Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1881-07-26
BILLY THE KID.
A Youth With Nineteen Murders to
His AccOunt-The Inhabitants of
New Mexico OVerawed by a Boy of
Twenty.One. Who Kills az Sight.

The telegraph has announced the news
of the killing of the famous desperate,
he preferred to be called, by Pat Garrett.
Sheriff of Lincoln county. Billy had
made for himself a most unenviable re-
putation on the border, and it may not
be uninteresting to recall his career. He
was New Yorker by birth, and only
twenty-one years of age at the time of
his death.
He came into Silver City, N. M, at a
very early period of his life, and lived
there with his step-father until he
reached the age of fifteen years, when,
on account of ill-treatment by the pa
ternal Antrim. he left his home and ac-
cepted position as waiter in the princi
pal hotel in the place. His first steps on
the downward path were of the sneak
thief character. A short time after his
employment by the otel-keeper he
stole some butter and sold it. The affair
was settled in some manner, and a few
weeks after he distinguished himself by
stealing the clothes of Chinaman. He was
arrested on charge of petty larceny and
convicted of the crime. While serving
out his sentence he managed to escape
through a chimney leading to the top of
the building, and the next morning the
Sheriff was astonlshed to find the cell
empty and Billy gone. The chimney
through which he made his escape was
so small that, as tie Sheriff expressed it,
II could hardly put my fist into the
hole"
His first employment after his escape
was in a blacksmith shop, but the
blacksmith attempting to chastise him
one day, Billy drew his pistol and shot
him through the heart. He escaped,
but returned soon after, just about the
time of the beginning of the Lincoln
county war. A short time before man
died, leaving about $12, 900 behind him
for the benefit of his heirs. His only
sister came to New Mexico for the pur-
pose of obtaining possession of the
money, but in the meantime the admins
traitor was trying to obtain the money for
his own benefit. Billy the Kid arrived
at this point in the affair and
Immediately determined upon possessing
himself of the money. Each leader
gathered about him large number of
desperadoes, and the Sheriff of the
county took part with the administra
tor. The trough" element of the cOun-
tY was divided and for several weeks
numerous deadly encounters took place.
Billy killed thirteen people during the
war with his own rifle, among whom
was the Sheriff Of the county, who was
shot by Billy in making an attack on a
house in which Billy and some of his
friends were fortified.
A new Sheriff was elected, and shortly
after Billy was captured at a house in
the town and confined at the Lincoln
county Jail. under the watchful care of
two burly desperadoes, who had fought
against Billy and his small retinue. These
men were murderers of note, and cOnse-
quently considered fit personages to have
charge of prisoners. Billy was condemn
ed to be hung, and while awaiting exc
cution again made his escape from Jail
under exciting circumstances. As is GUS
tomary in cases where desperate charac-
ters are concerned, Billy was handcuffed
and pair of anklets placed on his limbs.
to which was attached a heavy iron
ball As the day of execution drew
near Billy persuaded his guards to un-
loosen one of his handouts to allow him
to eat with more ease. He took no i'm
mediate advantage of this until day or
two previous to the time set for his
death. One of his guards went to town,
which was about two hundred yards
from the Jail, leaving the other guard to
see that Billy behaved himself During
the absence of this man Billy engaged
the other in conversation, and unnOticed
stepped behind him and raising his
70 saI o4t
handouts, brought it down so that the
loose handcuff hit the guard on the head
and knocked him down. Before the
guard could rise Billy had relieved him
of his pistols, and taking deliberate aim
shot him through the head. Billy then
went into the guard room or armory
and loading all the weapons, took them
to room which overlooked the road to
the town. The guard, who had started
for town, having heard the shot and
suspecting that something was wrong,
came running up the road just as Billy
opened the window. Billy seiZedsa rifle
and when the guard came within hailing
distarce crledsOut "Halloc, Bi The
man stopped and lOoped up, and az he
did so Billy shot him through the heart.
He then escaped from the prison, and
soon became terror to the country again.
His latest exploit was about a month
ago, when Billy turned up at the cow
camp of John Chisum, in the Panhandle.
Three boys were seated around fire,
cooking supper, and the fourth, Bennett
Howell, was hobbling a horse about
TWEEN yards from the fire. Billy rode
up to the latter and inquired if he work
ed for old John Chisum. The reply was
yes, whereat Billy pulled a pistol and
shot Howell through the brain, saying:
Here's your pay" The Others
sprang to their feet, but before they
could draw their pistols two of them fell
dead, killed by the rapid fire of the des
perado. Drawing bead on the remain
ing "boy," Billy told him that he wanted
him to tell his master that he intended
to give Chisum credit on bill which he
considered Chisum owed him for So
every time he killed one of his hands
until the debt was paid, or if he killed
Chisum he would consider the debt can
celled. He then rode away toward the
POcas.
BY these murders Billy had created
such profound respect for himself that
nobody cared to have any trouble with
him. 1t is said that there ives only one
man in Lincoln county, Pat Garrett,
who had the nerve to meet him. Pat
was selected for this very purpose, and
started on Billy's trail few weeks ago,
meeting with success, it would seem, as
the telegraph informs US of Billy's death
by his hands.
In appearance, Billy was one of the
mildest persons imaginable, a slim, blue
eyed, quiet-mannered,l light haired youth.
with much the appearance of waiter at
restaurant.
A SHE'LL EXPLODED BY LIGHTNING