Albuquerque daily citizen. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1895-1903, 1902-07-07

OI NlIlldm bOuntgs diido Diis N
Kid" the most notorious and pictur-
esaue outlaw ever produced by the
wild and woody west. All Of these
stories are more or less interesting
many Economically exaggerated and
nearly all with the only the foundation
truth that such a character lived and
committed many crimes in New Mex
leo.
Now, General Lew Wallace comes
forward with another Billy story, and
as should be expected, considering
his literary skill and the fact that he
was governor of New Mexico during
the Kids heydey and death, the mar
rative is far the best and most authen.
tic yet published. The story is taken
from the advance sheets of the auto
biography of General Wallace, now be-
ing prepared for publication.
The Citizen reproduces the story for
the reason that it is a good one and
because it is of distinctly local inter
est, as there are many of the older
residents of central and southern New
Mexico who personally knew Billy,
Lincoln county being the scene of his
principal exploits, and his death And
moreover, Pat Garrett, his slayer,
was for years a resident of Roswell
and one of the best known n most
popular men in the southwest. He is
now customs collector at Ell Paso and
ii is largely due to this. killing of me
Kid and other strenuous" acts as a
peace officer that influenced President
Roosevelt to give him the Texas Office.
even though at the time of his appoint
ment he was a resident of New Mex
leo.
General Wallace's tale follows:
The episode occurred in 1879. Billy
was at the zenith of his wild career
Governor Wallace conceived the idea
that he might gain certain important
information by a face to face talk
with the outlaw. With much difficulty
the meeting was finally arranged. Ii
was not without a strong element of
danger to both participants; but they
trusted each other and the trust was
not betrayed.
On the night of lie meeting two men
sat silent and e%xpectant. shortly be-
fore midnight, in the .4ttle hut chosen
for the rendezvous, situated on the out
skirts of ancient oanta Fe. New Mex
leo.
The gaze was fastened on the door
and as the minutes slipped away, the
tension grew more severe. the silence
more oppressive. One man was the
owner of the rude home that stood
desolate on the lonely sand waste OF
the mesa. The other was General
Lew Wallace, the governor of New
Mexico.
The hands of the clock pointed to
the hour of twelve. The hush deepen
ed. Suddenly it was broken by a reso,
Lutte knock on the door.
Come in" called the governor. The
door flew open. and standing with
his form outlined by the moonlight
behind him. was Billy the Kid" lr
his left hand he carried a Winchester
rifle and in his right was a revolver
Quickaas a flash the weapon covered
the two occupants OF the room.
Il was to meet the governor here a
midnight. 1t is midnight. Is the gov
ernor here?"
The light of the candles fickere(
on a boyish face. yet the man in the
doorway was the most notorious des
perado in all the west. He had killed
scores of men; he Was the quarry o
every sheriff from the Rio Grande Il
the Staked Plains of Texas.
In face and figure Billy the Kid wal
d lltlt SlllDil1S. his HdllOM SuOul
ders were rounded. his posture slight
ly STOPPING, his voice low and effimi
nate. But his yes were bright ant
piercing, steady. alert, cold and gray
like steel.
General Wallace rose to his feet an,
held out his hand, inviting his visito
forward.
Your note gave the promise of al
solute protection said the outlaw
warily.
Il have been true to my promise.
said the governor.
The rife was slowly lowered, tn
revolver returned to its holster. Bill
advanced and the two seated then
selves at opposite sides of the narroN
table.
General Wallace was able to effec
an important arrangement with tn
outlaw of which he gives the details
In fact a very friendly understandin
was established between the two.
Explaining the purpose OF the inter
view and its result with Billy, Genera
Wallace says:
Shortly before | had become GOV
ernor of New Mexico, Chapman,
young attorney of Lincoln had bee
murdered. Half a dozen men yer
arrested. accused of the crime. Anon
them was Jesse James. While it wa
probable that one or more of the me
charged with the murder were guilty
it was impossible to prove the allegf
ton. for the witnesses. filled with tel
ror, fed the country. When | reache
the territory it was declared on ever
hand that Billy the hid was a witnes
of the crime. Could he be made to ties
tify?
THAT was a question on the tip G
every tongue.
Il had been sent to the soutl
Sest to pacify the territory; here wa
an opportunity | couiu not afford /
pass by. Therefore | arranged tn
meeting by a note deposited wish on
of the outlaws friends. and at mic
night vas ready to receive the despe.
ado should he appear. He was theT
on time-punctual TO the second.
when Billy the Kid stepped to tn