July 14, 1881, Pat Garrett shot Billy the Kid stopping the career as an outlaw and murderer. New Mexico’s governor, before Billy the Kid was shot by Garrett, was going to Pardon Billy the Kid, and now, governor Bill Richardson of New Mexico is considering granting that pardon, 130 years later. Garrett’s family descendants are mad at this news saying it is an insult to Garrett.
Pat Garrett Shooting Billy the Kid heard once again
The Billy the Kid and Pat Garrett saga started when the outlaw was apprehended by Garrett for the murder of a county sheriff in 1879. As outlined by the Los Angeles Times, William Bonney which is the real name of Billy the Kid, would testify on one more murder in exchange for a pardon by the New Mexico Governor Lew Wallace. Billy the Kid came through, but the governor didn’t. Billy was tried, convicted and sentenced to die. Billy the Kid was on his way to be hung when he killed two deputies and escaped. Garrett found Billy a few months later and shot him when he was sleeping.
Was Billy the Kid killed?
Richardson wanted to check on the issue of whether a pardon should are issued which is why the Billy the Kid stuff came up again. Some individuals wonder if there was somebody else in the bed instead of Billy the Kid who Garrett shot which, the Associated Press reports, is what the governor wants investigated. Till 1950, there was somebody living in Texas called “Brushy Bill” who numerous believe could are Billy the Kid hiding out. Richardson decided he wanted everything to be right again so he appointed some Santa Fe lawyers to represent the outlaw in his case.
Publicity stunt by Bill Richardson
After so many years, Garret’s family seems mad that Richardson is thinking about the Billy the Kid pardon situation. A letter to Richardson from the Garrett family was shown in the El Paso Times saying the governor was making up stories that no longer show the truth and just how great their ancestor really was. “The history of New Mexico has been permanently disfigured by the element of doubt alone,” the Garretts said. Numerous individuals think there is really no point in giving a pardon to someone well known as an outlaw. In the El Paso Times, historian Drew Gomber exclaims, “There is no point in restoring the civil rights of a dead man. It is a publicity stunt by the governor”.
Further reading
Los Angeles Times
articles.latimes.com/2010/jul/14/opinion/la-oe-gardner-billythekid-20100714
Associated Press
google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5hLcwJIblvIblKowDQ4Fcr2Ub0nRwD9H9AJEG0
El Paso Times
elpasotimes.com/ci_15626727?source=most_viewed
