Waterbury evening Democrat., 1908-03-09
ENEMY IF BAD MEN
Exploits of Pat Garrett, Slayer
 of "BiIIy the Kid"
SKILLED REVOLVER SHOT.
How Hunter of Notorious OutIawss Who Recently Died With His Boots on, Disposed of Horse Thief-Way "the Kid" Was Killed.

VHO nVCGUIly LiCd vvItH TIIo 1oSho
 on, Disposed of Horse Thief-Way
 "the Kid" Was Killed.
 Patrick F. Garrett, the former sheriff of Dona Ana county, in Texas, who was recently shot and killed by J. Wayne Brazle, youthful ranchman, one of his tenants, near Las Cruces, N. M., in dispute over a ranch lease. won popular fame in 1880 when he put to an end the bloody career of Billy the Kid" the twenty one year-old ban- dit, who had killed twenty-one men "just to see them kick" For two years or more "the Kid" had been the terror of New Mexico with his thieving ma rauding and his frequently recurring man killings. He had met all corners. and they were easy, but he hadn't met Pat Garrett. When he did, he erred.
 Garrett had first come into notice as a foe of "bad mem in New Mexico about two years before he finally hunt ed down and killed the notorious Kid" and he was anything except green man at the game of fighting desperate criminals when the climax of his ca- reer came Along about 1878, when Garrett was first made sheriff of Lin. coin county, largely through the infu- ence of General Lew Wallace, then governor of New Mexico, no one knew much about the young officer or of his of hanIIinO oIIr tba kqnS sas City Star. One day a friendly des- perado, attracted by Garrett's innocent appearance, took him aside for bit of counsel and advised him to go back to Texas, where there were lucid inter- vals of peace sometimes.
 This country is toA warm for tho like O you," urged the desperate. land you'll not last through the sum- mer.''
 Thanks" drawled Pat Garrett. T can stand considerable heat, and guess I'll stay"
 It was said of Garrett that he could pull and shoot in about the time 1t takes fly to get from under the hand that tries to catch it, and 1t seems to have been literally true.
 Garrett gave the first demonstration of his skill with the revolver for the benefit of a western gentleman indulg- ing in a little western saloon merri- ment. The gentleman, one Greenfelt. with weakness for other mems horses, was amusing himself in sa- loon making couple of men dance by shooting at their feet. A third, whose terpsichorean skill or bashfulness had met the disapproval of the horse thief. lay on the floor with bullet incon. veniently concealed in his person when Pat Garrett casually dropped in.
 Three hands aroundw whooped the horse thief, shifting his pistol toward Garrett, and almost on the last word he lunged forward on his face with a bullet through his heart. The last sound he heard in this world was Gar retts drawing comment:
 You're a poor caller"
 Garrett had a number of other ads ventures before he finally came to the point in his life where Billy the Kid, demanded his attention. But that time finally came. The bandit had just been out on one of his usual forays, which terminated In saloon brawl and the ruthless killing of man. 1t was the outlaws twenty-first victim and his last.
 When Garrett set out for ''the Kid'' he departed on no ordinary mission even for a man used to the capture and killing of border outlaws. The bandit was wild and lawless youth. cunning, brave and dashing and as clever and fast with gun as any man that ever trod the west, even though he was only boy in years. Billy was both interruptions and cunning. albeit not without leaven of chivalry and romance. His adventures had been numerous. and he was New Mexicos desperado hero. but Garrett didn't mind.
 When the plucky sheriff overlook the bandit, "the Kid'' took look at his op- ponent. whom he knew immediately by repute, and decided that 1t was better to give up. He was tried and convicted of murder and sentenced to death. But the bandit was destined to die in an- other fashion than on the scaffold. Two careless deputies were outwitted. and he escaped.
 A less experienced man would have gone out in pursuit while the tran was hot. Not so Garrett, who knew the ways of the desperate and willy outlaw. Instead he set out for the Maxwell ranch, near Carizzoo. in Lincoln com- ty. where "the Kids" sweetheart lived. Garrett and his men lay in wait until they saw a man dodge into the house under cover of the night Garrett sim gle handed slipped in after him and posted his men on the porch Garrett knew Maxwell and walked to his room to ask whether the bandit had come in. Maxwell was asleep and had to be awakened He knew nothing of the Kid" and wasn't expecting him. but Garrett was pretty certain and on guard He had just turned from Max wells bed in the darkness when stbe Kid- entered the room. There wzs V tense moment. The bandit advanced to the bed. believing to speak to Maxwell.
 ''who are thsyr he asked, noticins the men on the porch
 In an instant be knew faat Maxvell was not alone. The boy bandit made c quick. catlIke move backward anst whipped out his gun with incredible sxtftuess brt he was vpt toz, slow. Al