#ThisDayInHistory Billy The Kid Arrested For First Time
On September 23, 1875, Billy the Kid (born Henry McCarty; September 17 or November 23, 1859 – July 14, 1881) is arrested for the first time after stealing a basket of laundry. He later broke out of jail and roamed the American West, eventually earning a reputation as an outlaw and murderer and a rap sheet that allegedly included 21 murders.
McCarty was 15 years old when his mother died. Sarah Brown, the owner of a boarding house, gave him room and board in exchange for work.
Shortly after on September 16, 1875, McCarty was caught stealing food.
Ten days later, McCarty and George Schaefer robbed a Chinese laundry, stealing clothing and two pistols.
McCarty traveled to southeastern Arizona Territory, where he worked as a ranch hand and gambled his wages in nearby gaming houses. In 1876, he was hired as a ranch hand by well-known rancher Henry Hooker. During this time, McCarty became acquainted with John R. Mackie, a Scottish-born criminal and former U.S. Cavalry private who, following his discharge, remained near the U.S. Army post at Camp Grant in Arizona.
The two men soon began stealing horses from local soldiers. McCarty became known as "Kid Antrim" because of his youth, slight build, clean-shaven appearance, and personality.
After killing a blacksmith during an altercation in August 1877, McCarty became a wanted man in Arizona and returned to New Mexico, where he joined a group of cattle rustlers. He became well known in the region when he joined the Regulators and took part in the Lincoln County War of 1878.
He and two other Regulators were later charged with killing three men, including Lincoln County Sheriff William J. Brady and one of his deputies.
McCarty's notoriety grew in December 1880 when the Las Vegas Gazette, in Las Vegas, New Mexico, and The Sun, in New York City, carried stories about his crimes. Sheriff Pat Garrett captured McCarty later that month.
In April 1881, McCarty was tried for and convicted of Brady's murder and was sentenced to hang in May of that year.
McCarty asked to be taken outside to use the outhouse behind the courthouse; on their return to the jail, McCarty—who was walking ahead of Bell up the stairs to his cell—hid around a blind corner, slipped out of his handcuffs, and beat Bell with the loose end of the cuffs.
During the ensuing scuffle, McCarty grabbed Bell's revolver and fatally shot him in the back as Bell tried to get away.
McCarty, with his legs still shackled, broke into Garrett's office and took a loaded shotgun left behind by Olinger. After about an hour, McCarty freed himself from the leg irons with an axe. He obtained a horse and rode out of town
While McCarty was on the run, Governor Wallace placed a new $500 bounty on the fugitive's head.
Almost three months after his escape, Garrett, responding to rumors that McCarty was in the vicinity of Fort Sumner, left Lincoln with two deputies on July 14, 1881, to question resident Pete Maxwell, a friend of McCarty's.
Maxwell, son of land baron Lucien Maxwell, spoke with Garrett the same day for several hours. Around midnight, the pair sat in Maxwell's darkened bedroom when McCarty unexpectedly entered.
McCarty failed to recognize Garrett due to the poor lighting. Drawing his revolver and backing away, McCarty asked "¿Quién es? ¿Quién es?" (Spanish for "Who is it? Who is it?"). Recognizing McCarty's voice, Garrett drew his revolver and fired twice.
Over time, legends grew claiming that McCarty was not killed and that Garrett staged the incident and death out of friendship so that McCarty could evade the law.
During the next 50 years, a number of men claimed they were Billy the Kid. Most of these claims were easily disproven, but two have remained topics of discussion and debate.
#ThisDayInHistory
September 23, 1875