The Life of an American Legend Billy The Kid By

slide1. The Life of an American Legend Billy The Kid By Darci ClarkThe American WestDr. MaryAnn Borden Photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons<br>
slide2. Nicknames and Aliases Henry McCarty
Henry Antrim
The Kid
Kid Antrim
The Wandering Kid
William H. Bonney
Billy Bonney
El Chivato
Billy The Kid Source:
Michael Wallis, Billy The Kid The Endless Ride , 5.<br>
slide3. Roots and Parentage General Consensus Among Historians:
Born Henry McCarty on either September 17, 1859 or
November 20, 1859 in the Irish slums of New York City

Mother was Catherine McCarty. No solid evidence of his
father’s name

Henry had one brother named Joseph but it is not clear if
he was older or younger than Henry Sources:
Robert M. Utley, Billy The Kid, 2.Michael Wallis, Billy The Kid The Endless Ride, 6-7.<br>
slide4. Early Years By 1868 Catherine and her two sons had moved to
Indianapolis, IN where she met William Antrim

In 1870 Antrim and the family moved to the cattle
town Wichita, KS

By 1873 the family moved to Santa Fe New Mexico
Territory where Catherine and William Antrim’s
marriage on March 1, 1873 was recorded and
witnessed by Henry and Joseph
Finally settled in Silver City later that year Source:
Michael Wallis, Billy The Kid The Endless Ride , 14-17, 52, 56.<br>
slide5. Education No evidence Henry attended school in Wichita
Jan. 1874 - Silver City opens first public school

Henry and Joseph attended classes with Anglo and Hispanic students
Spanish and English languages taught

Henry showed an aptitude for Spanish language Source:
Michael Wallis, Billy The Kid The Endless Ride , 21, 66-68.<br>
slide6. Turning Point Death of Catherine Antrim on September 19, 1874

William Antrim was not interested in bringing up Catherine’s sons
The brothers were split up and started working
Henry began reading dime novels and stories of criminals in the Police Gazette Source:
Michael Wallis, Billy The Kid The Endless Ride , 78, 82-87<br>
slide7. First Run In With the Law Henry was first arrested at 15
In September 1875 he was first incarcerated for hiding stolen goods
He escaped by climbing up a chimney
Left Silver City for Arizona Territory
Made a living off gambling, dealing, and theft including horse theft and cattle rustling Sources:
Michael Wallis, Billy The Kid The Endless Ride , 87-89, 94-96Robert M. Utley, Billy The Kid, 10<br>
slide8. First Verified Killing At 17 Years Old August 17, 1877
George Atkin’s saloon in Camp Grant Arizona Territory
Francis P. Cahill nicknamed “Windy”
Henry shot him during an altercation
Fled back into New Mexico Territory eventually landing in Lincoln County
Never indicted since he fled and the Arizona authorities did not pursue him Source:
Robert M. Utley, Billy The Kid, 12-14<br>
slide9. 1880 Map Located in Southeastern New Mexico
30,000 Square Miles of territory
Less than 2,000 citizens
County Seat: Lincoln Sources:
Robert M. Utley, Billy The Kid, 17 Photo Credit:http://alabamamaps.ua.edu/historicalmaps/us_states/newmexico/ Lincoln County  New Mexico w<br>
slide10. LIFE IN NEW MEXICO TERRITORY Why was life in New Mexico Territory so dangerous ? The Quest for Power and Easy Money
Liquor
Firearms
The Code of the West Source: Robert M. Utley, Billy The Kid, 4.<br>
slide11. Code Of The West What was The Code Of The West ? Concept originated on the Texas cattle trails
Called for an act of revenge for any real or imagined insult or injury
Stand your ground and never retreat from an aggressor
Use any level of violence necessary including murder Sources: Robert M. Utley, Billy The Kid, 4.Michael Wallis, Billy The Kid The Endless Ride ,121.<br>
slide12. The Lincoln County War 1878 Competition between the mercantile businesses of John Tunstall and Lawrence Murphy & James Dolan
Murphy & Dolan had no competition before Tunstall opened his business
Tunstall formed an alliance with Lincoln lawyer Alexander McSween
Tunstall’s cold blooded murder byDolan’s men was the first violent confrontation between the two factions John TunstallPhoto Credit:http://www.findagrave.com/ James Dolan and Lawrence MurphyPhoto Credit: Wikimedia Commons Alexander McSweenPhoto Credit: Wikimedia Commons Source:Robert M. Utley, Billy The Kid, 35-36<br>
slide13. The “Regulators” Seek Revenge for Tunstall’s Murder Richard Brewer
Photo Credit: Wikipedia Josiah “Doc” ScurlockPhoto Credit: Wikipedia Tom O’Folliard
Photo Credit: Findagrave.com Charlie Bowdre:
Photo Credit: Wikipedia Jose Chavez Y Chavez
Photo Credit: Wikipedia Dave Rudabaugh
Photo Credit: Legends ofAmerica.com Billy was deeply affected by Tunstall’s murder and swore revenge on the men that had killed him Richard Brewer was made a “special constable” and served as captain of the “Regulators” deputized posse The Regulators comprised ten to thirty men but there were as many as sixty at one point Source:Robert M. Utley, Billy The Kid, 48-55<br>
slide14. Killing Of Sheriff William Brady April 1, 1878

Billy and five other Regulators ambushed Sheriff Brady and his deputy George Hindman from behind an adobe wall
Both men were killed
Billy gets shot in the leg but was able to escape
Public opinion turned against the Regulators and were considered no different than the Murphy Dolan faction Source:
Michael Wallis, Billy The Kid The Endless Ride , 201-202.<br>
slide15. The Five-Day War July 14, 1878
Climax of Lincoln County War
Alex McSween and sixty Regulators holed up in the McSween house in Lincoln
James Dolan and Sheriff George Peppin had at least as many men
Basically a stalemate with only sporadic shooting for the first four days
Colonel Dudley with cavalry and infantry on July 19
Many of the Regulators escaped leaving on McSween and thirteen Regulators in the house. Source:
Michael Wallis, Billy The Kid The Endless Ride , 211-213<br>
slide16. The End Of The Lincoln County War Sheriff Peppin’s men set fire to the house
Billy devises an escape plan for the Regulators
Alex McSween is killed during the escape
Gov. Axtell and Dolan did not want to be blamed for the bloody fight and decided to place the blame on Billy Source:
Michael Wallis, Billy The Kid The Endless Ride , 214-216<br>
slide17. After the Lincoln County War Billy and the Regulators used Fort Sumner as a base of operations where they stole horses and cattle
Billy contacts new Governor Lew Wallace and offers to testify against Dolan’s men in exchange for a pardon for Brady’s murder
They meet and agree to a deal which will put Billy in protective custody until he can testify Source:
Michael Wallis, Billy The Kid The Endless Ride , 221
Robert M. Utley, Billy The Kid, 117-118<br>
slide18. Another Escape Billy testified but D.A. Rynerson reneged on the deal Governor Wallace had offered
Billy would have been convicted of Sheriff Brady’s murder

On June 17, 1879 he escaped from custody and returned to Fort Sumner

Billy continued to steal horses and cattle

By November 1880 Billy was considered a big time rustler and a new sheriff would be charged with apprehending him Source:
Robert M. Utley, Billy The Kid, 136-138<br>
slide19. The Only Verified Photo of Billy The Kid Tintype taken of The Kid in Fort Sumner in 1880.

Images are reversed in tintypes which led people to think The Kid was left-handed

The reversed image on the right shows The Kid like he actually posed for the photo

The shotgun in his left hand and his pistol on his right hip Photo Credit: Wikipedia<br>
slide20. Pat Garrett Arrived in Fort Sumner in 1878
Billy knew Garrett but they were not close friends
Won election as sheriff of Lincoln County on November 2, 1880
Began his hunt for Billy on December 18, 1880 Pat Garrett
Photo Credit: Wikimedia Commons Sources:
Robert M. Utley, Billy The Kid, 136
Mark Lee Gardner, To Hell On A Fast Horse, 120-121<br>
slide21. The Hunt For Billy The Kid Governor Lew Wallace offers a $500 reward for the apprehension of “Billy The Kid”
Pat Garrett shoots and kills Tom O’Folliard at Fort Sumner on December 19, 1880
Pat Garrett traps Billy and the other Regulators at Stinking Spring. Garrett shoots and kills Charlie Bowdre thinking it was The Kid
Surrounded and without supplies The Kid, Dave Rudabaugh and two others surrender to Garrett Source:
Mark Lee Gardner, To Hell On A Fast Horse, 121-133 Governor Lew Wallace
Photo Credit: Wikimedia Commons<br>
slide22. Prisoner in Lincoln The Kid was tried in Mesilla for Sheriff
Brady’s murder and was found guilty
He was returned to Garrett’s custody in
Lincoln on April 21, 1881 and sentenced
to hang on May 13

Pat Garrett assigns Bob Ollinger and James
Bell to guard The Kid

Ollinger was a bully who tormented The
Kid but Bell treated him fairly

Garrett warned both deputies not to
underestimate The Kid but they did not
heed his warning Above:
Jail Cell at Fort Sumner
Photo Credit: Darci Clark
Right:Handcuff and chain at the Lincoln County Courthouse
Photo Credit: Darci Clark Source:
Mark Lee Gardner, To Hell On A Fast Horse, 138-143<br>
slide23. Escape From The Lincoln County Courthouse April 28, 1881 Ollinger escorts several prisoners to the hotel across from the courthouse for dinner
The Kid asked Bell to take him to the outhouse
When they reentered the courthouse Billy ascended the stairs followed by Bell
When he reached the top of the stairs Billy suddenly hit Bell in the head with his handcuffs
A struggle ensued but Billy grabbed Bell’s pistol
Bell ran down the staircase and The Kid fired. The bullet ricocheted and hit Bell
Bell stumbled out of the courthouse and died Stairs at the Lincoln County Courthouse where James Bell was shot Photo Credit: Darci Clark<br>
slide24. The Kid Shoots Bob Ollinger Bob Ollinger Marker outside the Lincoln County Courthouse
Photo Credit: FindAGrave.com Photo Credit: Darci Clark Source:
Mark Lee Gardner, To Hell On A Fast Horse, 145-146, 155 Billy retrieved Ollinger’s own shotgun out of the armory 
He looked out the windows so he could see any activity on the street below
Ollinger heard the shots and ran out of the hotel and back toward the courthouse
Billy shot Ollinger through an open window killing him instantly

This is the one event that made Billy The Kid truly famous, feared and notorious…..<br>
slide25. Garrett: “I Knew Now That I Would Have To Kill The Kid” After his escape, The Kid returned to the area around Fort Sumner
Garrett did not immediately go after The Kid 
Once Garrett received solid info that The Kid was at Fort Sumner he decided to act
Garrett arrived in Fort Sumner on July 13, 1881 with only two deputies instead of a large posse
Information indicated that The Kid was staying in the vicinity of Pete Maxwell’s place so Garrett went to the house to speak with Maxwell Source:
Mark Lee Gardner, To Hell On A Fast Horse, 157, 159, 161, 163, 168<br>
slide26. ¿Quién Es? Garrett went into the bedroom where Pete Maxwell was sleeping to ask him about The Kid’s whereabouts
At that same moment Billy entered Pete Maxwell’s to pick up some meat for a meal
Garrett’s two deputies were outside the bedroom but The Kid did not know them and they had never seen him before
Billy slipped away from the deputies and into Pete Maxwell’s dark bedroom where Garrett was waiting.
The Kid asked ¿Quién es? several times not recognizing the stranger in the room
Garrett fired without warning and shot Billy squarely in the chest killing him. Gravestone for Tom O’Folliard, Charlie Bowdre and William H. Bonney
at Fort SumnerPhoto Credit: Darci Clark Source:
Mark Lee Gardner, To Hell On A Fast Horse, 168-172<br>
slide27. Did Garrett Really Kill The Kid? Questions That Remain:
Oddly enough, when Garrett announced to his deputy, John W. Poe, that he had
killed The Kid, Poe replied:
“Pat, the Kid would not come to this place. You have shot the wrong man”

Garrett replied, “I am sure that it was him, for I know his voice too well to be mistaken.”

Regardless, the body was finally identified by Garrett and many of The Kid’s friends
as William H. Bonney

His funeral took place the next day on July 15, 1881 and he was buried in the Fort
Sumner burying ground and was marked with a simple wooden marker with only
the words “Billy The Kid” stenciled on the surface Source:
Mark Lee Gardner, To Hell On A Fast Horse, 171-175<br>
slide28. Controversy Over William “Brushy Bill” Roberts In 1948 a paralegal working on an estate
settlement discovered evidence that William
“Brushy Bill” Roberts was in fact Billy The Kid.

At first Roberts denied the fact but eventually
admitted he was The Kid and still wanted the
pardon he had been promised by Lew Wallace

His stated Garrett actually killed a friend of The
Kid’s named Billy Barlow who looked liked him
and had a similar slim build

On November 30,1950 New Mexico Governor
Thomas Mabry met with Roberts but declined to
issue him a pardon

He passed away shortly after his meeting with
Governor Mabry William “Brushy Bill” Roberts
Photo Credit: Wikipedia Sources:
W.C. Jameson, Billy The Kid Beyond The Grave, 2, 18, 41
Mark Lee Gardner, To Hell On A Fast Horse, 254<br>
slide29. Bibliography Gardener, Mark Lee. To Hell On A Fast Horse. New York: HarperCollins, 2011

Jameson, W.C. Billy The Kid Beyond The Grave.
Lanham, MD: Taylor Trade Publishing, 2005

Utley, Robert M. Billy The Kid A Short and Violent Life.
Lincoln & London: University of Nebraska Press, 1989.

Wallis, Michael. Billy The Kid The Endless Ride.
New York & London, W. W. Norton & Company, 2007.<br>