Lincoln County War continued from yesterday’s photo.
After the Battle of Lincoln, the territorial governor issued pardons to all people involved who did not have any warrants. This precluded Billy the Kid, since he had a warrant for the murder of Sheriff Brady. For the next year, Billy the Kid continued his outlaw ways including shootouts, a voluntary surrender in Lincoln arranged by the territorial governor, and an escape from jail when the governor did not make good on his promise.
At the end of 1880, Sheriff Pat Garrity captured Billy the Kid and his posse and transported them to Mesilla, New Mexico for trial, the capital of both New Mexico and Arizona territories. The judge from Billy the Kid guilty and reported to have sentenced him to “hang until dead, dead, dead” to which Billy replied, “You can go to hell, hell, hell!”
Billy the Kid was transferred to the jail in Lincoln. While there Billy the Kid asked to go to the outhouse, which was behind the jail/courthouse. He was escorted by James Bell. Upon return to his cell, Billy the Kid hid around a corner, attacked James Bell, took his gun, and shot him as he ran out the back of the building. This photo shows the site where James Bell was murdered, and the building in the background continues to be a public bathroom to this day.
