Young Guns II
Did Pat Garrett kill Billy the Kid July 14, 1881? A controversy over that has stubbornly persisted for one hundred forty years. To those who come down on the side Garrett killed The Kid, the history is settled; because Garrett said he did. His book, The Authentic Life of Billy The Kid is the accepted historical record. Still there are those who wonder. Why?
Young Guns II picks at Billy’s story starting with Brushy Bill Roberts, who surfaced in 1950, claiming to be Billy the Kid (Emilio Estavez). In the film Roberts recounts the Kid’s outlaw exploits with a generous helping of Hollywood blended into the historical mix. The basics are there. Governor Lew Wallace promises to pardon The Kid for his part in the Lincoln County War, if he testifies against the Murphy Dolan faction. The Kid takes the deal, gets cold feet and decides to make a run for Mexico. He and his gang rustle some cattle to pay for their escape.
Cattle baron John Chisum, angered by the rustling, convinces Pat Garrett to take the job as Lincoln County Sheriff to track down the Kid. Hollywood gun scrapes later, Garrett eventually captures the Kid. He is tried for murder and sentenced to hang. The Kid breaks out of jail, killing two deputies and heads for Fort Sumner. That’s where Garrett catches up with him. In the film, Garrett lets the Kid escape, claiming he killed him, complete with a fake funeral.
Old Brushy Bill’s claim has since been discredited; but the controversy persists. I explore it in my book A Question of Bounty: The Shadow of Doubt. John Poe, Garrett’s deputy on the scene the night Garrett claims he killed the Kid, left a memoir. His version of the events that night doesn’t agree with Garrett’s account in his book. In fact, Garrett’s book doesn’t agree with an interview he gave to a Las Vegas New Mexico newspaper shortly after the Kid’s death. The interview account agrees with Poe’s memoir. A Question of Bounty starts with Poe’s account and pieces together a host of irregularities to make a plausible case, Garrett killed the wrong man and covered it up. That trail leads to a man named John Miller, who appeared on the planet weeks after the Kid’s death. Miller went to his grave in the ‘30’s denying he was Billy the Kid. His wife and close friends said otherwise. Can you prove it? No. Can you prove Garrett’s claim?
Next Week: Dances with Wolves
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Ride easy,
Paul
Young Guns II picks at Billy’s story starting with Brushy Bill Roberts, who surfaced in 1950, claiming to be Billy the Kid (Emilio Estavez). In the film Roberts recounts the Kid’s outlaw exploits with a generous helping of Hollywood blended into the historical mix. The basics are there. Governor Lew Wallace promises to pardon The Kid for his part in the Lincoln County War, if he testifies against the Murphy Dolan faction. The Kid takes the deal, gets cold feet and decides to make a run for Mexico. He and his gang rustle some cattle to pay for their escape.
Cattle baron John Chisum, angered by the rustling, convinces Pat Garrett to take the job as Lincoln County Sheriff to track down the Kid. Hollywood gun scrapes later, Garrett eventually captures the Kid. He is tried for murder and sentenced to hang. The Kid breaks out of jail, killing two deputies and heads for Fort Sumner. That’s where Garrett catches up with him. In the film, Garrett lets the Kid escape, claiming he killed him, complete with a fake funeral.
Old Brushy Bill’s claim has since been discredited; but the controversy persists. I explore it in my book A Question of Bounty: The Shadow of Doubt. John Poe, Garrett’s deputy on the scene the night Garrett claims he killed the Kid, left a memoir. His version of the events that night doesn’t agree with Garrett’s account in his book. In fact, Garrett’s book doesn’t agree with an interview he gave to a Las Vegas New Mexico newspaper shortly after the Kid’s death. The interview account agrees with Poe’s memoir. A Question of Bounty starts with Poe’s account and pieces together a host of irregularities to make a plausible case, Garrett killed the wrong man and covered it up. That trail leads to a man named John Miller, who appeared on the planet weeks after the Kid’s death. Miller went to his grave in the ‘30’s denying he was Billy the Kid. His wife and close friends said otherwise. Can you prove it? No. Can you prove Garrett’s claim?
Next Week: Dances with Wolves
Return to Facebook to comment
Ride easy,
Paul
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