NOVA MCGILL
Contributor
Billy the Kid, one of the most famous outlaws and cowboys of all time, was arrested for the first time on September 23, 1875. He was arrested for a rather unexpected reason: stealing a basket of laundry. Later on, however, upon being arrested he escaped shortly thereafter.
Billy the Kid’s real name was Henry McCarty, also known as William H. Bonney. To many people’s misunderstanding, he wasn’t just a ruthless killer, for he had his own traumas within his life. He grew up tough, becoming an orphan in his early teens after his mother died of tuberculosis, leaving him to survive on his own. Despite his reputation, people often described him as polite, friendly, and even charming in personality, especially around women. He was also smaller than most people would expect, standing only about 5’7” with a slim build and slightly crooked front teeth.
Shockingly for his reputation, Billy the Kid was known to have spoken fluent English. He was fond of dancing and singing and got along very well with Hispanic communities. Notably, it was said he killed 21 men, the same number as his age. However, historians estimate it was closer to only nine and mostly in self-defense.
He escaped prison on multiple occasions, most notably in the escape of 1881, where he killed two deputies whilst avoiding Lincoln County jail in New Mexico. His story ended when Sheriff Pat Garrett claimed to have shot him that same year, but many people doubted his statement. Rumors had spread that Billy had survived and lived under different names, and even decades later several men came forward claiming to be him. Whether or not those stories are true, Billy the Kid still to this day remains one of the most fascinating and legendary figures of the Wild West. A figure that will continue to live on in both legend as well as the history books.