The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-12-15
BILLY THE KID.
The True story of Western "Bad
Man,
E. Hough, in Everybody's Magazine

E. Hough, in Everybody's Magazine.
History has it, with what accuracy let
us not inquire too closely, that when Billy
the Kid was yet a boy, not more than four
teen years of age, some one addressed to
his mother q diSreSpectful remark. This
was in Arizona, and at a time when resent
ments were swift and deadly. The story
goes that the boy drew a knife, fatally
stabbed the man, and then fed the coun-
try. From that time Billy the Kid became
an outlaw, and an outlaw he remained for
the seven years which completed the span
of his short life.
To-day there is little lowly heap of
earth located at Las Cruces, n. NJ. To the
curious stranger some idle ma tive may, now
and again, point out this little grave and
explain, with a certain pride, that Las
Cruces possesses the final resting place Of
the worst bad man that ever infested the
Southwestern border. An ancient Mexican,
who sometimes shows this grave TO visi-
tors, once made the cautious remark re-
garding it's occupant that, had he lived, he
would probably have turned out 10 be a
bad man
And how old was Billy when he died?'
asked one curious stranger.
''Twenty-one, senor,' replied the ancient.
He died almost one might say, before he
fully began to live.
You say he was bad?' remarked another
stranger.
He is said to have killed many men,"
How many? How many, amigo, had this
man killed at the time he himself died?"
HE had killed." replied the ancient Mex
Of his age. may the saints defend u.s." said
the Mexican. He was a good man. and
very kind TO poor people. Yet, had ne lived,
he might, according TO the opinion of some.
have turned into a bad man"
Billy the Kid killed because he liked to
do So BY the time he was sixteen the
grOan of a victim. the sight of his with
ings upon the ground, had ceased to affect
him once he and some friends in the old
time Lincoln county war rode upon a party
of MeXicans who had camped near the
trail not far from Seven Rivers There
were seven Mexicans in the party, all inof-
fensive, all strangers, and all certainly in
nocent of any crime whatever against the
Kid and his companions Yet the latter,
as they rode by, drew their revoIvers and
calmly and with eXacting skill shot down
every member OF the party. Questioned as
to his motive for this act Billy the Kid
later replied that they had shot the Next
cans lust 10 see them kick" With man
ike this it is obvious that ordinary reasons
and ordinary limitations fail.
And this Is how the little tiger at last
found his end. He and the scant remain
der of his gang were on their way across
the line into Mexico, when Billy finally
made the fatal mistake Of his lifetime. II
was all about a woman. 1t became known
in what way IL would be violating Pat Gar
rett's confidence to state, that upon a Ger
tain night Billy the Kid would be at the
ranch house OF one Maxwell, far down TO
the south of Lincoln, in the Rio Penasco
country, IL being his purpose there TO say
goodbye TO a sweetheart, a Mexican girl
Pat Garrett. with two deputies appeared
quietly at MaxwelIs ranchhouse on the
evening specified. They were not announced
1t was bright moonlight night so that
objects could be plainly discerned for some
distance Garrett left his two deputies at
the gate. close TO the door OF the ranch
house. He himself slipped into the main