Northern Wisconsin advertiser. [volume] (Wabeno, Wis.) 1898-1925, 1902-08-14
PATRICK ]. GARRETT, NEW MExI.
CAN SHERIFF, TELLS TALE.
THE OFFICER FIRED FIRST
Though a Very "5ad Man." Was
Certainly Possessed of a Great
Many Good Traits, Says His
Slayer.

in his life. He was appointed col
lector of customs az Ell Paso, Tex, last
winter, says the New York World.
The former sheriff. who is staying
at the Marlborough. is rocking around
New York by himself mostly. He
went to the Brighton Beach races
Saturday and spent the evening at the
beach, and he hasn't done yet marvel
ling at the tremendous crowds.
He is a very tall and very straight
and looks sturdy and strong in every
inch of his six feet four. His manner
is subdued and he talks in low tone
is about himself. To the direct ques-
ton, Sheriff, how many notches are
there on your gum" he blushed like a
schoolgirl, and said:
"Oh, they are only scratches. They
were all accidents, mine were"
How He "Got" the Outlaw.
1t was twenty-one years ago that
Billy Bonney, with a record of killing
eleven men, was brought to book by
this quiet, determined man. Garrett
was deputy sheriff in Las Cruces,
He had kept a small store in the new
country, and on occasions had sat OPP
posite BILLY the Kid" at the poker
table The outlaw, whose exploits
were the talk of the country then, as
Tracy's are today had associated
with him gang of six men who broke
every law and defled all authority.
1--WE had got the gang" said Gar.
rett yesterday, when pressed to tell
the true story of how he killed the
outlaw. Three were dead and three
were alive. Billy had murdered a
man on the Indian reservation while
stealing horses, and he was sentenced
to be hanged on May 20, 1881. He
broke out of the Lincoln county Jail
few nights before that and escaped
after killing a deputy sheriff and
United States marshal. was sent
after him.
ION the night of July IL | got to
Peter Maxwelrs ranch. left my two
men outside and went In to see Max
well. whom | knew we'll Peter was
lying in bed in a corner. put my
Winchester against the wall and sat
hpWu Oh tit utu W lain WITH MIN. L
told him had heard that Billy had
been seen around there. He said he
hadn't seen him. | knew by his man.
ner that he wasn't telling the truth.
and while we were sitting there talk
ing Billy came in.
"He had gone across the road I
learned afterward and ordered Next
thArR IN nm nd IL.
some coffee When he came back to
the ranch house he saw my two men
and accosted them in Spanish They
made no answer, and he darted into
the house and upstairs in his stocking
feet My face was in a shadow when
he appeared in the doorway and he
darted over to me with his knife in
one hand and his gun in the other.
He had his gun within foot of me
when he laid his hand on my knee and
demanded. who are your"
Garrett Fired First.
He sprang back instantly and
fred. But | had fired first and the
ball went through his heart. fired a
second time but the bullet went over
him. He had fallen.
"A hundred different stories have
been told about how killed Billy.
but this is the true one I've got a
tintype of Billy at home. the only
one in existence, | believe and as |
was on the way to the train | left II
at photographers to be enlarged, for
General Lew Wallace, who wants to
write an article about him.
There were many good traits
about Billy. He came from New York
state somewhere. He was only %
years old when he died, but he had
been up to all kinds of deviltry for six
or seven years, He wasn't what you'd
call killer He never made a gun
play he didn't mean, and he never
shot up town or committed any such
foolishness. rye met worse men than
Billy"
Garrett discussed Tracy, ~ Nxth.
western bandit. and inquired with
much interest If it was true that he
had been wounded, He said:
"A m, with nerve with gun is
worth twenty-five who are after him.
Garrett said he had heard that
Bat" Masterson. whom he knew in
Dodge City years ago. was fined fol
carrying pistol In New York, and the
former sheriff expressed no sympathy
for him.
II never carry gun" he said. my
forty-four is upstairs in my gripsack
and will stay there. Before Presi
dent Roosevelt appointed me Col
lector at Ell Paso | never carried s
gun or duty, and never allowed one
OF my deputies to carry one unless he
was on duty"
The collector said that when there
was trouble In Washington last
December over his appointment he
had little talk with President Roose
welt which went something like this:
Garrett, they say you're drunk
ard?
1T isn't true, Mr.. President But
I've been drinking all my life