Billy the Kid was shot dead by lawman Pat Garrett, who put an end to the outlaw’s murderous career on July 14, 1881. It has been 130 years since that happened, and New Mexico’s current governor, Bill Richardson, is considering granting a pardon that was intended to be given 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.
Hearing more form Billy the Kid and Pat Garrett
Garrett took Billy the Kid in under arrest in 1879 for murdering a county sheriff. As outlined by the Los Angeles Times, William Bonney which is the real name of Billy the Kid, would testify on one more murder in exchange for a pardon by the New Mexico Governor Lew Wallace. Billy the Kid came through, but the governor didn’t. Billy ended up getting the death sentence through his trial in court. Billy the Kid murdered two deputies on the way to his hanging. A few months later Garrett tracked him down and shot Billy in bed.
Was Pat Garrett responsible for killing Billy the Kid?
Billy the Kid had things come up again when Richardson decided it was his responsibility to discover 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 are 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. The El Paso Times reports that in a letter to Richardson, the Garretts said the governor had created his own version of the facts that have clouded history and damaged the old sheriff’s reputation. ”The history of New Mexico has been permanently disfigured by the element of doubt alone,” was a statement made in that letter from the Garretts. Many individuals think there is really no point in giving a pardon to someone well known as an outlaw. ”There is no point in restoring the civil rights of a dead man. It is a publicity stunt by the governor.” Is what historian Drew Gomber thinks in the El Paso Times.
Additional 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
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