.S. |
Died | July 14, 1881(1881-07-14) (aged 21) Fort Sumner, New Mexico |
Cause of death | Gunshot wound |
Resting place | Old Fort Sumner Cemetery 34°24′13″N 104°11′37″W / 34.40361°N 104.19361°W / 34.40361; -104.19361 (Billy the Kid's Gravesite) |
Other names |
|
Occupations |
|
Henry McCarty (September 17 or November 23, 1859 – July 14, 1881), alias William H. Bonney, better known as Billy the Kid, was an American outlaw and gunfighter of the Old West who was linked to nine murders: four for which he was solely responsible, and five in which he may have played a role alongside others. He is also noted for his involvement in New Mexico's Lincoln County War.
McCarty was orphaned at the age of 15. His first arrest was for stealing food at the age of 16 in 1875. Ten days later, he robbed a Chinese laundry and was arrested again but escaped shortly afterwards. He fled from New Mexico Territory into neighboring Arizona Territory, making himself both an outlaw and a federal fugitive. In 1877, he began to call himself "William H. Bonney".
After killing a blacksmith during an altercation in August 1877, Bonney became a wanted man in Arizona and returned to New Mexico, where he joined a group of cattle rustlers. He became well known in the region when he joined the Regulators and took part in the Lincoln County War of 1878. He and two other Regulators were later charged with killing three men, including Lincoln County Sheriff William J. Brady and one of his deputies.
Bonney's notoriety grew in December 1880 when the Las Vegas Gazette, in Las Vegas, New Mexico, and The Sun, in New York City, carried stories about his crimes. Sheriff Pat Garrett captured Bonney later that month. In April 1881, Bonney was tried for and convicted of Brady's murder, and was sentenced to hang in May of that year. He escaped from jail on April 28, killing two sheriff's deputies in the process, and evaded capture for more than two months. Garrett shot and killed Bonney, by then aged 21, in Fort Sumner on July 14, 1881.
During the decades following his death, legends grew that Bonney had survived, and a number of men claimed to be him. Billy the Kid remains one of the most notorious figures from the era, whose life and likeness have been frequently dramatized in Western popular culture. He has been a feature of more than 50 movies and several television series.
Early life
Henry McCarty was born to parents of Irish Catholic ancestry, Catherine (née Devine) and Patrick McCarty, in New York City. While his birth year has been confirmed as 1859, the exact date of his birth has been disputed as either September 17 or November 23 of that year. There is uncertainty among historians about the exact place and date of McCarty's birth. Census records indicate that his younger brother Joseph McCarty was born in 1863.
Following the death of her husband, Catherine McCarty and her sons moved to Indianapolis, Indiana, where she met William Henry Harrison Antrim. The McCarty family moved with Antrim to Wichita, Kansas in 1870. After moving again a few years later, Catherine married Antrim on March 1, 1873, at the First Presbyterian Church in Santa Fe, New Mexico Territory, and the McCarty boys served as witnesses. Shortly afterward, the family moved from Santa Fe to Silver City, New Mexico and Joseph adopted Antrim's surname. Shortly before McCarty's mother died of tuberculosis on September 16, 1874, William Antrim abandoned the McCarty boys, leaving them orphans.
First crimes
McCarty was 14 years old when his mother died. Sarah Brown, the owner of a boarding house, gave him room and board in exchange for work. On September 16, 1875, McCarty was caught stealing food. Ten days later, McCarty and George Schaefer robbed a Chinese laundry, stealing clothing and two pistols. McCarty was charged with theft and was jailed. He escaped two days later and became a fugitive, as reported in the Silver City Herald the next day, the first story published about him. McCarty located his stepfather and stayed with him until Antrim threw him out; McCarty stole clothing and guns from him. It was the last time the two saw each other.
After leaving Antrim, McCarty traveled to southeastern Arizona Territory, where he worked as a ranch hand and gambled his wages in nearby gaming houses. In 1876, he was hired as a ranch hand by well-known rancher Henry Hooker. During this time, McCarty became acquainted with John R. Mackie, a Scottish-born criminal and former U.S. Cavalry private who, following his discharge, remained near the U.S. Army post at Camp Grant in Arizona. The two men soon began stealing horses from local soldiers. McCarty became known as "Kid Antrim" because of his youth, slight build, clean-shaven appearance, and personality.
At some point in 1877, McCarty began to refer to himself by the name "William H. Bonney". On August 17, 1877, Bonney was at a saloon in the village of Bonita when he got into an argument with Francis P. "Windy" Cahill, a blacksmith who reportedly had bullied him and on more than one occasion called him a "pimp". Bonney in turn called Cahill a "son of a bitch", whereupon Cahill threw Bonney to the floor and the two struggled for Bonney's revolver. Bonney shot and mortally wounded Cahill. A witness said, " had no choice; he had to use his equalizer." Cahill died the following day. Bonney fled but returned a few days later and was apprehended by Miles Wood, the local justice of the peace. He was detained and held in the Camp Grant guardhouse but escaped before law enforcement could arrive.
Bonney stole a horse and fled Arizona Territory for New Mexico Territory, but Apaches took the horse from him, leaving him to walk many miles to the nearest settlement. At Fort Stanton, starving and near death, he went to the home of friend and Seven Rivers Warriors gang member John Jones, whose mother Barbara nursed him back to health. After regaining his health, Bonney went to Apache Tejo, a former army post, where he joined a band of rustlers who raided herds owned by cattle magnate John Chisum in Lincoln County. After he was spotted in Silver City, his involvement with the gang was mentioned in a local newspaper.
Lincoln County War
Main article: Lincoln County WarPrelude
After returning to New Mexico, Bonney worked as a cowboy for English businessman and rancher John Henry Tunstall (1853–1878), near the Rio Felix, a tributary of the Pecos River, in Lincoln County (now in Chaves County). Tunstall and his business partner and lawyer Alexander McSween were opponents of an alliance formed by Irish-American businessmen Lawrence Murphy, James Dolan, and John Riley. The three men had wielded an economic and political hold over Lincoln County since the early 1870s, due in part to their ownership of a beef contract with nearby Fort Stanton and a well-patronized dry goods store in the town of Lincoln.
By February 1878, McSween owed $8,000 to Dolan, who obtained a court order and asked Lincoln County Sheriff William J. Brady to attach nearly $40,000 worth of Tunstall's property and livestock. Tunstall put Bonney in charge of nine prime horses and told him to relocate them to his ranch for safekeeping. Meanwhile, Sheriff Brady assembled a large posse to seize Tunstall's cattle.
On February 18, 1878, Tunstall learned of the posse's presence on his land and rode out to intervene. During the encounter, one member of the posse shot Tunstall in the chest, knocking him off his horse. Another posse member took Tunstall's gun and killed him with a shot to the back of his head. Tunstall's murder ignited the conflict between the two factions that became known as the Lincoln County War.
Build-up
After Tunstall was killed, Bonney and Dick Brewer swore affidavits against Brady and those in his posse, and obtained murder warrants from Lincoln County justice of the peace John B. Wilson. On February 20, 1878, while attempting to arrest Brady, the sheriff and his deputies found and arrested Bonney and two other men riding with him. Deputy U.S. Marshal Robert Widenmann, a friend of Bonney, and a detachment of soldiers captured Sheriff Brady's jail guards, put them behind bars, and released Bonney and Brewer.
Bonney then joined the Lincoln County Regulators; on March 9 they captured Frank Baker and William Morton, both of whom were accused of killing Tunstall. Baker and Morton were killed while allegedly trying to escape.
On April 1, the Regulators ambushed Sheriff Brady and his deputies; Bonney was wounded in the thigh during the battle. Brady and Deputy Sheriff George W. Hindman were killed. On the morning of April 4, 1878, Buckshot Roberts and Dick Brewer were killed during a shootout at Blazer's Mill. Warrants were issued for several participants on both sides, and Bonney and two others were charged with killing Brady, Hindman and Roberts.
Battle of Lincoln (1878)
Main article: Battle of Lincoln (1878)On the night of Sunday, July 14, McSween and the Regulators—now a group of fifty or sixty men—went to Lincoln and stationed themselves in the town among several buildings. At the McSween residence were Bonney, Florencio Chavez, Jose Chavez y Chavez, Jim French, Harvey Morris, Tom O'Folliard, and Yginio Salazar, among others. Another group led by Marin Chavez and Doc Scurlock positioned themselves on the roof of a saloon. Henry Newton Brown, Dick Smith, and George Coe defended a nearby adobe bunkhouse.
On Tuesday, July 16, newly appointed sheriff George Peppin sent sharpshooters to kill the McSween defenders at the saloon. Peppin's men retreated when one of the snipers, Charles Crawford, was killed by Fernando Herrera. Peppin then sent a request for assistance to Colonel Nathan Dudley, commandant of nearby Fort Stanton. In a reply to Peppin, Dudley refused to intervene but later arrived in Lincoln with troops, turning the battle in favor of the Murphy-Dolan faction.
A gunfight broke out on Friday, July 19. McSween's supporters gathered inside his house; when Buck Powell and Deputy Sheriff Jack Long set fire to the building, the occupants began shooting. Bonney and the other men fled the building when all rooms but one were burning. During the confusion, McSween was shot and killed by Robert W. Beckwith, who was then shot and killed by Bonney.
Outlaw
Bonney and three other survivors of the Battle of Lincoln were near the Mescalero Indian Agency when the agency bookkeeper, Morris Bernstein, was murdered on August 5, 1878. All four were indicted for the murder, despite conflicting evidence that Bernstein had been killed by Constable Atanacio Martinez. All of the indictments, except Bonney's, were later quashed.
On October 5, 1878, U.S. Marshal John Sherman informed newly appointed Territorial Governor and former Union Army general Lew Wallace that he held warrants for several men, including "William H. Antrim, alias Kid, alias Bonny [sic]" but was unable to execute them "owing to the disturbed condition of affairs in that county, resulting from the acts of a desperate class of men". Wallace issued an amnesty proclamation on November 13, 1878, which pardoned anyone involved in the Lincoln County War since Tunstall's murder. It specifically excluded persons who had been convicted of or indicted for a crime, and therefore excluded Bonney.
On February 18, 1879, Bonney and friend Tom O'Folliard were in Lincoln and watched as attorney Huston Chapman was shot and his corpse set on fire. According to eyewitnesses, the pair were innocent bystanders forced at gunpoint by Jesse Evans to witness the murder. Bonney wrote to Governor Wallace on March 13, 1879, with an offer to provide information on the Chapman murder in exchange for amnesty. On March 15, Governor Wallace replied, agreeing to a secret meeting to discuss the situation. He met with Wallace in Lincoln on March 17, 1879. During the meeting and in subsequent correspondence, Wallace promised Bonney protection from his enemies and clemency if he would offer his testimony to a grand jury.
On March 20, Wallace wrote to Bonney, "to remove all suspicion of understanding, I think it better to put the arresting party in charge of Sheriff Kimbrell who shall be instructed to see that no violence is used." Bonney responded on the same day, agreeing to testify and confirming Wallace's proposal for his arrest and detention in a local jail to assure his safety. On March 21, he let himself be captured by a posse led by Sheriff George Kimball of Lincoln County. As agreed, Bonney provided a statement about Chapman's murder and testified in court. However, after his testimony, the local district attorney refused to set him free. Still in custody several weeks later, Bonney began to suspect Wallace had used subterfuge and would never grant him amnesty. He escaped from the Lincoln County jail on June 17, 1879.
Bonney avoided further violence until January 10, 1880, when he shot and killed Joe Grant, a newcomer to the area, at Hargrove's Saloon in Fort Sumner, New Mexico. The Santa Fe Weekly New Mexican reported, "Billy Bonney, more extensively known as 'the Kid', shot and killed Joe Grant. The origin of the difficulty was not learned." According to other contemporary sources, Bonney had been warned Grant intended to kill him. He walked up to Grant, told him he admired his revolver, and asked to examine it. Grant handed it over. Before returning the pistol, which he noticed contained only three cartridges, Bonney positioned the cylinder so the next hammer fall would land on an empty chamber. Grant suddenly pointed his pistol at Bonney's face and pulled the trigger. When it failed to fire, he drew his own weapon and shot Grant in the head. A reporter for the Las Vegas Optic quoted Bonney as saying the encounter "was a game of two and I got there first".
In 1880, Bonney formed a friendship with a rancher named Jim Greathouse, who later introduced him to Dave Rudabaugh. On November 29, 1880, Bonney, Rudabaugh, and Billy Wilson ran from a posse led by sheriff's deputy James Carlysle. Cornered at Greathouse's ranch, he told the posse they were holding Greathouse as a hostage. Carlysle offered to exchange places with Greathouse, and Bonney accepted the offer. Carlysle later attempted to escape by jumping through a window but he was shot three times and killed. The shootout ended in a standoff; the posse withdrew and Bonney, Rudabaugh, and Wilson rode away.
A few weeks after the Greathouse incident, Bonney, Rudabaugh, Wilson, O'Folliard, Charlie Bowdre, and Tom Pickett rode into Fort Sumner. Unbeknownst to Bonney and his companions, a posse led by Pat Garrett was waiting for them. The posse opened fire, killing O'Folliard; the rest of the outlaws escaped unharmed.
Capture and escape
On December 13, 1880, Governor Wallace posted a $500 bounty for Bonney's capture. Pat Garrett continued his search for Bonney; on December 23, following the siege in which Bowdre was killed, Garrett and his posse captured Bonney along with Pickett, Rudabaugh, and Wilson at Stinking Springs. The prisoners, including Bonney, were shackled and taken to Fort Sumner, then later to Las Vegas, New Mexico. When they arrived on December 26, they were met by crowds of curious onlookers.
The following day, an armed mob gathered at the train depot before the prisoners, who were already on board the train with Garrett, departed for Santa Fe. Deputy Sheriff Romero, backed by the angry group of men, demanded custody of Dave Rudabaugh, who during an unsuccessful escape attempt on April 5, 1880 shot and killed deputy Antonio Lino Valdez in the process. Garrett refused to surrender the prisoner, and a tense confrontation ensued until he agreed to let the sheriff and two other men accompany the party to Santa Fe, where they would petition the governor to release Rudabaugh to them. In a later interview with a reporter, Bonney said he was unafraid during the incident, saying, "if I only had my Winchester I'd lick the whole crowd." The Las Vegas Gazette ran a story from a jailhouse interview following Bonney's capture; when the reporter said Bonney appeared relaxed, he replied, "What's the use of looking on the gloomy side of everything? The laugh's on me this time." During his short career as an outlaw, Bonney was the subject of numerous U.S. newspaper articles, some as far away as New York.
After arriving in Santa Fe, Bonney, seeking clemency, sent Governor Wallace four letters over the next three months. Wallace refused to intervene, and he went to trial in April 1881 in Mesilla, New Mexico. Following two days of testimony, Bonney was found guilty of Sheriff Brady's murder; it was the only conviction secured against any of the combatants in the Lincoln County War. On April 13, Judge Warren Bristol sentenced him to hang, with his execution scheduled for May 13, 1881. According to legend, upon sentencing, the judge told Bonney he was going to hang until he was "dead, dead, dead"; his response was, "you can go to hell, hell, hell." According to the historical record, he did not speak after the reading of his sentence.
Following his sentencing, Bonney was moved to Lincoln, where he was held under guard on the top floor of the town courthouse. On the evening of April 28, 1881, while Garrett was in White Oaks collecting taxes, Deputy Bob Olinger took five other prisoners across the street for a meal, leaving James Bell, another deputy, alone with Bonney at the jail. He asked to be taken outside to use the outhouse behind the courthouse; on their return to the jail, Bonney—who was walking ahead of Bell up the stairs to his cell—hid around a blind corner, slipped out of his handcuffs, and beat Bell with the loose end of the cuffs. During the ensuing scuffle, Bonney grabbed Bell's revolver and fatally shot him in the back as Bell tried to get away.
Bonney, with his legs still shackled, broke into Garrett's office and took a loaded shotgun left behind by Olinger. He waited at the upstairs window for Olinger to respond to the gunshot that killed Bell and called out to him, "Look up, old boy, and see what you get." When Olinger looked up, Bonney shot and killed him. After about an hour, Bonney freed himself from the leg irons with an axe. He obtained a horse and rode out of town; according to some stories he was singing as he left Lincoln.
Recapture and death
While Bonney was on the run, Governor Wallace placed a new $500 bounty on the fugitive's head. Almost three months after his escape, Garrett, responding to rumors that Bonney was in the vicinity of Fort Sumner, left Lincoln with two deputies on July 14, 1881, to question resident Pete Maxwell, a friend of Bonney's. Maxwell, son of land baron Lucien Maxwell, spoke with Garrett the same day for several hours. Around midnight, the pair were sitting in Maxwell's darkened bedroom when Bonney unexpectedly entered.
Accounts vary as to the course of events. According to the canonical version, as he entered the room, Bonney failed to recognize Garrett due to the poor lighting. Drawing his revolver and backing away, Bonney asked "¿Quién es? ¿Quién es?" (Spanish for "Who is it? Who is it?"). Recognizing Bonney's voice, Garrett drew his revolver and fired twice. The first bullet struck Bonney in the chest just above his heart, while the second missed. Garrett's account leaves it unclear whether Bonney was killed instantly or took some time to die.
A few hours after the shooting, a local justice of the peace assembled a coroner's jury of six people. The jury members interviewed Maxwell and Garrett, and Bonney's body and the location of the shooting were examined. The jury certified the body as Bonney's and, according to a local newspaper, the jury foreman said, "It was the Kid's body that we examined." Bonney was given a wake by candlelight; he was buried the next day and his grave was denoted with a wooden marker.
Five days after Bonney's killing, Garrett traveled to Santa Fe, New Mexico, to collect the $500 reward offered by Governor Lew Wallace for his capture, dead or alive. William G. Ritch, the acting New Mexico governor, refused to pay the reward. Over the next few weeks, the residents of Las Vegas, Mesilla, Santa Fe, White Oaks, and other New Mexico cities raised over $7,000 in reward money for Garrett. A year and four days after Bonney's death, the New Mexico territorial legislature passed a special act to grant Garrett the $500 bounty reward promised by Governor Wallace.
Because people had begun to claim Garrett unfairly ambushed Bonney, Garrett felt the need to tell his side of the story and called upon his friend, journalist Marshall Upson, to ghostwrite a book for him. The book, The Authentic Life of Billy, the Kid, was first published in April 1882. Although only a few copies sold following its release, in time, it became a reference for later historians who wrote about Bonney's life.
Rumors of survival
Over time, legends grew claiming that Bonney was not killed, and that Garrett staged the incident and death out of friendship so that Bonney could evade the law. During the next 50 years, a number of men claimed they were Billy the Kid. Most of these claims were easily disproven, but two have remained topics of discussion and debate.
In 1948, a central Texas man, Ollie P. Roberts, also known as Brushy Bill Roberts, began claiming he was Billy the Kid and went before New Mexico Governor Thomas J. Mabry seeking a pardon. Mabry dismissed Roberts' claims, and Roberts died shortly afterward. Nevertheless, Hico, Texas, Roberts' town of residence, capitalized on his claim by opening a Billy the Kid museum.
John Miller, an Arizona man, also claimed he was Bonney. This was unsupported by his family until 1938, some time after his death. Miller's body was buried in the state-owned Arizona Pioneers' Home Cemetery in Prescott, Arizona; in May 2005, Miller's teeth and bones were exhumed and examined, without permission from the state. DNA samples from the remains were sent to a laboratory in Dallas and tested to compare Miller's DNA with blood samples obtained from floorboards in the old Lincoln County courthouse and a bench where Bonney's body allegedly was placed after he was shot. According to a July 2015 article in The Washington Post, the lab results were "useless".
In 2004, researchers sought to exhume the remains of Catherine Antrim, Bonney's mother, whose DNA would be tested and compared with that of the body buried in William Bonney's grave. As of 2012, her body had not been exhumed.
In 2007, author and amateur historian Gale Cooper filed a lawsuit against the Lincoln County Sheriff's Office under the state Inspection of Public Records Act to produce records of the results of the 2006 DNA tests and other forensic evidence collected in the Billy the Kid investigations. In April 2012, 133 pages of documents were provided; they offered no conclusive evidence confirming or disproving the generally accepted story of Garrett's killing of Bonney, but confirmed the records' existence, and that they could have been produced earlier. In 2014, Cooper was awarded $100,000 in punitive damages but the decision was later overturned by the New Mexico Court of Appeals. The lawsuit ultimately cost Lincoln County nearly $300,000.
In February 2015, historian Robert Stahl petitioned a district court in Fort Sumner asking the state of New Mexico to issue a death certificate for Bonney. In July 2015, Stahl filed suit in the New Mexico Supreme Court. The suit asked the court to order the state's Office of the Medical Investigator to officially certify Bonney's death under New Mexico state law.
Photographs
As of 2021, only one authenticated photograph showing Billy exists; others thought to depict him are disputed.
Dedrick ferrotype
One of the few remaining artifacts of Bonney's life is a 2-by-3-inch (5.1-by-7.6-centimeter) ferrotype photograph of him, attributed to photographer Ben Wittick in late 1879 or early 1880. The image shows Bonney wearing a vest under a sweater, a slouch hat and a bandana, while holding an 1873 Winchester rifle with its butt resting on the floor. For years, this was the only photograph of Bonney accepted by scholars and historians. The original ferrotype survived because Bonney's friend Dan Dedrick kept it after the outlaw's death. It was passed down through Dedrick's family, and was copied several times, appearing in numerous publications during the 20th century. In June 2011, the original plate was bought at auction for $2.3 million by businessman William Koch.
The image shows Bonney wearing his holstered Colt revolver on his left side. This led to the belief that he was left-handed, without taking into account that the ferrotype process produces reversed images. In 1954, western historians James D. Horan and Paul Sann wrote that Bonney was right-handed and carried his pistol on his right hip. The opinion was confirmed by Clyde Jeavons, a former curator of the National Film and Television Archive. Several historians have written that Bonney was ambidextrous.
Croquet tintype
A 4-by-6-inch (100 mm × 150 mm) ferrotype purchased at a memorabilia shop in Fresno, California, in 2010 has been claimed to show Bonney and members of the Regulators playing croquet. If authentic, it is the only known photo of Billy the Kid and the Regulators together and the only image to feature their wives and female companions. Collector Robert G. McCubbin and outlaw historian John Boessenecker concluded in 2013 that the photograph does not show Bonney. Whitny Braun, a professor and researcher, located an advertisement for croquet sets sold at Chapman's General Store in Las Vegas, New Mexico, dated to June 1878. Kent Gibson, a forensic video and still image expert, offered the services of his facial recognition software, and stated that Bonney is indeed one of the individuals in the image.
In August 2015, Lincoln State Monument officials and the New Mexico Department of Cultural Affairs said that despite the new research, they could not confirm that the image showed Bonney or others from the Lincoln County War era, according to Monument manager Gary Cozzens. A photograph curator at the Palace of the Governors archives, Daniel Kosharek, said the image is "problematic on a lot of fronts", including the small size of the figures and the lack of resemblance of the background landscape to Lincoln County or the state in general. Editors from the True West Magazine staff said, "no one in our office thinks this photo is of the Kid ."
In early October 2015, Kagin's, Inc., a numismatic authentication firm, said the image was authentic after a number of experts, including those associated with a recent National Geographic Channel program, examined it.
Posthumous pardon request
In 2010, New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson turned down a request for a posthumous pardon of Bonney for the murder of Sheriff William Brady. The pardon was considered to fulfill Governor Lew Wallace's 1879 promise to Bonney. Richardson's decision, citing "historical ambiguity", was announced on December 31, 2010, his last day in office.
Grave markers
In 1931, Charles W. Foor, an unofficial tour guide at Fort Sumner Cemetery, campaigned to raise funds for a permanent marker for the graves of Bonney, O'Folliard, and Bowdre. As a result of his efforts, a stone memorial marked with the names of the three men and their death dates beneath the word "Pals" was erected in the center of the burial area.
In 1940, stone cutter James N. Warner of Salida, Colorado, made and donated to the cemetery a new marker for Bonney's grave. It was stolen on February 8, 1981, but recovered days later in Huntington Beach, California. New Mexico Governor Bruce King arranged for the county sheriff to fly to California to return it to Fort Sumner, where it was reinstalled in May 1981. Although both markers are behind iron fencing, a group of vandals entered the enclosure at night in June 2012 and tipped the stone over.
In literature and the arts
Main article: List of works about Billy the KidThe life and likeness of Billy the Kid have been frequently represented in comics, literature, film, music, theater, radio, television, and video games.
See also
Notes
- For years Wallace denied that he had agreed to the bargain with Bonney; however, in a newspaper article published in 1902, Wallace changed his story and said he had promised him a pardon in exchange for the testimony.
- Letter from Governor Wallace to W.H. Bonney, March 20, 1879.
- The full title of the Garrett-Upson book was The Authentic Life of Billy, the Kid, the Noted Desperado of the Southwest, Whose Deeds of Daring and Blood Made His Name a Terror in New Mexico, Arizona and Northern Mexico. By Pat. F. Garrett, Sheriff of Lincoln Co., N.M., By Whom He Was Finally Hunted Down and Captured by Killing Him.
References
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{{cite book}}
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A family Bible put his age in 1881 at just 2 years old: far too young for even a criminal nicknamed 'the Kid'.
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Billy loved to sing and had a good voice, those who knew him claimed ... He was ambidextrous and wrote well with both hands.
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External links
- Billy the Kid Territory – guide by New Mexico Tourism Department
- Letter, 15 March 1879, Lew Wallace to W. H. Bonney, at the Indiana Historical Society, Indianapolis
- Letter, 20 March 1879, W. H. Bonney to Lew Wallace, at the Indiana Historical Society, Indianapolis
- Media from Commons
- Quotations from Wikiquote
- 1859 births
- 1881 deaths
- 19th-century American criminals
- American escapees
- American male criminals
- American people convicted of murdering police officers
- American people convicted of theft
- American prisoners sentenced to death
- Billy the Kid
- Cowboys
- Criminals from New York City
- Deaths by firearm in New Mexico
- Escapees from Arizona detention
- Escapees from New Mexico detention
- Escapees from United States federal government detention
- Prisoners sentenced to death by the United States federal government
- Former Roman Catholics
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- Gunslingers of the American Old West
- Lincoln County Wars
- People from De Baca County, New Mexico
- People from Arizona Territory
- People from New Mexico Territory
- People shot dead by law enforcement officers in the United States
- Nicknames of outlaws of the American Old West