Recent immigrants, attracted to the West by the government’s promise of free land, law, and order, began to flee back to the east complaining bitterly of the outrages and general lawlessness. President Hayes, having won a hotly contested election by one electoral vote (and a minority of voters), decided to replace the corrupt governor, Axtell, with the Bible-thumping, Civil War General, Lew Wallace.
Governor Wallace promptly pardoned everyone and turned his attention to finishing the biblical novel, Ben Hur, his one-way ticket out of such a god-forsaken frontier post.95
AND HE SHALL TAKE THE TWO GOATS, AND PRESENT THEM BEFORE THE LORD AT THE DOOR OF THE TABERNACLE OF THE CONGREGATION.96
Ironically, the amnesty proclamation seemed to work. With Lincoln County looted out, most of the gangs disbanded its members moving on to fresher pastures. Those with roots stayed, but many took advantage of their clean slates to start over. Most of the Regulators got back to what they were doing before they rose up to challenge The House monopoly. Frank and George Coe went back to ranching on the Ruidoso. Unable to convince his close friend to do the same, Fred Waite left Billy the Kid behind and returned to Indian territory to serve as a tax collector. The mean and menacing Doc Scurlock moved his family to Texas and became a school teacher. On the other side, Colonel Dudley was exonerated at his trial (which featured a hostile cross-examination of the Kid by the Colonel himself). Even Dolan appeared to embrace a more civilized order when, through intermediaries, he offered the Kid an olive branch.
The peace parley took place on Main Street in Lincoln on February 18, 1879, exactly one year to the day an unarmed Tunstall was shot to death by the posse authorized by Sheriff Peppin but led by Dolan. All participants were loaded for bear. Dolan brought Billy Mathews (who had shot Billy in the thigh at the Brady shootout) and Jesse Evans (who led the sub-posse that arrested Tunstall). Billy came with Tom O’Folliard and Jose Salazar (both had followed Billy out of the burning McSween house). They actually worked out a six-point agreement and celebrated with a few rounds of drink (the Kid abstaining as usual). As they were leaving the bar together in newfound respect and friendship, Dolan got into an argument with Huston I. Chapman in the middle of Main Street. He shot the unarmed, one-armed lawyer for refusing to dance. Chapman had been representing Mrs. McSween against Dolan and Colonel Dudley. His methodology included a healthy mixture of prosecution (for her Husband’s murder); civil suits (for property lost); and a letter campaign to the governor, the president, and local newspapers discrediting the Ring. In other words, according to Dolan, he was a man “that needed killing.” The Kid, O’Folliard, and Salazar witnessed the murder, but were held at bay by Mathews and Evans who had their guns drawn first.97
Chapman’s death gave the Ring an opportunity to re-consolidate its power in the region utilizing a spin that modern public relation firms would envy. At first, it looked bad for Dolan. Angered that his amnesty proclamation had been ignored, Wallace issued orders to the military to arrest Dolan for the murder of Chapman with Evans and Mathews as accessories. All three surrendered voluntarily with Dudley providing comfortable quarters at the fort.
Finding witnesses willing to testify wasn’t so easy, however. Few were brave enough to risk “protective custody.” After meeting with local citizens, Wallace came to the realization that William H. Bonney, known locally as the Kid, was his man. He was highly praised in the community and afraid of no one. Although Billy desired a clean slate, he feared the local Ring-controlled authorities wouldn’t recognize it without a governor’s pardon.
Wallace issued a 100 dollar reward for Billy Bonney, alias the Kid, delivered alive, although nobody dared attempt to collect it. Through intermediaries, however, a meeting was finally arranged.98
AND AARON SHALL CAST LOTS UPON THE TWO GOATS; ONE LOT FOR THE LORD, AND THE OTHER LOT FOR THE SCAPEGOAT.99
“At the time designated, I heard a knock at the door, and I called out, ‘Come in.’ The door opened somewhat slowly and carefully, and there stood the young fellow generally known as the Kid, his Winchester in his right hand, his revolver in his left.
“‘I was sent for to meet the governor here at 9 o’clock,’ said the Kid. ‘Is he here?’
“I rose to my feet, saying, ‘I am Governor Wallace,’ and held out my hand. When we had shaken hands, I invited the young fellow to be seated.
“‘Your note gave promise of absolute protection,’ said the young outlaw warily.
“‘Yes,’ I replied, ‘and I have been true to my promise,’ and then pointing to Squire Wilson, I added, ‘This man, whom of course you know, and I are the only persons in the house.’ This seemed to satisfy the Kid for he lowered his rifle and returned his revolver to his holster. When he had taken his seat, I proceeded to unfold the plan I had in mind to enable him to testify to what he knew about the killing of Chapman at the forthcoming session of court two weeks later without endangering his life. I closed with the promise, ‘In return for your doing this, I will let you go scot-free with a pardon in your pocket for all your misdeeds.’
“When I finished, the Kid talked over the details of this plan for his fake arrest with a good deal of zest. He even ventured the suggestion that he should be hand-cuffed during his confinement in order to give a bona-fide coloring to the whole proceeding.”
- Governor Lew Wallace100
Shortly after the Kid agreed to let himself be “arrested,” Dolan et al conveniently escaped from the prison at Colonel Dudley’s Fort Stanton. Billy lived up to his side of the bargain with Governor Wallace testifying in the case against Dolan. However, no one ever bothered to re-arrest Dolan, so while Billy was hauled in and out of the court room unshaven, dressed in rags and chains, and guarded by two heavily armed deputies, Dolan walked freely in and out of the courtroom, clean shaven and well dressed. Further compounding the state’s case was Judge Bristol who had known ties to The Ring. In fact, The Ring’s leader, T.B. Catron himself made a rare trip down from Las Vegas just to defend Dolan. It’s no coincidence that Bristol and Catron were both Free Masons, but so was the prosecuting attorney, District Attorney Rynerson, who didn’t even bother to interview his star witness, Billy the Kid, before the trial. Surprising no one, all charges were eventually dropped against Dolan as well as Evans and Mathews in absentia.
By this time, most of the smoke had settled and Wallace was already taking credit for bringing peace to Lincoln County in the same vein that he took credit for having saved Washington, D.C. fifteen years earlier during the Civil War. In July of 1864, he had been called upon to defend the nation’s capital only to be routed by Jubal Early at Frederick leaving 1,000 men behind in a hasty retreat. Fortunately, the prisoners slowed Early’s advance on Washington long enough for Grant’s last minute reinforcements to entrench themselves. Now, outmaneuvered by The Ring, Wallace again retreated. This time he left behind his loyal witness to answer for his actions. While Wallace returned all his attentions toward completing his masterpiece, Ben Hur, Billy was still in jail without a pardon. Rynerson was now free to turn all his attentions toward convicting Billy of the war crime of killing Brady, ignoring both the governor’s amnesty proclamation and the fact that Billy was but one of a group of Regulators. Billy, seeing the writing on the wall, escaped jail yet again, leaving his own message carved into the stockade.
William Bonney was incarcerated here
first time December 22nd 1878
second time March 21st 1879
and hope I never will be again
Billy, the only Lincoln War veteran charged with a crime, was officially an outlaw on the run, yet again.101
To the Santa Fe Ring, trying to regain control, Billy was a thorn that had to be removed. In order to convince the Lincolnites that their man Dolan was back in the saddle again, the Kid had to be made into an example. They had tried peace, intimidation, and the law, but they still had a weapon of which they themselves had yet to realize the full power: propaganda. With a slew of Ring subsidized papers (The Albuquerque Review, Gr
ant County Herald, Las Cruces Semi-Weekly, Las Vegas Gazette, Lincoln County Leader, Roswell Daily Record, and the Sante Fe New Mexican), they could spread the word that there was a new outlaw among us, one unlike any before. Painted as young and ruthless with extraordinary physical gifts, the infant rascal proved an infectious scapegoat. Other papers eagerly followed suit.
Between articles on alleged misdeeds and atrocities committed by the teenage terror, the Las Vegas Gazette presented an ongoing serial entitled “The Forty Thieves,” an action-adventure-romance that featured the “boy bandit king.” The series proved popular enough to be made into comic books and dime novels back East.
Although the Kid was well respected, even revered in areas immediately surrounding Lincoln and Fort Sumner, outlining towns started forming lynch mobs upon hearing of his arrival.
However, the most damaging article to Billy’s hopes of a pardon, was an editorial in the Gazette that was reprinted in other papers and mailed directly to the governor by an anonymous party. This famous editorial did more to destroy Billy’s reputation than any previous misdeed, real or imagined.102
AND AARON SHALL BRING THE GOAT UPON WHICH THE LORD’S LOT FELL, AND OFFER HIM FOR A SIN OFFERING.103
You Lew Wallace
Dear Sir
I noticed in the Las Vegas gazette a piece which stated that Billy the Kid a name given me by certain Papers was the captain of a land of outlans. There is no such organization in existence. So the gentleman must have draws heavily upon the imagineation.
My business at the white oaks at the time I was waylaid and my horse killed was to see judge Leanard who had my case in hand in order to Defend me. He had written to me to come up as you had allowed him the power to get Everything Straigtind up. I made my escape on foot to a station. forty miles from the Oaks kept by Mr. Greathouse. When I got up the next morning the house was surrounded by an outfit led by one Carlyle. Geathouse went out to speak with them and then carclyle came into the house and demanded a surrender. I asked for their papers and they had none. So I concluded it amounted to nothing more than a mol and told Carlyle that he would have to stay in the house and lead the way out that night. Soon after a note was brought in stating that if Carlycle did not come out inside of five minutes they would kill the station keeper. in a short time a shot was fired on the outside and Carlyle thinking Greathouse was killed jumped through the window and was killed by his our Party they think it was me trying to make my escape. the Party then withdrew. They returned the next day to lurn an old man Spencers house and Greathouses also.
There is no Doubt but what there is a great deal of stealing going on in the Territory and a great deal of property is taken across the Plains as it is a good outlet but so far as my being at the head of a land there is nothing of it. In several instances I have recovered stolen property when there was no chance to get an officer to do it.
One instance for Hugh zuler post office Puerts de Luna another for Pabls Analla same place if some impartial Party were to investigate this matter they wuld find it far different from the impression put out by the Papers and others who are out to get me but why I do not know.
Yours Respect.
W. H. Bonney105
“Others with prices on their heads simply moved on to greener pastures, why didn’t Billy?”
- Thomas Milton Seagraves107
“I will say that I would not have hesitated to marry him and follow him through danger, poverty, or hardship to the ends of the earth in spite of anything he had ever done or what the world might have been pleased to think of me. That is the way of Spanish girls when they are in love.”
- Paulita Maxwell108
THEN SHALL HE KILL THE GOAT OF THE SIN OFFERING.109
Chapter Fourteen
“This is the West, sir. When the legend becomes fact, print the legend.”
-The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance110
I have a new plan for safely making it to the lobby. Why didn’t I think of it before? It will be difficult, physically demanding, but I’ve made a solemn vow and I intend to keep it.
INTERIOR: LABORATORY—EVENING
The laboratory, situated in the main tower of an ancient castle, reminds one of a medieval torture chamber. The stone walls are lined with shelves holding large bottles of body parts in formaldehyde. From the ceiling hangs a strange apparatus which seems composed of wires and other conduits leading down to a dome which hovers above an operating table complete with leather straps and metal bars to restrain a patient. Two men stand on either side of the table.
BILLY THE KID
Where is she? Where have you locked up Sallie?
DR. FRANKENSTEIN
So, Mr. Bonney, you fancy my lovely niece do you?
BILLY THE KID
Anything to save her from your evil clutches.
DR. FRANKENSTEIN
Save her? How touching. Do all young Americans have such romantic notions?
Billy pulls out his pistol and cocks back the hammer.
BILLY THE KID
Where is she doc? I’m not going to ask twice.111
From within the dark safety of my foyer, I listen for threatening echoes in the hallway. When it sounds clear, I open the apartment door an inch. Upon getting visual confirmation, I rumble to the stairway. The stair door resists being opened. It’s vacuumed shut! I pull with all my might, but the portal barely opens an inch before being sucked back. As I tug, I hear shuffling behind the apartment door across from me. It’s Mrs. Moss’s apartment. I hear the door being unbolted. She’s coming out!
DR. FRANKENSTEIN
Ah, you Americans do love your guns, don’t you? But you can’t see sweet Sallie at the moment. One doesn’t disturb the bride on her wedding day.
BILLY THE KID
Her what?
DR. FRANKENSTEIN
You mean you didn’t get an invitation? Oh well, too late now. But you can still share our joy. My lovely niece has found the man of her dreams.
BILLY THE KID
Why you … you dirty old man.
DR. FRANKENSTEIN
Me? Ha, ha! You couldn’t be further from the truth, my boy.
BILLY THE KID
Not you, then who?
DR. FRANKENSTEIN
Who else is there?
BILLY THE KID
No, no, you wouldn’t. Not even you could be so cruel.
DR. FRANKENSTEIN
Cruelty has nothing to with it. My creation needs a mate.
BILLY THE KID
Never! Over my dead body.
DR. FRANKENSTEIN
That, my dear lad, can be easily arranged.
From behind a heavy wooden door, framed in iron, a deep, guttural grunt can be heard.
THE MONSTER
Ugh!112
Mrs. Moss cracks her door open. If I make a dash for my apartment, she’ll see me. If I don’t move, the day is ruined—again! The spokes of her two-wheeled shopping cart peek out. I must make a decision, yet what decision is there to make?
Suddenly, I experience a surge of power, an adrenalin boost not unlike those experienced by panicked mothers known to lift trucks off babies. I swing the door open and pour into the stairwell. I shut the door and crouch beneath the window.
“Is anyone there?” Mrs. Moss’s scratchy voice scrapes through the door and echoes down the stairs.
I hold my breath.
DR. FRANKENSTEIN
Come, come my son. There’s a man here who wants to hurt your father. Come, come to save him.
The door opens. The monster comes out of the dark. Dr. Frankenstein points to Billy.
DR. FRANKENSTEIN
There, my son, there is the evil man! He wants to hurt you too. He wants to steal your lovely bride.
THE MONSTER
Uuuuuggggghhhhh!!!!!
DR. FRANKENSTEIN
Get him!
As the monster approaches, Billy shoots it twice, but the bullets don’t seem to affect it. Billy then leaps over the table and grabs Dr.
Frankenstein, putting this pistol to the doctor’s head.
BILLY THE KID
Tell him to stop or I’ll shoot.
DR. FRANKENSTEIN
Stop, stop, my son. Stop or he’ll hurt your father.
THE MONSTER
Ugh?
BILLY THE KID
Now give me the keys, doc, and tell me where you put Sallie. Hand them over or I’ll shoot yer dern head off.113
“Is anyone there?”
My heart beats wildly. My lungs scream for air.
“If you don’t answer, I’ll have to get the doorman.”
The doorman, one of my few sources left for positive first greetings!
“Meow.”
“Sneakers, how did you get out?” I hear Mrs. Moss walk down the hall after her fugitive kitty. She passes by the window. I take a deep breath and tip toe down the stairs.
EXTERIOR: GRAVEYARD—SUNSET
SALLIE CHISUM
Oh Billy, how can I ever thank you for saving me?
BILLY THE KID
I only did what any man would do.
SALLIE CHISUM
It’s too bad Uncle Frankenstein had to die such a terrible death. Killed by the very creation he gave life.
BILLY THE KID
Some men need killing.
SALLIE CHISUM
And everything, burned to the ground. Maybe it’s all for the best. And to think that father sent me overseas to learn more of the world before I marry. Maybe there are some things we’re better off not knowing.
BILLY THE KID
Maybe.
SALLIE CHISUM
Although father sent me here to gain the culture needed to marry into a prominent family, I’ve learned some thing more important. I’ve learned that there’s more to a man than his title or birth. Billy, you do understand what I’m saying, don’t you?
BILLY THE KID
Yes, I believe I do.
Sallie hugs Billy passionately.
SALLIE CHISUM
Oh Billy, please don’t go. I’ll die at boarding school separated from you. Let’s run away together Billy. You do love me don’t you?
Billy’s Blues Page 10