The Clio messenger. (Clio, Mich.) 1907-current, 1913-02-14

the magnet OF wealth in the
~HU mines drew men to the scene
Notwithstanding In the ctl-
Sssa0 zenshp OF the community
there rough men. for the
early days were typical of those or other min
ingcamps isolated in the mountains and distant
from civilization
In that community there lived boy OF seven
teen years OF age, respected and loved by all He
was favorite among the young men and consid-
cred model youth by the old. He was gentle
as a child. His face decately nodded his
skin as fair as girls. his hands small and fin
gers tapering. 1.-the. graceful. self-reliant. he
gave every promise OF honorable career.
This boy-William II. Bonney--was employed
In q local store and considered a most
commodating clerk The gruff community
convulsed with horror and dumfounded with
establishment afternoon when the news
spread like wildfre that Bonney had hacked a
man to death with butcher-knife and fee
ing for his life on the back OF a stolen horse.
The murder was particularly atrocious II
was the result OF an alteration in which young
Bonney was crossed. Prior to this the boy had
never been questioned. In instant he was
transformed into demon. within few minutes
he had added theft to murder. and in seeking
place OF safety left behind him trail broad
as though he were following macadam road.
At the point of revolver he compelled
strangers to exchange horses with him. seized
the best mounts at the various ranches along his
way and spread CONSERVATION wherever he went.
He followed the Mimbres river toward Demng
pursued by posse from Silver City. Closely
pressed he escaped eastward over the Oregon
mountains, when it thought he was headed
for Mexico.
The Start Of Bad Mans Trail
western town never more surprised
The majority OF the people still defended him:
there was some reason. his friends declared for
his strange act But rs news came OF the way
he was striking terror in the Valley OF the Pecos
where the toughest in the southwest lived,
the mind OF the public changed From that
time his murderous exploits filled the hearts
OF men with fear. The boys name In western
history became forever after Billy the Kid His
name OF Bonney is all but forgotten. As the Kid.
he stands OF the great historical figures
OF the COW country one OF the worst youths that
ever lived prince Of bad men. the youngest bad
man of all.
His appearance among the prospectors and
amid the mining camps OF the Oregon mountains
was electrical Here he conceived the idea that
to evade arrest he must fight his way the front
singlehanded lie boldly traded horses obtained
credit bought supplies because he could shoot
straight with a revolver and had threat tened the
lives OF a number OF Then with all dis
patch he pushed to the Valley OF the Pecos
This the of the boys exploits in the
taking OF human life
The Pecos Valley was filled with men who had
been driven out OF Texas by the Rangers. and
Billy the Kids association with these de-
veloped his mania for shedding blood In his
first alteration he realized that 1t was his life
or the other mans. The fact that he quick
with gun made him feared. He became embit-
tered against OF the stockmen Immediately
upon his arrival In the valley.
I'll make this valley too hot for him and dan
gerous to his punchers," said the boy.
Al once he commenced to use this mans
boys targets to practice on He began cam
paign that drew upon him the enmity OF every
body The murder OF these innocent men. purely
10 crafty spite against their employer. made
him leader among the bands OF armed thugs
OF the region. He had at bound become a
celebrity and every group of bad wanted
TO claim him. But the Kid would have none OF
that BY degrees he gathered a band of his own
How Many Men Did He XIII?
The Kid Killed men. wantonly and for
sheer love Of murder than any other man OF
whom there Is a record in the west II will never
be known just how many he assasinatetd He
was a butcher who took delight In Staying the
He knew no fpangs of conscience
He had not one single redeeming trait He
would murder a friend quickly enemy
He thought nothing OF appearing before cook
In charge OF chuck wagon on lonely desert
range. ask for something to eat compliment the
upon the quality OF the food he had pre-
pared. with apparent gratitude He would ask
him as n the idea had suddenly popped into his
Then. as though in doubt. he would shoot him In
his tracks This is eXaggeraton. mar
whom he left for dead. and who survived long
enough To tel the story authority for the
statement shortly after his arrival on the Pecos
river.
The boy was terror before whom everybody
fled. He rode the fastest horses. he helped him
self to the best there was In every community he
visited wggled out OF any plumber of tight
places and shot his way TO freedom dozen
times
Shortly after his arrival in the valley. he was
persuaded because Of his reputation as bad
man 10 assist in the arrest OF three men charged
with murder. They were captured without the
firing OF a shot, placed on horses. iron"d ard
started iailward. To the deputy sheriff who
with him followed the prisoners across long.
dusty sand plain, he turned suddenly and said
Lets kill those fellows"
why? They haven't done anything 70 MS
They're guilty anyway. and We'll just save
the county expense"
NO Billy they have not given US chance 10
shoot AZ them-they have not tried TO escape"
The deputy tried to argue with him, for he