Desert Outlaws
The arid landscapes of the American West, particularly the regions of western Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona, seemed to possess an almost inherent ability to foster a spirit of defiance and volatility. This unforgiving terrain, with its vast distances and limited resources, bred a unique breed of individuals, some of whom would become the most notorious desert outlaws in American history. These figures, often operating on the fringes of society, left an indelible mark on the folklore of the Old West.
The composition of these outlaw bands was diverse, reflecting the complex cultural tapestry of the Southwest. While some were of Mexican descent, others were of mixed Native American heritage, and a smaller number were of African American ancestry. However, the region also produced a significant number of white men who, for various reasons, embraced a life outside the bounds of the law, readily resorting to violence and the use of firearms.
A pivotal event that encapsulates the turbulent era of the Southwestern borderlands is the Lincoln County War. This conflict, a bloody feud between rival factions, brought to the forefront one of the most iconic figures of the West: Billy the Kid. Though his life was tragically cut short at the young age of 21, his notoriety was already firmly established. Credited with over twenty killings, Billy the Kid became a symbol of the desert outlaws – a figure whose life, while not to be emulated, serves as a stark example of the harsh realities and moral ambiguities of the time.
William H. Bonney, the man who would become known as Billy the Kid, was born in New York City on November 23, 1859. His family’s westward journey began in 1862, when his father relocated to Coffeyville, a town situated on the border of the Indian Nations. Tragedy struck early when his father passed away, leaving his mother a widow with two sons to care for. Seeking a fresh start, Mrs. Bonney moved to Colorado and remarried a man named Antrim. The family continued to gravitate towards the wilder regions of the West, eventually settling in Santa Fe, New Mexico, before Billy reached the age of eight. In 1868, they made their home in Silver City, New Mexico, where they remained until 1871, when Billy was twelve. His childhood was characterized by constant movement and a struggle against poverty, with periods of only rudimentary comfort. His mother was described as a virtuous Irishwoman of limited education but sound moral principles. Little is known about Billy’s father, and his stepfather remains a shadowy figure, remembered primarily for his abusive treatment of his stepchildren. The Kid himself would later attribute his descent into a life of crime to the negative influence of his stepfather, who outlived his mother after her death around 1870.
At the tender age of twelve, Billy’s life took a decisive turn. During an altercation in a saloon, he intervened to defend a friend who was being assaulted. In the ensuing melee, he fatally stabbed a man who had previously insulted him. Accounts vary regarding the nature of the insult, with some claiming it was directed at his mother, while others suggest it was an attempt to horsewhip Billy. Following this incident, Billy and a companion fled to Fort Bowie, located in Pima County, Arizona, where they spent time in the vicinity of the reservation.
This marked the beginning of Billy’s career as one of the desert outlaws. He and his associate, seemingly already hardened by the harsh realities of the border, engaged in horse theft from a band of Apache, during which they killed three of the Native Americans in a nighttime raid. This act provided them with the initial means to travel and subsist in Arizona. They eventually arrived in Tucson, where Billy honed his skills as a card player and, inevitably, became embroiled in a gambler’s quarrel that resulted in another death.
Escaping across the border into Mexico, Billy established himself as a young gambler in the state of Sonora. His reputation as a quick draw and a skilled handler of weapons was rapidly growing. He continued his criminal activities, venturing to Chihuahua and robbing Monte dealers, killing one in an ambush alongside a new accomplice named Segura.
By this point, Billy the Kid was maturing into a dangerous young man, his life shaped by irresponsibility and lawlessness. He reached his physical peak, standing approximately five feet seven and a half inches tall and weighing around 135 pounds. Described as slender and lean, he was an accomplished rider who never gained weight. His features included light or light brown hair, blue or blue-gray eyes with distinctive red hazel spots, a somewhat elongated face, a narrow but long chin, and slightly prominent front teeth. Despite his violent tendencies, he was known for his pleasant demeanor, optimism, and buoyant spirit, often smiling while conversing.
The Southwestern border offered limited opportunities for legitimate employment at the time. Mining and cattle ranching were the primary industries, and the allure of the free-spirited life of a cowpuncher proved irresistible to the Kid. He and Jesse Evans encountered a group of cowboys, including Billy Morton, Frank Baker, and James McDaniels, somewhere along the lower border. It was McDaniels who bestowed upon Billy the nickname "The Kid," which would remain with him for the rest of his days.
The desert outlaw arrived in the Seven Rivers country on foot. During his journey east across the mountains from Mesilla to the Pecos Valley, he and a companion, Tom O’Keefe, reportedly engaged in a skirmish with Apache Indians, resulting in the deaths of one or more of the Native Americans. The Guadalupe Mountains, which he traversed, were known to be a dangerous Indian territory at the time. For a period, the Kid worked for John Chisum on his ranch near Roswell, although he harbored a long-standing grudge against Chisum and contemplated killing him on several occasions due to a perceived grievance. He eventually left Chisum’s employ and joined John H. Tunstall on his Feliz ranch in the late winter of 1877, motivated by reasons that remain unclear. Whether driven by resentment, spite, or hatred, his actions led him down a path of further violence.
Tunstall’s murder by the Murphy faction on February 18, 1878, marked a turning point in the Kid’s life. Dick Brewer, Tunstall’s foreman, was sworn in as a special deputy by McSween, initiating a cycle of retaliatory violence. The Kid joined Brewer and his posse, targeting former associates who were allied with the Murphy faction. On March 6, 1878, the posse captured a group of five men, including Frank Baker and Billy Morton, both former friends of the Kid, near the lower crossing of the Rio Penasco. The prisoners were held overnight at Chisum’s ranch. The posse then set off for Lincoln, taking a route via the Agua Negra, east of the Capitans, rather than the more direct Hondo-Bonito trail, suggesting a sinister intent.
According to some accounts, Morton and Baker attempted to escape, and the Kid pursued and killed them. However, the more likely scenario is that the posse, fueled by anger and whiskey, intended to execute the prisoners all along. The Kid, being the youngest and most resolute member of the group, likely carried out the killings of Billy Morton and Frank Baker, who were reportedly on their knees begging for their lives. McClosky was killed by McNab to prevent him from revealing the truth. The murder of Sheriff William Brady and George Hindman by the Kid and his companions on April 1, 1878, was another act of unprovoked violence.
The Kid was rapidly gaining notoriety as a gunfighter and leader, despite his youth. Following the intense battle in Lincoln and the burning of the McSween house, the Kid led a successful escape, taking himself and a few of his comrades to safety. The number of killings attributed to him continued to rise, with murders occurring frequently throughout the region.
The killing of the Indian agency clerk, Bernstein, on August 5, 1878, during a horse-stealing expedition, was the next act committed by the Kid and his gang. They fled northeast, through the Capitan Gap, to their familiar haunts around Fort Sumner, approximately 90 miles north of Roswell, in the Pecos Valley.
This small band of desert outlaws, led by the Kid, sustained themselves by stealing horses along the Bonito and around the Capitans, driving them north and east. The group included Charlie Bowdre, Doc Skurlock, Wayt, Tom O’Folliard, Hendry Brown, and Jack Middleton. Some or all of these men participated in the horse-stealing operations orchestrated by the Kid that fall, venturing as far east as Atacosa, on the Canadian River, to dispose of the stolen livestock. Middleton, Wayt, and Hendry Brown eventually left the Kid’s gang, warning him that he would soon be killed. The Kid dismissed their concerns and returned to his old haunts, dividing his time between Lincoln and Fort Sumner and occasionally stealing cattle from Chisum’s herd.
In January 1880, the Kid added to his list of victims by killing a notorious man from the Panhandle named Grant, who had been loitering in the area and likely intended to kill the Kid for notoriety. Before the shooting, the Kid had subtly manipulated Grant’s revolver, ensuring that the hammer would fall on an empty chamber. Despite appearing to be friends, the Kid was aware that Grant was drunk and dangerous. He shot Grant twice through the throat after Grant’s pistol misfired. No legal action was taken against the Kid for this incident.
The area around Fort Sumner became a magnet for unsavory characters, and the Kid’s gang grew with the addition of Tom Pickett, Billy Wilson, Dave Rudabaugh, Buck Edwards, and others. These men stole cattle from ranges as far east as the Canadian River, selling them to butchers in the burgeoning mining town of White Oaks. Alternatively, they stole cattle from the lower Pecos herds and sold them north in Las Vegas. They also stole horses from the Indian reservation and distributed them along the Pecos Valley. Their operations spanned a region of over 200 miles in each direction. They had accomplices and sympathizers in nearly every small town in the area. They would sometimes give a horse as a gift, a gesture that implied an expectation of silence and cooperation. Through a combination of friendliness and intimidation, they extended their influence and became a powerful force in the region, confident that no one would dare challenge them. They behaved with the arrogance of true border bandits, marking the peak of the Kid’s career.
On November 27, 1880, the Kid added another name to his list of victims. The residents of White Oaks, led by Deputy Sheriff William Hudgens, formed a posse and set out to capture the Kid, whose audacity had become intolerable. The posse included Hudgens and his brother Johnny Hudgens, Jim Watts, John Mosby, Jim Brent, J. P. Langston, Ed Bonnell, W. G. Dorsey, J. W. Bell, J. P. Eaker, Charles Kelly, and Jimmy Carlyle. They cornered the Kid and his gang at the Greathouse ranch, forty miles from White Oaks, and laid siege, despite the bitterly cold weather and lack of supplies.
Hudgens demanded the Kid’s surrender, but the Kid refused to be taken alive. Hudgens then requested that Billy Wilson come out to negotiate. Wilson declined but offered to speak with Jimmy Carlyle if he entered the house. Carlyle, against the advice of the others, removed his pistol belt and went inside. He was held there for hours. Around two o’clock in the afternoon, the sound of breaking glass was heard, and Carlyle was seen running from the house. Shots were fired, and Carlyle fell dead, the bullets striking the ground near Hudgens’ men.
This murder proved to be a fatal mistake for the Kid, as Carlyle was well-liked in White Oaks. The noose began to tighten around him. The United States Government had a detective, Azariah F. Wild, operating in Lincoln County. Pat Garrett had recently been elected sheriff and was actively pursuing the desert outlaws. Frank Stewart, a cattle detective, arrived from the Canadian country with a posse, searching for the Kid and his gang for thefts committed east of Lincoln County, across the Texas border and into the Neutral Strip. The Kid wrote to Captain J. C. Lea in Roswell, offering to leave the country for Mexico if the officers would give him time to gather his belongings, but threatening further violence if Garrett or anyone else pursued him. Garrett, undeterred, assembled a posse consisting of Chambers, Barney Mason, Frank Stewart, Juan Roibal, Lee Halls, Jim East, "Poker Tom," "Tenderfoot Bob," and "The Animal," among others. They eventually located the Kid near Fort Sumner and apprehended him, along with Billy Wilson, Tom Pickett, and Dave Rudabaugh. During the operation, Garrett’s men killed O’Folliard and Bowdre.
Pickett was released in Las Vegas, where no United States warrant had been issued against him. Rudabaugh was later tried for robbing the United States mail, then for killing his jailer, convicted, and sentenced to be hanged, but he escaped from the Las Vegas jail and disappeared. The Kid was not so fortunate. He was tried in Mesilla before Judge Warren H. Bristol, the same judge whose life he had allegedly attempted to take in 1879. Judge Bristol appointed Judge Ira E. Leonard of Lincoln to defend the prisoner, and Leonard secured his acquittal on the charge of killing Bernstein on the reservation. He was then tried for the murder of Sheriff William Brady and convicted in March 1881, sentenced to be hanged in Lincoln on May 13, 1881. He was placed under the guard of Deputies Bob Ollinger and Dave Woods and transported across the mountains by Sheriff Garrett, who took custody of his prisoner at Fort Stanton on April 21.
Lincoln County was only beginning to emerge from a state of lawlessness. The county jail was inadequate, and the only suitable place to house the prisoner was the large store building previously owned by Murphy, Riley & Dolan. The Kid was to be guarded for approximately three weeks before his execution. Sheriff Garrett assigned Bob Ollinger and J. W. Bell, a respected man from White Oaks, to guard the notorious desert outlaw.
The Kid harbored a deep-seated hatred for Bob Ollinger and longed to kill him. Ollinger reciprocated the sentiment, eager to avenge the death of his friend Bob Beckwith, who had been killed by the Kid. Ollinger taunted the Kid and openly displayed his animosity. Many stories circulated about the events that transpired in the old building on Lincoln Street. According to one popular account, the Kid was left alone with Bell in the room, while Ollinger went across the street for supper. The Kid, able to slip his hands out of his irons due to his small hands, struck Bell over the head with his shackles while Bell was reading or looking out the window, then seized Bell’s revolver and killed him. However, this account is inaccurate.
The truth is that Bell escorted the Kid to the yard behind the jail at the Kid’s request. As they returned, the Kid dashed up the stairs to the guardroom door as Bell turned to speak to Goss, a cook, in the yard. The Kid forced open the door, grabbed a revolver from a table, and ran to the top of the stairs just as Bell turned the corner and started up. He fired at Bell, missing him initially, but the bullet ricocheted off the staircase and struck Bell, who staggered into the yard and died. This version of events is supported by the accounts of Goss and the Kid, as well as the bullet marks.
The Kid then ran into the next room and seized Ollinger’s heavy shotgun, loaded with shells that Ollinger had prepared for him. He saw Ollinger approaching from across the street and, as he passed below the window, the Kid leaned out and said, "Hello, old fellow!" He then fired, killing Ollinger instantly. He walked out onto the porch, which ran the length of the building, and fired a second shot at Ollinger’s body. He broke the gun over the railing and threw the pieces down onto Ollinger’s corpse, saying, "Take that to hell with you!" He then warned everyone to stay away and, using a file that he forced Goss to bring him, began to saw through one of his leg irons. Once he freed himself, he ordered a bystander to bring him a horse and rode away towards the Capitans, into familiar territory. At Las Tablas, he forced a Mexican blacksmith to remove his remaining iron. The following night, he sent the horse, which belonged to Billy Burt, back by an unknown friend.
He was now a fugitive once again, forced to fight for his life. He knew that the community would turn against him and that treachery awaited him at every turn. He also knew that Sheriff Garrett would never give up the chase and that one of them would inevitably die.
Despite these dangers, the Kid, using stolen horses, returned to his old stomping grounds around Fort Sumner. Garrett pursued him relentlessly, and the Kid, with incredible carelessness, continued to frequent his former haunts, allowing Garrett to close in on him once more. With his deputies, John Poe and Thomas P. McKinney, Garrett located the Kid in Sumner. He went to Pete Maxwell’s house and, while his deputies waited on the gallery in the moonlight, killed the Kid at Maxwell’s bedside.
Billy the Kid had genuine friends who were drawn to his pleasant personality and generosity. He was particularly popular among the Mexicans of the Pecos Valley. The exact number of men killed by the Kid in his short life remains a subject of debate. The popular story claims 21, with the Kid supposedly stating that he wanted to kill two more – Bob Ollinger and "Bonnie" Baca – to reach 23.
Pat Garrett claimed that the Kid had killed eleven men, while others placed the figure at nine. Few argued that the Kid’s killings were justified and in self-defense, some seeing him as a scapegoat for the sins of others. While his life was marked by misfortune, his actions ultimately led to his demise, solidifying his reputation as one of the most ruthless desperados in the history of the American West.
Central and eastern New Mexico, between 1860 and 1880, likely harbored more dangerous individuals than any other region of the West. It was a remote and poorly understood area, and the full extent of its violence remains unrecorded. Human life was held in low regard, and lawlessness prevailed. Courts and law enforcement were absent, and many of the inhabitants had sought refuge there to escape legal authorities. This environment fostered the emergence of Billy the Kid, as well as other equally dangerous figures, some of whom deserve mention.
Joel Fowler was widely regarded as a dangerous man. A ranch owner and cattleman, he frequently visited settlements, often becoming intoxicated. In his drunken state, he was prone to violence and aggression, targeting anyone who crossed his path. Known for his insulting and domineering behavior, he was the kind of desperado who terrorized unarmed men and forced newcomers to dance for his amusement. His early life remains shrouded in mystery, but in his middle age, he resided in central New Mexico. He was credited with killing approximately 20 men, although this figure may have been exaggerated.
His life came to an end in Socorro in 1884. He was arrested for killing his own ranch foreman, Jack Cale, a man who had befriended and cared for him during numerous drunken episodes. He stabbed Cale while they were at the bar in a saloon, despite appearing to be unarmed. At the time, the law against carrying arms in settlements was being enforced. While it was accepted that men needed to be armed while traveling across the wild and sparsely populated plains, the dangers of combining firearms and alcohol were also recognized. Individuals were typically asked to surrender their weapons upon entering a town, as Joel had already been that evening.
Fowler’s victim stumbled to the door after being stabbed and collapsed on the street, dying in plain sight. The law took its course, and Fowler was tried and sentenced to be hanged. His lawyers appealed the verdict, sending the case to the Supreme Court, where a lengthy delay seemed likely. The jail was so inadequate that an expensive guard had to be maintained. Eventually, some citizens decided that hanging Fowler was the best course of action. They took him, mounted, to a location along the railroad tracks and hanged him. Bill Howard, a Black section hand, was permitted by his supervisor to build a coffin and bury Fowler, a task that the committee had neglected. Howard confirmed that Fowler was buried there and remained there for several years, near the railway tracks. The more common story is that Fowler was hanged from a telegraph pole in town.
Jesse Evans was another notorious figure of the era, a young man in his early twenties when he arrived in the Pecos country. He was a skilled gunfighter and one of the few who did not fear Billy the Kid. Evans claimed that the Kid might be able to defeat him with a Winchester rifle, but he feared no one with a six-shooter. Evans narrowly escaped death on one occasion. He and Tom Hill held up an elderly German man at a sheep camp near present-day Alamagordo, New Mexico. The old man, unaware of their reputation, killed Tom Hill with his own gun while they were looting his wagon. He then shot Jesse twice, wounding him in the arm and lungs.
Despite his injuries, Evans managed to ride bareback for sixty miles to the San Augustine mountains, where he found refuge at a friendly ranch. He was later arrested by Constable Dave Wood and taken to Fort Stanton, where he recovered in the hospital before escaping. Evans and his brother, George Davis, traveled towards Pecos City and became involved in a fight with some rangers. His brother was killed, and Jesse was captured and sentenced to twenty years in the Texas penitentiary.
He escaped and was recaptured, but in 1882, while he should have been in prison, he was reportedly seen on the streets of Lincoln. Evans, or Davis, was believed to be from Texarkana and returned home, only to find his wife living with another man who believed her first husband was dead. He did not reveal his identity to the new husband but took his son with him and went to Arizona. Nothing more is known of him.
Tom Hill, killed by the sheepman, was a typical rough character, dark, swarthy, and ignorant. He was a boaster but also a killer.
Charlie Bowdre, like Tom Hill, was believed to be from Texas. Bowdre owned a small ranch on the Rio Ruidoso, but preferred stealing cattle to farming. He joined Billy the Kid’s gang and became an outlaw, effectively ending any chance of settling down. He was known for his boasts and his skill with a six-shooter, which ultimately led to his death at the hands of Sheriff Pat Garrett.
Frank Baker, murdered by the Kid near the Capitans, was of Cherokee descent, a well-spoken and pleasant man, and a skilled cowhand. He became involved in the conflict through his work for Chisum. Baker was said to have come from a respectable family in Virginia, who inquired about his death.
Billy Morton, killed alongside Baker by the Kid, was another young man who loved the life of a cowboy and ultimately became entangled in matters beyond his competence. He had often ridden with the Kid on the cattle range and was said to have been part of the posse that killed Tunstall.
Hendry Brown was a renowned gunfighter who served as marshal of Caldwell, Kansas. He eventually succumbed to his criminal tendencies and was killed after robbing a bank and killing the cashier.
Johnny Hurley was a brave young man who served as a deputy for Sheriff John Poe. He was shot and killed by the desperado Arragon while carelessly crossing an open space.
Andy Boyle, a former British soldier, was a drunkard and a ruffian who drank himself to death after a life of violence.
John McKinney gained notoriety when the Kid shot off half of his mustache during the fight at the McSween house.
Bill Campbell, a buffalo hunter known for his involvement in violent acts in New Mexico, was arrested but escaped from Fort Stanton and disappeared.
Captain Joseph C. Lea, a staunch supporter of Pat Garrett, died in Roswell in 1904. Lea was rumored to have been a member of Quantrill’s Raiders during the Lawrence Massacre. Despite his past, he was respected, peaceful, courteous, and generous.
Billy Wilson, a member of Billy the Kid’s gang, was arrested on counterfeiting charges but escaped and disappeared. Years later, a former merchant from White Oaks informed an ex-sheriff of Lincoln County that Wilson was living near Uvalde, Texas, under an assumed name. Wilson had reformed and become a respected citizen. The officer, upon learning of Wilson’s reformation, secured a presidential pardon for him. Wilson was deeply grateful and vowed to repay the officer’s kindness. He returned to Texas and lived a peaceful life.
Tom O’Folliard was another notable character, a self-proclaimed gun expert of limited intelligence. He came to the lower range from the east, likely Texas. He was involved in some fighting and was buried in Sumner alongside Bowdre and the Kid.
Tom Pickett was similar to O’Folliard, eager to be perceived as wild and untamed, but lacking the true grit to back up his image. He was skilled with a gun and took pride in his abilities. He behaved well after the arrest of the Kid’s gang and did not engage in any further criminal activities, although he continued to carry two guns.
In conclusion, many of the desert outlaws were products of their environment. The wild surroundings and lack of law enforcement fostered a culture of lawlessness. However, when times changed, some of these individuals were able to adapt and lead decent lives, demonstrating that lawlessness is sometimes less a matter of temperament than of circumstance.