Billy The Kid – Teenage Outlaw of the Southwest

The saga of Billy The Kid, a name etched in the annals of the American West, is a tapestry woven with threads of mystery, violence, and fleeting youth. Born Henry McCarty, though also known as William Henry Bonney, his origins are shrouded in some uncertainty, with November 23, 1859, generally accepted as his birthdate, and New York City as the most probable location. While definitive records of his parents remain elusive, popular belief suggests his mother was named Catherine, and his father possibly Patrick. The early life of this enigmatic figure is a fragmented narrative, pieced together from historical accounts and folklore, painting a picture of a boy thrust into a harsh and unforgiving world.

The documented trail of Billy The Kid picks up in the late 1860s in Indiana, before leading to Wichita, Kansas, around 1870. This westward migration hints at a family seeking new opportunities, or perhaps fleeing hardship. The untimely death of his father around the conclusion of the Civil War marked a turning point. Compounding this loss, his mother, Catherine, was diagnosed with Tuberculosis, a debilitating disease that prompted a move to a drier climate in the hopes of alleviating her suffering.

On March 1, 1873, Catherine McCarty entered into marriage with William Antrim, a union that would significantly alter the course of young Henry’s life. Antrim relocated the family to Silver City, New Mexico, a burgeoning frontier town nestled in the rugged landscape of the Southwest. The allure of striking it rich in the mines and ranches was strong, promising a new beginning for the McCarty family.

Antrim, initially employed as a bartender and carpenter, soon succumbed to the siren song of prospecting, dedicating his time and energy to the pursuit of fortune in the unforgiving terrain. This preoccupation left Catherine to shoulder the burden of supporting her sons. Demonstrating resilience and resourcefulness, she took in boarders, transforming their home into a small boarding house. Despite the perceived health benefits of the New Mexico climate, Catherine’s condition continued to deteriorate, culminating in her death on September 16, 1874.

With Catherine’s passing, the family unit dissolved. Antrim, seemingly unable or unwilling to care for the boys, placed Billy and his younger brother Joseph in separate foster homes. Soon after, Antrim departed Silver City altogether, venturing into Arizona, leaving his stepsons to navigate the complexities of orphanhood in a rough-and-tumble frontier town.

At the tender age of 14, the youthful Henry McCarty, characterized by his smooth cheeks and striking blue eyes, found himself compelled to seek employment. He secured a position at a local hotel, undertaking menial tasks such as washing dishes and waiting tables at the establishment’s restaurant. Accounts from the time describe him as a friendly and amiable young man, suggesting a personality that belied the violent path he would later tread.

The hotel manager, impressed by the young boy’s work ethic and integrity, reportedly remarked that he was the only employee who had never stolen anything. His schoolteachers echoed this sentiment, describing the young orphan as "no more of a problem than any other boy," and noted his willingness to assist with chores around the schoolhouse. These early impressions paint a portrait of a seemingly ordinary boy, struggling to make his way in a challenging environment.

However, the seeds of his future outlaw persona were perhaps sown on September 23, 1875. McCarty was arrested for concealing a bundle of stolen clothes, an act allegedly committed to aid a friend playing a prank on a Chinese laundryman. The arrest and subsequent incarceration marked a pivotal moment. Just two days later, he made a daring escape by ascending the jailhouse chimney, a feat that cemented his status as a fugitive from the law. From that point forward, the life of Henry McCarty would be forever intertwined with the moniker of Billy The Kid.

Following his escape, Billy drifted through southeastern Arizona, finding temporary employment as a ranch hand and sheepherder. In 1877, he secured a position as a civilian teamster at Fort Grant, tasked with hauling logs from a timber camp to a sawmill. It was here that he encountered Frank "Windy" Cahill, a civilian blacksmith who took a particular dislike to the young McCarty, subjecting him to frequent bullying.

On August 17, a heated verbal exchange between Cahill and McCarty escalated into a physical altercation. Cahill attacked McCarty, throwing him to the ground. In response, McCarty drew his gun and shot Cahill, who succumbed to his injuries the following day. This act of violence, whether justified or not, solidified his reputation as a dangerous individual and placed him back in custody, this time in the Camp’s guardhouse, awaiting the arrival of the local marshal. However, before the marshal could arrive, Billy once again managed to escape, further cementing his reputation as an elusive and resourceful outlaw.

Following his escape, Billy The Kid sought refuge in the home of Heiskell Jones in Pecos Valley, New Mexico. After Apache Indians stole his horse, he walked for many miles to the nearest settlement and arrived at Mrs. Jones’ house. She nursed the young man, who was near death, back to health. The Jones family developed a strong attachment to Billy and gave him one of their horses.

Now branded an outlaw and unable to secure legitimate employment, the Kid gravitated towards the company of Jesse Evans, the leader of a gang of rustlers known as "The Boys." With limited options and the inherent dangers of traveling alone in the lawless territory, the Kid reluctantly joined the gang, marking his formal entry into the world of organized crime.

This association ultimately led to his involvement in the infamous Lincoln County War, a violent conflict that pitted rival factions against each other for control of the county’s economic and political power. The murder of John Tunstall, a rancher and businessman who had befriended and employed Billy, on February 18, 1878, deeply affected the young outlaw. Billy declared that Tunstall was one of the only men who treated him like "free-born and white." At Tunstall’s funeral, Billy vowed to avenge his death, setting in motion a chain of events that would further solidify his legend.

As a member of the Regulators, a vigilante group formed to avenge Tunstall’s death, Billy participated in a series of violent acts, including the assassination of Deputy Sheriff William Brady, the County Sheriff, and another deputy on April 1, 1878. These acts transformed him into an even more wanted man, forcing him into hiding and leading him to resort to stealing livestock from white ranchers and Apache on the Mescalero reservation.

In an attempt to restore peace to Lincoln County, retired Union General Lew Wallace, the new territorial governor of New Mexico, proclaimed an amnesty for anyone involved in the Lincoln County War who was not already under indictment. Wallace, intrigued by rumors that McCarty was willing to surrender and testify against other combatants in exchange for amnesty, met with Billy in March of 1879 to discuss the possibility of a deal.

After days of consideration, Billy agreed to testify in return for amnesty. As part of the agreement, McCarty submitted to a show arrest and a brief stay in jail until his courtroom testimony. Despite his testimony leading to the indictment of John Dolan, one of the influential House faction leaders, the district attorney defied Wallace’s order to release Billy after testifying. Undeterred, Billy escaped from custody once again, slipping out of his handcuffs and fleeing.

For the next year, he spent time around Fort Sumner on the Pecos River, where he developed a fateful friendship with Pat Garrett, a local bartender who would later be elected sheriff of Lincoln County. As sheriff, Garrett was tasked with apprehending his friend, Henry McCarty, now almost exclusively known as "Billy the Kid."

Around the same time, Billy formed a gang, often referred to as the "Rustlers" or simply "Billy the Kid’s Gang," who survived by stealing and rustling. The core members included Tom O’Folliard, Charlie Bowdre, Tom Pickett, Dirty Dave Rudabaugh, and Billy Wilson.

By the fall of 1880, Billy was still attempting to convince the governor to grant him a pardon, despite continuing his outlaw activities. During this time, his notoriety in newspapers increased, and he was dubbed "Billy the Kid" and the most important outlaw in New Mexico.

On November 30, 1880, Billy the Kid’s Gang rode into White Oaks, New Mexico, and encountered Deputy Sheriff James Redman. Redman hid behind a saloon, taking shots as citizens ran into the street, chasing the fugitives out of town.

On December 15, 1880, Governor Wallace placed a $500 reward on Billy’s head, and Pat Garrett began relentlessly pursuing the outlaw. Garrett set up ambushes to apprehend Billy, but the Kid seemed to have an animal instinct that warned him of danger.

Trailed by Garrett, Billy the Kid, Billy Wilson, Rudabaugh, Tom O’Folliard, Charlie Bowdre, and Tom Pickett rode into Fort Sumner on December 19, 1880, and were confronted by Garrett’s posse. Garrett, Lon Chambers, and others leaped from cover as Garrett ordered the outlaws to halt.

However, several posse members opened fire, killing O’Folliard. Rudabaugh’s horse was shot, and he jumped onto Wilson’s horse. The outlaws escaped and holed up in an abandoned cabin near Stinking Springs, New Mexico. Garrett’s posse tracked them down and surrounded the hideout. The siege continued until Rudabaugh waved a white flag, and the bandits surrendered on December 23, 1880. Billy was first taken to a jail in Las Vegas, New Mexico, then to Santa Fe, and eventually to Mesilla.

Deliberation in his April trial took one day, and Billy was convicted of murdering Sheriff William Brady and sentenced to hang by Judge Warren Bristol. His execution was scheduled for May 13, and he was sent to Lincoln to await this date. He was guarded by James Bell and Robert Olinger on the top floor of the building formerly known as the "House" before and during the Lincoln County War. On April 28, Billy escaped and killed both of his guards while Garrett was out of town.

After shooting Deputy Bell, Billy stole Olinger’s shotgun and waited for Olinger by the window. Olinger ran from the hotel upon hearing the shots. When he was directly under the courthouse window, he heard Billy say, "Hello, Bob." Billy blasted him with his shotgun, killing him instantly.

This would be Billy’s last escape. On July 14, 1881, when Pat Garrett was questioning Billy’s friend, Peter Maxwell, in Maxwell’s darkened bedroom in Old Fort Sumner, Billy unexpectedly entered the room. The Kid didn’t recognize Garrett in the poor lighting and asked, "¿Quien es? ¿Quien es?" (Spanish for "Who is it? Who is it?"), to which Garrett responded with two shots from his revolver, the first striking Billy’s heart.

Henry McCarty, the infamous "Billy the Kid," was buried in a plot in between his dead friends Tom O’Folliard and Charlie Bowdre the next day at Fort Sumner’s cemetery.

In his short life, Billy The Kid was reputed to have killed 21 men. However, many historians calculate the figure closer to nine.