The Madison journal. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1888-current, 1913-02-15

Listen" 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 pot take MIN
while | have breath OF life left or while Billy
the Kid has, either!"
Saying which he passed revolver to the boy
who had struck terror into the Pecos Valiey
You must get two OF us 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
nounced 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 no defense. There plenty
of witnesses against him now that he was
prisoner. He was defended by 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 court or patio.
The day before he was to be hanged half
dozen horses stood in the street, lines thrown
over their heads-all that is necessary to make
a 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 'makngs will your"
SECURE Miguel" shouted the warden laugh
ing TRANSLATED into English the answer meant
Sure Mike.)
The Kid stepped to the stairs His hands
were manacled 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 a flash the Kid raised his manacled
hands and struck Bell square in the temple. The
warden staggered. AS he did the Kid jerked
Bells revolver from its holster. and dealt the
jailer blow the head that crushed his skull.
"Unfasten the jewelry. and we'll both get
away!"
He shouted these words to another prisoner
standing inside a 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
leveling 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. glance and he took 1t all in
From where he stood he could see me form OF
the warden Leveling his revolver, he fired 6
shot that ended his life, and then shot the mar
who blocked the door.
Once outside, he started fusillade Of bullet.
up and down the street to keep everybody in the
houses. In another instant he or: The bes
horse and had stampeded the others So that pur
suit would be delayed. In few moments he wal
out Of sight.
Garrett was about twenty miles away at thu
time after some rustlers. Word was sent to hin
and he returned post haste heard the story from
excited lips and stopped only long enough t
saddle a fresh horse. Accompanied by few
friends he took the Kids trail.
At the end of forty-eight hours Of flight, whe
tired out Billy the Kid stopped at the house o
a man named Maxwell. Sumner. Retiring
he figured doubtless. that Garrett would have
pause for rest also
II was early the second morning, probabl
about a. m, when the silent sheriff saw
front of him the cabin in which the Kid slep
He and his men dismounted and approached tn
house Garrett reached the porch with his depl
ties and quietly stepped into Maxwell's room.
There are several accounts of what took plac
One is to the effect that Garrett left his dep
ties stationed outside beyond the house. He wa
whispering to Maxwell, when the Kid, who was
light sleeper, awoke, and tiptoeng across tn
porch entered, revolver in hand. and asked:
'Who was that who just came? Where is he
From his position Garrett could see him di
tinctly and had the Kid been looking, he mgl
have distinguished the form of the sheriff stan
ing by the bedside of Maxwell. The Kid had h
revolver in hand prepared to use it. Care
knew that and fired the single shot that killt
the Kid.