Billy the Kid
Billy the Kid, also known as William H. Bonney, is one of the most notorious outlaws of the American Southwest. Legend has it that Billy killed one man for each year of his short 21-year life. In reality it probably was no more than eight or nine.
While Billy has many connections to Santa Fe, his life started far from the desert plains and mountains of New Mexico.
“The Kid,” as he was generally known, was born Henry McCarty in New York City in 1859. By the time he was 11, young Henry and his family were living in Santa Fe. While in Santa Fe, it is believed that Henry worked as a dishwasher at the Exchange Hotel. The Exchange was demolished in 1919 to make way for construction of La Fonda on the Plaza. He also sang in saloons and casinos around the Plaza to earn money.
In 1874, his family moved to Silver City in southern New Mexico. It was there that Henry had his first scrape with the law. He was caught stealing clothes from a Chinese laundry. But Henry didn’t remain in jail long. Being of slight build he easily climbed up the chimney of the jailhouse and escaped, fleeing to Arizona.
There, Henry worked as a ranch hand, teamster and other odd jobs. But in 1877, Henry shot and killed blacksmith Frank Cahill during an argument.
Once again on the run, he returned to New Mexico where he began calling himself William H. Bonney. He soon became involved in the legendary Lincoln County War, which pitted two rival ranchers and businessmen and their hired henchmen. The war began with the killing of rancher John Henry Tunstill on Feb. 18, 1878.
Billy soon joined a group called the Regulators that sought revenge for Tunstall’s killing. He participated in several shootings and shootouts, including the killing of Lincoln County Sheriff William Brady.
In December 1880 he was captured by new Lincoln County Sheriff Pat Garrett for his role in the shooting of Sheriff Brady. He was imprisoned in Santa Fe for three months. While incarcerated in Santa Fe, Billy wrote to territorial Governor Lew Wallace multiple times seeking a pardon for his part in the Lincoln County War. Governor Wallace, best known as the author of the novel Ben Hur (which he wrote while living in the Palace of the Governors), never granted the pardon.
In April 1881 he was tried and convicted of the murder and taken to Lincoln. He was scheduled to hang on May 13 but once again escaped jail, killing two sheriff’s deputies in the process.
Sheriff Garrett tracked the Kid to Ft. Sumner where in the wee hours of July 14, 1881, he shot and killed Billy the Kid at the home of Pete Maxwell. Billy is buried in the old soldiers’ cemetery at Ft. Sumner.
About the Author
Ken Ortolon is a former journalist who spent more than 30 years reporting on Texas politics and the Texas Legislature. Now a tour guide, Ken has a passion for the history of the American Southwest. He leads walking tours of historic downtown Santa Fe and tours about Billy the Kid’s life in Santa Fe and New Mexico. Ken can be contacted via email at kenortolon@gmail.com.