July 14, 1881, Pat Garrett shot Billy the Kid stopping the career as an outlaw and murderer. It has been 130 years since that happened, and New Mexico’s current governor, Bill Richardson, is considering granting a pardon that was designed to be granted to Billy the Kid by the governor before he was shot by Garrett. News of Richardson’s potential pardon of Billy the Kid angered Garrett’s descendants, who are calling it an insult and defamation of their ancestor.
Pat Garrett Shooting Billy the Kid heard once again
Billy the Kid murdered a county sheriff in 1879, which is why Garrett had arrested him. The Los Angeles Times reports that when he awaited his trial within the Santa Fe jail, New Mexico Governor Lew Wallace offered the outlaw, whose real name was William Bonney, a pardon if he testified before a grand jury investigating one more murder. The pardon was not given although Billy the Kid did end up testifying in the case. Billy was tried, convicted and sentenced to die. When it was time to transport him to an additional town for his hanging, Billy the Kid murdered two deputies and escaped. A few months later Garrett tracked him down and shot Billy in bed.
Did Pat Garrett kill Billy the Kid?
Billy the Kid had things come up again when Richardson decided it was his responsibility to find out whether a pardon really should be issued to Billy the Kid or not. Some individuals wonder if there was someone else in the bed instead of Billy the Kid who Garrett shot which, the Associated Press reports, is what the governor wants investigated. Till 1950, there was someone living in Texas called “Brushy Bill” who many believe could have been Billy the Kid hiding out. Richardson even appointed a Santa Fe lawyer to represent the late outlaw, saying he wanted to clear up the matter once and for all.
Bill Richardson’s New Mexico publicity stunt
Garrett’s family was really mad that Richardson was even thinking about giving Billy the Kid a pardon. A letter to Richardson from the Garrett family was shown within the El Paso Times saying the governor was making up stories that no longer show the truth and how great their ancestor really was. “The history of New Mexico has been permanently disfigured by the element of doubt alone,” the Garretts said. Numerous individuals think there is really no point in giving a pardon to somebody well known as an outlaw. “There is no point in restoring the civil rights of a dead man,” historian Drew Gomber told the El Paso Times. “It’s a publicity stunt by the governor”.
Further reading
Los Angeles Times
articles.latimes.com/2010/jul/14/opinion/la-oe-gardner-billythekid-20100714
Associated Press
google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5hLcwJIblvIblKowDQ4Fcr2Ub0nRwD9H9AJEG0
El Paso Times
elpasotimes.com/ci_15626727?source=most_viewed
