The Lincoln County leader. [volume] (White Oaks, Lincoln County, N.M.) 1882-189?, 1890-03-01
NUMBER 2l

tI1it eNcUiiR. dltct t'V h't c'"NN"
hands with everybody around and
after having had little difficulty
in mounting on account of the
shackle on his leg, he went on his
way rejoicing. That he was af
forwards killed at Ft. Sumner by
Pat. Garrett, is known to every
body.
I In conclusion I would like to
say, that have lately seen all ar
ticlc in newspaper in which Mr..
Pat. Garret is said to have ex-
pressed himself that whenever Il
friend introduced him to str..ng.
or. the latter will generally reply,
"Ah, very glad to get acquainted,
Mr.. Garrctt-you are the man who
killed Billy the Kid" and there
fore he often wishes that Billy had
Q, t the better of him. 1t is pos
siblc. and does it not look very
much like it, that Mr.. Pat. Gar
ret is sorry for having killed Bill
perhaps his. conscience trou-
bles him. If this should be the
case / will tell him one way thro'
which he may perhaps find a little
consolation. Let him turn over
to Sam. Wortley and myself half
Of the money he made by killing
Billy the Kid, let him join church
no matter of what denomination,
and we will promise to take OH
our shoulders half of the sin, if
there was any committed, and in
the bargain we promise to inter-
ccde for him on the "othcr side
of Jordan" and use our best en-
deavors to secure forgiveness for
his other short and long comlngs
on this sphere.
This bargain Mr.. Garret should
be very willing to make with us,
as had we done our duty. as some
ignorant people say to this day,
and have killed Billy the Kid, i'll
stead of letting him get away, hc
would not have had the precious
| game, for killing of which he pock-
+. etcd such a big pile of lucrc, and
also, it might tranquilizc his con-
science to some degree.
In regard to the guilt or inno-
| cence of Billy the Md | will here
} state, that Billy himself, in many
, conversations | had with him dur
ing the two or three years ! was
acquainted with him prior to his
death, never denied that he was in
the habit of stealing cattle from
John Chisum, of Roswell, against
8 whom he profcsscd to have a
I claim. for wages Lelieye. which
Chisum refused TO pay, and hence
he was determined to secure llini-
self. lie always said to me that
D he had never killed any body, and
: would never do so except in solf
= defense. A couple of years before
!, his tragic end he told me that dur
ing the time he was an outlaw III
: the Captain Mountains all OF Pat.
n Carrots deputies who tried to
t round him up were once in partner
ship with him stealing cattle from
, John Chisum.
do not now rccollect for what
u murder Billy the Kid was tried
+ and sentenced to death, but let me
It tell your readers that the late
:. Judge Leonard, who defended him
at his trial in Dona Ana County,
often told me that he was con-
It dcmned by prcJudiced jury, sole
!, " because his name was Billy the
Il Kid, under which name many he
;, nious crimt had been committed
by Mexicans and outlaws from
. Texas and other States imported
: to this county, not by Billy the
d Kid, but by the principals of the
then fighting two parties, which
T contest was called the Lincoln
:, County War" and left innumer-
:. able graves all over the county.
l. Who will blame Billy the Kid
k for killing his two guardS at the
It the time of his escape from Lin
coin, whilst he himself WAS to he
a hung up the week following 3
" I'll, q, thn only, ,,,urlor 1 Epn,y 90