Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1908-03-02
Patrick F. Garrett, Widely
Known, Shotb RanChmar.
Young Man Says He Acted In
Self-DefenCe- --UndeT Arrest.
Garrett Killed Notorious Outlaw
Years Ago.--Roosaveit's Friend.

Garrett, Known the continent over as
the gun fighter" who in 1881 killed
the notorious outlaw "Billy the Kid"
was shot and killed Saturday by j.
Wayne Brazle, a youthful ranchman
near Las Crusces, n. NJ, in a dispute
over Il ranch lease.
At an inquest a coroner at Las
Cruces returned verdict that Patrick
Garrett came to his death as the re-
suit OF wounds inflicted by a revolver
in the hands of j. Wayne BraZle.
The sole witness to the killing, Carl
Adamson, told the story OF the shoot
ing, saying that Brazle threatened Gar
rett
Brszle declared that the shooting was
in Self-dcfcncc but made no further
statement.
Garrett had been on a visit to one
Of his ranches near Las Cruces and
was returning on a blackboard with a
friend to Las Cruces when they were
overt4ken by BraZle. \ quarrel fol-
low ed. Garrett is said to have reached
for his gun. Brazlc fred twice. both
shots taking effect and Garrett fell
dead
tut'Il Ibtlt INc llllltiS " lIStS
Cruces ard surrendered to Sheriff L.u-
cerO. He was locked in the city Jail af-
ter making 4 statement to the officer
that he shot in self-defence and that
he Lad not drawn a gun until after
Garrett had reached for his shot gun.
The quarrel between Garrett and
Brazlc started some time ago over Il
ranch which was leased by Brazle ana
I,,,,, E -
Garrett demonstrated with his lessee
and declared that goat pastur:ng was
in violation of the contract between
them. He threatened to resort to the
courts and the men Quarrelled. The
story of the trouble became public and
it was common talk in the territory
that the men were likely to fight.
Garrett was sheriff in Lincoln county,
n NJ, 50 years ago, and his campaign
against cattle rustlers was replete with
dashng arrests and bloody encounters
with the cattle thieves.
The best known of his exploits was his
killing of BILLY the Kid" After killing
20 men, according to some reports, BILLY
the Kid" was lodged in the territorial
penitentiary only to escape. Garrett,
who was an officer of the law, took up
the hunt for the outlaw and found him
in Lincoln county. Garrett managed to
secrete himself in a house where 1.-The
Kid was to rendezvous, and as the out
law stepped into the place with bis gun
drawn, Garrett proved the quicker on the
| trigger.
Garrett used to say after passing
| through a perilous experience that he
would die with his boots on
| Garrett first appeared in New Mexico
| in 1878 and went to Lincoln county,
where he engaged in ranching and cattle
raising. He soon gained a reputation as
a cowboy and in 1889 he was elected sher-
if of Lincoln county. 1t was only year
later, in 1884, after having been prin-
| cipal in dozen exciting fights and adj
ventures. that he killed BILLY the Kid
Later Garrett moved to Dona Ana
| County. where he served two terms as
sheriff.
| Garrett was subsequently n captain OF
Rangers in Texas and did much to helr
make the reputation for fearlessness
which the Texas Rangers then had.
Garrett was a personal friend Of Pres
| ident Roosevelt. The President appoint
ed him collector of customs at FL Paso
which position he held a couple of years
| He tired of the monotOny of the life and
went back to ranching and mining in
Dona Ana county.
Though dead shot with either pistol
or rifle, Garrett was ordinarily one of the
most quiet and peaceable of citizens,