Like many young children growing up in the U.S., the stories of the "old west" always held a fascination for me...including the stories of Billy the Kid.
There are "tons" of websites out there that go into much detail as to who "the kid" really was, what he looked like, his physical appearance, his personality, who he "hung with", and so on and so on.
Here is a brief description of what I understand to have happened, and what "went down" on that day...
Henry McCarty, later known as Henry Antrim and William Bonney, was simply called by the public as...."Billy the Kid". The "kid" was shot and killed on this day in 1881 at a place called the Maxwell Ranch in the state of New Mexico.
Sheriff Pat Garrett had been looking for "the kid" for about 3 months. Billy the Kid had been in prison prior to the 3 months Garrett had been looking for him, and in fact 'the kid" had been actually scheduled to be executed and was only about 2 weeks away from his sentence to be carried out...when he escaped!
Billy the Kid's problems had developed while he was working on a ranch owned by a John Tunstall. Tunstall had been murdered, and as a result a Sheriff William Brady and posse had swore to hunt down every man responsible for Tunstall's death...including Billy the Kid.
John Tunstall had been murdered on February 18th, 1878 and on April 15th of the same year Billy the Kid ambushed Sheriff William Brady and his posse with these results: Sheriff Brady was killed along with a Deputy named George Hindman. Billy the Kid was 18 years of age at the time...and now was being linked to a possible 17 murders.
After the ambush of Sheriff Brady and his posse, Billy the Kid became the most wanted man in the west. "The kid" was able to elude a number of posses after him, and then Billy the Kid made a deal with the new governor of New Mexico, a Governor Lew Wallace.
Here was the deal: If "the kid" would give up names and testify of numerous "outlaws" who were involved in the ongoing "ranch wars" (land ownerships, stealing of cattle, and killings), then Billy the Kid would have all charges dropped against him and be allowed to go free.
The thing was... in order for this to take place, "the kid" would have to turn himself in, and then later be released.
And that is what Billy the Kid did, and stayed true to the promise of his testimony. The part that eventually led to "the kid" to escape was the fact he grew real uncomfortable the new governor would honor "his end" of the agreement.
After his escape, Billy the Kid became a fugitive and actually killed a few more men. One of the men he killed during this time was a known gunslinger of the time named Joe Grant. In fact, Joe Grant had even "bragged about challenging "the kid" in a showdown"...a gunfight to see which one had the faster draw.
Now, here is how the story goes on this: Billy the Kid had agreed to have a gunfight with Grant, but somehow before the gunfight had actually taken place, "the kid" had gotten hold of Grant's gun, a revolver, and had made sure the first shot Grant would take from his gun had an empty chamber (no bullet). As a result, when the gunfight between Joe Grant and "the kid" took place..."the kid" was still standing...and Joe Grant was dead.
It was Sheriff Pat Garrett, a well-known sheriff of his time, who was the one who brought Billy the Kid in to stand trial. The trial of Billy the Kid has now become famous because of two statements( which were supposedly) made during the proceedings. First: upon reading the sentence by the judge, the judge concluded:"...and you shall die by hanging...until you are dead, dead, dead!" The 2nd renowned statement was the response of "the kid" upon sentencing. Billy the Kid was asked if he had anything to say and he said:"....Judge, you can go to hell, hell, hell!" Legend or Truth?....don't know.
It was after that Billy the Kid made his escape, killing 2 guards in the process. Sheriff Garrett organized another posse and eventually found him at the Maxwell Ranch. It is recorded Sheriff Pat Garrett shot "the kid" to death.
No charges were brought against Garrett.
Billy the Kid was said to be fluent in Spanish and had numerous friends and hang-outs in northern Mexico. Some say he was looked upon more like a "Robin Hood" rather than a cold-blooded murderer........."
Thoughts:
There is little doubt your upbringing and how you raise a child can have an influence on their adult life. I don't know exactly how Billy the Kid was raised, although there is much "out there" on the 'net as to the subject.
Here is what I do know: Vengeance and Bitterness are not good company to hang with, and did you ever notice when you do strike vengeance to someone, it is often fueled by bitterness... and leaves you feeling so empty and despairingly lonely?.......
Leviticus 19:18 "Don't seek revenge or carry a grudge against any of your own people, or your friends and neighbors. Do this instead: Love your neighbor as if your neighbor....was you!"
Proverbs 20:22 " Do not ever say from your lips: "I will get you for that!" Do this instead: Turn it over to the Lord and trust Him, let Him settle the matter."
Proverbs 25:21-22: " If you see your enemy hungry, give him something to eat. And, if he is thirsty...bring him a drink. Your generosity will surprise him...with goodness, and God will look after...you!"
There are "tons" of websites out there that go into much detail as to who "the kid" really was, what he looked like, his physical appearance, his personality, who he "hung with", and so on and so on.
Here is a brief description of what I understand to have happened, and what "went down" on that day...
Henry McCarty, later known as Henry Antrim and William Bonney, was simply called by the public as...."Billy the Kid". The "kid" was shot and killed on this day in 1881 at a place called the Maxwell Ranch in the state of New Mexico.
Sheriff Pat Garrett had been looking for "the kid" for about 3 months. Billy the Kid had been in prison prior to the 3 months Garrett had been looking for him, and in fact 'the kid" had been actually scheduled to be executed and was only about 2 weeks away from his sentence to be carried out...when he escaped!
Billy the Kid's problems had developed while he was working on a ranch owned by a John Tunstall. Tunstall had been murdered, and as a result a Sheriff William Brady and posse had swore to hunt down every man responsible for Tunstall's death...including Billy the Kid.
John Tunstall had been murdered on February 18th, 1878 and on April 15th of the same year Billy the Kid ambushed Sheriff William Brady and his posse with these results: Sheriff Brady was killed along with a Deputy named George Hindman. Billy the Kid was 18 years of age at the time...and now was being linked to a possible 17 murders.
After the ambush of Sheriff Brady and his posse, Billy the Kid became the most wanted man in the west. "The kid" was able to elude a number of posses after him, and then Billy the Kid made a deal with the new governor of New Mexico, a Governor Lew Wallace.
Here was the deal: If "the kid" would give up names and testify of numerous "outlaws" who were involved in the ongoing "ranch wars" (land ownerships, stealing of cattle, and killings), then Billy the Kid would have all charges dropped against him and be allowed to go free.
The thing was... in order for this to take place, "the kid" would have to turn himself in, and then later be released.
And that is what Billy the Kid did, and stayed true to the promise of his testimony. The part that eventually led to "the kid" to escape was the fact he grew real uncomfortable the new governor would honor "his end" of the agreement.
After his escape, Billy the Kid became a fugitive and actually killed a few more men. One of the men he killed during this time was a known gunslinger of the time named Joe Grant. In fact, Joe Grant had even "bragged about challenging "the kid" in a showdown"...a gunfight to see which one had the faster draw.
Now, here is how the story goes on this: Billy the Kid had agreed to have a gunfight with Grant, but somehow before the gunfight had actually taken place, "the kid" had gotten hold of Grant's gun, a revolver, and had made sure the first shot Grant would take from his gun had an empty chamber (no bullet). As a result, when the gunfight between Joe Grant and "the kid" took place..."the kid" was still standing...and Joe Grant was dead.
It was Sheriff Pat Garrett, a well-known sheriff of his time, who was the one who brought Billy the Kid in to stand trial. The trial of Billy the Kid has now become famous because of two statements( which were supposedly) made during the proceedings. First: upon reading the sentence by the judge, the judge concluded:"...and you shall die by hanging...until you are dead, dead, dead!" The 2nd renowned statement was the response of "the kid" upon sentencing. Billy the Kid was asked if he had anything to say and he said:"....Judge, you can go to hell, hell, hell!" Legend or Truth?....don't know.
It was after that Billy the Kid made his escape, killing 2 guards in the process. Sheriff Garrett organized another posse and eventually found him at the Maxwell Ranch. It is recorded Sheriff Pat Garrett shot "the kid" to death.
No charges were brought against Garrett.
Billy the Kid was said to be fluent in Spanish and had numerous friends and hang-outs in northern Mexico. Some say he was looked upon more like a "Robin Hood" rather than a cold-blooded murderer........."
Thoughts:
There is little doubt your upbringing and how you raise a child can have an influence on their adult life. I don't know exactly how Billy the Kid was raised, although there is much "out there" on the 'net as to the subject.
Here is what I do know: Vengeance and Bitterness are not good company to hang with, and did you ever notice when you do strike vengeance to someone, it is often fueled by bitterness... and leaves you feeling so empty and despairingly lonely?.......
Leviticus 19:18 "Don't seek revenge or carry a grudge against any of your own people, or your friends and neighbors. Do this instead: Love your neighbor as if your neighbor....was you!"
Proverbs 20:22 " Do not ever say from your lips: "I will get you for that!" Do this instead: Turn it over to the Lord and trust Him, let Him settle the matter."
Proverbs 25:21-22: " If you see your enemy hungry, give him something to eat. And, if he is thirsty...bring him a drink. Your generosity will surprise him...with goodness, and God will look after...you!"
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