Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1881-08-03
which their iancies might lightly turn
and which they would confiscate.
THE KIDS HISTORY.


which their iancies might lightly turn
and which they would confscate.
THE KIDS HISTORY.
1t was about ten days before the
young king of the renegades returned
to his hidden castle. Coming back
from his secret mission to no one knows
where he became very much attached
to Duncan, admired his bravery and in
remarkable degree made him his con-
fidantc. Fourteen days after the young
man fell into the den of the Kid that
individual announced to his new &c.
quaintance that he had discovered the
whereabouts of McBroom's party
(somewhere on the Vegas river) and
would in person guide his guest to his
friends. Then he called one of his
men, had splendid horse saddled for
Duncan, caused his own steed to be
again magnifcently caparisoned and
the two set out on cool morning for
ride that has been full of very
unpleasant sort of mystery to one Of
the party at least. The Kid seemed
to be in a melancholy sort of mood
and became communicative, giving to
his young and honest companion the
fullest history Of his life that he ever
gave TO any one. This desperate has
been given many names by those cor
respondents who have written con-
cerning him and not one ofthese names,
he himself stated, was correct. He
was known as Billy Conley, Billy Coyle,
Donovan and by several other cogno-
mems, but none of them were right.
He was of Irish birth, he told my in
formant and was one OF a large family
who, at the time Of his birth, lived near
Springfield, Illinois, His father was
very poor and, to better his fortunes,
went to Sherman, Texas, when Billy
was about nine years old. Here and
in different towns of Texas the boy
became celebrity on account Of the
wonderful way in which he could han
die rife. Old marksmen stood in
awe of him whenever he appeared,
grinniDg, sauey boy, atshooting match
es, country fairs or ox.roasts, to com
pete with them for the prizes offered.
HIS FIRST MURDER
In Sherman or some small town near
to that city, when be was l6 years of
age, Billy killed his first man. He was
very pathetic when he related the cir
cumstances of thisItragedy. In bar
room one night staggering youth,
whose father was wealthy, threw OUT q
slur to the Irish boy which reflected
seriously upon his birth and particu-
larly upon the kind of work in which
his (Billy's) father was engaged. The
boy dared him TO fight and in the melee
that ensued killed his antagonist. I'm
mediately ho reflected that his victims
family, being rich, they would hunt him
to the death and he would stand no
chance of getting justice should he re.
main and be tried. So ho fled and
went direct to Lincoln county, New
Mexico, where several cattle-herders
were in want OF boys. Later on he
was deirauded by one OF these men,
who refused to keep his agreement OF
dividing at a certain time tho prohts
OF his business (cattle-stealing) with
the cowboys who aided him. The
boys revolted and a desperate and
bloody contest ensued. This was dur,
ing the years OF 1878 and 1879, and
has continued up to the present time
There is no doubt but what TINS BOY
was bound to be ruler oil some kind'
In the Lincoln county cattle war he
came to the front at once, altho1gn
one of the youngest boys engaged IN
the business and that position ne ever
after maintained, not hesltatlng TO XIII
at moments notice any man, even oil
his own band, what asplred 10 gam any
sort OF influence over the men or VINO
questioned his authority lie also told
Mr.. Duncan that the reason he always
refused TO give his real name ana tne
genuine place oil his residenceln leAas
was that he had an ola mother ana
three sisters, the latter pelng happiiy
married to law'ablding ana hohoraoie
citizens AT that time nc was anticl.
pating death. Heavy rewards were
everywhere onereo 10 anybody VINO
would take MN dead or arVe! OF VINO
could give authentic Information as 10
minent dancer of anv moment beinp
shot down like dog, and he was hon.
est enough to own that he deserved it.
The ride was long and circuitous
one, and the "Kid," no doubt, guided
his companion in such manner thatit
would be a hard task Tor Duncan ever
again to find the spot where the secret
rancho was hidden. Billy acted hon
orably towards his captive. On the
night of the day on which they LETT
Llano Estacado Duncan was returned
safe and sound to his friends. Billy
bade him goodbye and vanished. In
the first town the surveying party
stopped my informant saw a notice
posted up offering $500 reward for
aBily the Kid" dead or alive, and less
amounts to any of his band, or for in
formation whereby his retreats might
be discovered. The man who had
slopt in Billy's rancho would rather
have cut off bis right hand than betray
him, even could he have done 80.
... o.,,. ,,,,,, ,,,,nur,rn
nv" "A N'D
For years this young desperado has
been engaged IN the task of systemati-
cally killing off all persons in his (Va-
lencia) and Lincoln counties whom he
conaidered his enemies. These DeODle