Tales from Tennessee and Beyond: Billy the Kid

Billy the Kid, also known as William H. Bonney, was one of the 19th centuries' most notorious outlaws. He was a very skilled gun men, and he terrorized the old west area of the United States, becoming one of the most wanted men in the United States at the time. Billy was known for his participation in the Lincoln County War. Not much is known about Billy's childhood. Not much was known about his early life until Lew Wallace, the governor of New Mexico, put a bounty on his head. The first type of crimes that Billy committed involved horse thievery. On August 17, 1877 Billy the Kid committed his first murder. He was seventeen years old when the murder occurred. The murder happened in Tucson, Arizona near the army camp known as Camp Grant. The victim was a soldier by the name of F.P. Cahill. The shooting had started out as a common fight, but turned deadly when Billy turned a gun on Cahill. After the murder, Billy fled to Lincoln County, New Mexico. Billy went to work in a cheese factory, but became thrust in the middle of a war between merchants. In response to this, Billy formed a posse, known as The Regulators. The goal of this posse was to put down this rebellion once and for all, and settle the score with those who they did not like. The Regulator's fuel was fired when one of their men, known as Frank McNab was killed. They led an assault on the town of Lincoln, where they took defensive positions. Only a few shots were traded, and The Regulators were forced into retreat and eventual hiding. The pursuit of Billy the Kid and The Regulators picked up when New Mexico governor Lew Wallace put a bounty on his head. This led to many valiant, yet unsuccessful attempts to capture Billy and his gang. It was not until Pat Garrett, the new sheriff of Lincoln gained his office that Billy the Kid would be brought to justice. Garrett and his posse were able to locate and corner The Regulators in an abandoned house near Stinking Springs. They had to wait until morning in order to make their next move. Billy the Kid eventually came out and challenged Garrett to a gun fight. The two men exchanged words, but Billy eventually surrendered and ate his breakfast. Billy the Kid was taken to a prison in Santa Fe. He was tried in Mesilla, and on April 9, 1881 he was sentenced to hang. The execution was scheduled for May 13th. Billy was placed in the Lincoln County Jail. While there he was tormented by other inmates. On April 28, Billy the Kid escaped. On his way out he made sure to kill the guards, and other inmates who had bullied him. It is unclear how he got a gun however. Once outside he got on a horse and rode out of town. The horse would return a few days later. Pat Garrett and his posse went after Billy. They tracked him to the home of Pete Maxwell, who had been a friend of Billy's. Billy unbeknownst to him, walked right into the room where Garrett was hiding. The room was dark and Billy had no idea that he had just walked to his death. Garrett fired and Billy the Kid was dead. One of the Old West's most notorious outlaws was dead.