The Springfield herald., 1913-02-14

R&&S the. magnet of wealth in the
lA1U mines drew to the
&I Notwithstanding. H rthe ciu-
&A19~S zenship of the community
there rough men, for the
early days were typical of those of other min
ing camps isolated in the mountains and distant
from civilization
In that community there lived boy OF
teen years OF age. respected and loved by all He
wac favorte among the young and consid-
cred model youth by the old He gentle
as child. His face delicately nodded HIS
skin as fair as girls. his hands small and fin
gers tapering. 1.-the. graceful selfreiiant. he
gave every promise OF honorable
This boy-William H. Bonney-was employed
in local store and considered a
commodating clerk. The grun community
convulsed with horror and dumfounded with
establishment afternoon when the
spread like wildfire that Bonney had hacked
man to death with butcher-knife and flee
ing for his life on the back Of stolen horse.
The murder was particularly atrocious. It
was the result of alteration in which young
Bonney was crossed Prior to this the boy had
never been questioned. In instant he
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 Mlmbres river toward Deming
pursued by posse from Silver City. Closely
pressed. he escaped eastward the Oregon
mountains when 1t was thought, he was headed
for Mexico
The Start Of Bad Mans Trail.
A western town never more surprised
The majority of the people still defended him:
there reason. his friends declared for
his strange act But news came of the way
he was striking terror in the Valley of the Pecos
where the toughest men In the southwest lived.
the mind of the public changed From that
time on 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 one of the great historical figures
Of the COW country. one of the worst youths that
ever lived prince of bad men. the youngest bad
of all.
His appearance among the prospectors and
amid the mining camps OF the Oregon mountain
electrical Here he conceived the idea that
to evade arrest he must fight his way to the front
single-hand He boldly traded horses. obtained
credit. bought supplies. because he could shoot
straight with revolver and had threatened the
lives of number of men Then with all dis
patch he pushed on to the Valley of the Pecos.
This the scene of the boys exploits in the
taking OF human life.
The Pecos Valley filled with men who had
been driven out OF Texas by the Rangers. and
Billy the Kids association with these men de-
veloped his mania for shedding blood. In his
first alteration he realized that II his life
the other mans. The fact that he quick
with gun made him feared. He became embit-
upon his arrival In the valley.
I'll make this valley too hot for him and dan
gerous to his punchers" said the boy.
AT he commenced to this mans
boys targets to practice on. He began a cam
paign that drew upon him the enmity of every
body The murder OF these innocent men. purely
to crafty a spite against their employer. made
him leader among the bands of armed thugs
of the region He had at bound become
celebrity. and every group of bad wanted
to claim him. But the Kid would have Of
that By degrees he gathered band of his own
How Many Men Did He XIII?
The Kid killed more men, wantonly and for
sheer love of murder than any other man OF
whom there is record in the west. It will never
be known just how many he assasnatetd. He
butcher who took delight in Staying the
defenseless. He knew pangs of conscience
He had not single redeeming trait He
would murder friend quickly enemy
He thought nothing of appearing before cook
in charge OF chuck" wagon. 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. II the idea had suddenly popped into his
head. whether he was oficer-or had been.
Then. though in doubt, he would shoot him in
his tracks. This is exaggeration. man
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 a terror before whom everybody
fed He rode the fastest horses. he helped him
sell 10 tne oesl tHere WAS III every no
visited wggled out of any number of tight
places. and shot LIS way to freedom a dozen
times
Shortly after his arrival in the valley. he was
persuaded because Of his reputation bad
man. to assist in the arrest of three men charged
with murder. They were captured without the
firing of shot. placed horses. ironed and
started jniward. To the deputy sheriff. who
with him followed the prisoners long.
dusty sand plain. he turned suddenly and said.
Let's kill those fellows
why? They haven't done anything to US"
They're guilty anyway. and well just save
the county expense
NO Billy, they have not given chance to
shoot at them-they have not tried to escape"
The deputy tried to argue with him. for he