Billy_the_Kid

Known as one of the most ruthless outlaw in the west, Billy the Kids’ early life has been some what of a mystery to many people. Billy the Kid was a normal child that was raised in a normal home, till tragedy struck his family and tore it apart. People often wonder why Billy the Kid turned out to be one of the most famous outlaws, but maybe to him it wasn’t about the glory or fame. Maybe he was only worried about one thing; survival. Without any official records of Henry McCarthy’s (Billy the Kid) birth he was believed to be born in New York, along with younger brother Joseph McCarthy. Catherine McCarthy (mother) moved the two boys to Kansas when they were younger, but soon had to move again when she got diagnosed with Tuberculosis. They moved to Silver City, New Mexico because the warmer climate was thought to help Mrs. McCarthy. While living in Silver City she married her boyfriend Henry Antrim. With another Henry in the house, she decided to call her son by his middle name; Billy. The new Mrs. Antrim became bedridden and Mr. Antrim abandons her and her two sons to go work in Arizona. On September 16, 1874 Catherine dies. Her husband finally comes back for the funeral and puts the boys into a foster home before returning to Arizona. Left without any money and fending for himself, Billy began his life of crime. He was caught stealing butter and selling it to make some money. He was arrested for the theft and released after spending some time in jail. When he got out he went to find his step-father. He found Henry, but when he told him about his crimes Henry kicked him out. Ashamed and out-raged, Billy went off to have a drink. April 18, 1877 a bully started messing with Billy so he took out his .45 and shot him. This was the Kids’ first murder he committed. He then fled back to New Mexico and got with the most notorious gang called “The Boys”. The Boys go to Lincoln County and become body guards for James Dolan. At this time Lincoln County was in the middle of a gang war between Dolan and a man named Tunstall. The Boys would steal horses, cattle, and supplies from Tunstall go get ahead. Soon, however, the Kid got tired of their childish ways and left the gang. But without the gang to protect him from the law anymore, he was arrested for stealing cattle from Turnstall. Instead of pressing charges Turnstall met with the Kid in private and offered him a job to work for him now. Billy gladly accepted and fit in right away. February 18, 1878, soon after switching sides, Deputy Bill Mathews and a group went to Turnstall’s ranch to get his cattle and horses. Turnstall said they could have his cattle, but they wouldn’t have his horses. So him and a group of men rode the horses across Lincoln County. Bill Mathews realized what had happened and sent Bill Morton and Jess Evens after them. They soon caught up with Turnstall and his men. They came racing in and before anyone could do anything about it they shot Turnstall to death. Out raged Billy and a man named Brewer formed a gang called the “Regulators”. The Regulators went after the men who killed Turnstall and got their revenge on them. After that they went to Fort Sumner. The Kid soon got tired of running, so he asked to meet Dolan and Jesse Evens to make a peace arrangement. The two parties met on February 18, 8179 to make their peace agreement. They agreed that neither side will kill each other, kill a law officer, testify against one another, or kill a friend of the other side. Soon after though Governor Lee Wallace and the Kid met to set up an arrangement that if the Kid testified against Dolan’s men his record would be wiped clean. Billy wound up testifying and breaking Dolan and his peace agreement. Billy never got his pardon from the Governor and now also had to deal with Dolan and his men again. So he went back to Fort Sumner. Meanwhile, Pat Garrett was elected as sheriff of Lincoln County. He swore he’d kill Billy the Kid or die trying. Garrett went to Fort Sumner and set a trap to capture the Kid and his gang. But instead of shooting Billy, Garrett shot Tom O’Folliard (Billy’s best friend). He eventually caught up with Billy and captured him. December 26, 1880, the Kid arrived in Los Vegas and then sent to Santa Fe to stand on trial. April 13, 1881 Billy the Kid was sentenced to death by hanging. Then he was sent back to Lincoln County to get his sentenced taken care of. But before he could be hanged Billy slipped out of his shackles and grabbed Deputy Bell’s gun and shot him. He had escaped death yet once again. But instead of running for the boarder of New Mexico Billy stayed in the county to visit with old friends. Then on July 14, 881 Billy went to see Deluvina Maxwell. Her brother, Pete Maxwell, told Garrett that he thought the Kid would stop by soon to see his sister, and that Garrett should be ready for him when he did. Later that night Billy showed up at the Maxwell’s, but didn’t realize that Garrett was already waiting for him inside. Before the Kid could do anything Garrett shot Billy threw the heart. Billy was laid to rest between his two best friends Tom O’Folliard and Charlie Bowdre. Billy the Kids’ story is one of the most well known legends of how the west really was. His story keeps the illusion about what it was really like to be a cowboy. His gun slinging and rusting ways gave many people of that time something to admire and fear. Some called him a hero for sticking up for his beliefs, while others cursed him for going against the law. No one knows if this conseveracry will ever be solved, but one thing is for sure; Billy the Kid will always be one of the best stories to be pasted down from generation to generation.