Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1913-03-07

"Lsten!" shouted the tall sheriff during a
slight lull. THE man is my prisoner. You told
me to arrest him have He must have fair
trial. | know he is guilty. But 1t is for jury
to pronounce him You can not take him
while l have breath of life left or while Billy
the Kid has, either!"
Saying which he passed a revolver to the boy
who had struck terror into the Pecos Valley,
You must get two of now"
Back to back the sheriff OF Lincoln county and
the most noted murderer in the southwest stood
Now. Billy" cautioned Garrett don't shoot
unless | tell you to- Remember that without me
your life is not worth two bits today"
1t was impossible to tell what was working in
the mind concealed behind the childish face OF
the Kid. 1t equally as impossible to read
the thoughts Of the determined sheriff who walt
ed with apparent unconcern. The crowd knew
and feared the Kid. With only Garrett to fight
the members might have risked IT. With re-
volver in the Kids hand, they hesitated.
Garrett was quick to see the advantage he had
gained
Now you will all move quietly away" he an
nouDced decisively.
Sullenly the crowd obeyed
Held at bay, Garrett placed the Kid aboard
the train which arrived few moments later.
The Keeper and the Markings"
The Kid was tried in another county. He had
no friends and defense. There were plenty
OF witnesses against him now that he was
prisoner. He was defended by an attorney who
made brave fight. But he was sentenced to be
hanged at Lincoln in July 1881. He was brought
back and confined in Jail built after the man
ner of Mexican houses. of adobe brick with thick
walls around a court or patio.
The day before he to be hanged, half
dozen horses stood in the street. lines thrown
over their heads-all that is necessary to make
COW pony remain in one place
The Kid called from the gallery to the warden:
Hi, there, Bell I'm going to swing tomorrow
Give me the 'makings.' will you?"
SECURE. Miguel" shouted the warden laugh
ing. Translated into English the answer meant
Sure Mike'D
The Kid stepped to the stairs His hands
were manaced in such manner that he had lit
tie use of them. The warden reached in his vest
pocket for the cigarette paper, which he placed
In his left hand and with his right felt in his hip
pocket for a sack of tobacco
Like fash the Kid raised his manacled
hands and struck Bell square in the temple The
warden staggered. AS he did so the Kid ierked
Bells revolver from its holster, and dealt the
jailer blow on the head that crushed his skull
"Unfasten the jewelry. and Wen both get
away"
He shouted these words to another prisoner
standing inside cell. The Kid had been allow
ed the freedom of the galleries He passed the
keys taken from the PROSTATE warden to the man
in the cell, who unlocked his handouts Then,
leveng the warden's revolver at the prisoner, he
Kissed:
Give me back the keys!"
1t was the work of but a moment to reach the
barred gate that led into the street where the
horses stood. A glance and he took 1t all in
From where he stood he could see the form of
the warden. Levelng his revolver he fired a
shot that ended his life, and then shot the man
who blocked the door,
once outside he started a fusillade of bullets
up and down the street to keep everybody in the
houses. In another instant he was or. The best
horse and had stampeded the others So that pur-
suit would be delayed In a few moments he was
out of sight
Garrett was about twenty miles away at the
time after some rustlers. Word was sent to him
and he returned post haste, heard the story from
excited lips and stopped only long enough to
saddle a fresh horse. Accompanied by a few
friends he took the Kids trail.
At the end of forty-eight hours of flight when
tired out Billy the Kid stopped at the house of
a. man named Maxwell, near Sumner. Retiring
he figured doubtless that Garrett would have TO
pause for rest also
1t was early the second morning probably
about a. m, when the silent sheriff saw in
front Of him the cabin in which the Kid slept
He and his men dismounted and approached the
house Garrett reached the porch with his depu-
ties and quietly stepped into Maxwells room.
There are several accounts of what took place
One is to the effect that Garrett left his depu-
ties stationed outside beyond the house. He was
whispering to Maxwell when the Kid who was a
light sleeper, awoke, and tptoeing across the
porch. entered, revolver in hand and asked:
Who was that who just came? Where is he?"
From his position Garrett could see him dis
tinctly and had the Kid been looking he might
have distinguished the form Of the sheriff stand.
ing by the bedside of Maxwell The Kid had his
revolver in hand, prepared TO use it. Garrett
knew that. and fired the single shot that killed
the Kid