1934: Pistol That Killed Billy The Kid Will Be Returned to Garrett's Widow

10/06/1934

One of the most famous weapons of the wild west, the gun that killed Billy the Kid, tomorrow will be returned to Mrs. Pat Garrett, widow of the pioneer sheriff who ended the young desperado's bloody career.

At a little ceremony in Las Cruces, N. M., Atty. U.S. Goen, who obtained possession of the gun for Mrs. Garrett after a legal battle that went to the Supreme court of Texas, will hand her the historic, single-action, .44 caliber revolver.

Mrs. Garrett is ill, but said she would be able to stand on the front porch of ,her Las Cruces home and receive the gun.

The weapon was left with Tom Powers for exhibition purposes in his old Coney Island saloon in 1904.

Sheriff Garrett was killed in! 1908, and Mr. Powers kept the gun until he died a few years ago, when it was appraised as part of the Powers estate.

Mrs. Garrett sued Dr. J. B. Brady, administrator of the Powers estate, for the gun, and finally won her suit.

A notorious figure in the Lincoln county, N. M. cattle war, late in the last century, Billy the Kid achieved renown for his daring escape from officers and for other exploits.

It is said that Billy The Kid, 21 years old, boasted that he had killed 21 men, "not countin' Injuns." His real name was William Bonney.

The young. gunman was shot to death on the night of July 14, 1881 in Pete Maxwell's ranch house near Ft. Sumner, N, M.

Sheriff Garrett, sitting in the darkness of Maxwell's room, heard the Kid enter.

"Quien es?" asked the Kid. (Who is it?)

Sheriff Garrett's gun roared in reply, and Billy the Kid fell dead.