Live By The Gun Die By The Gun or do they

Most people do not know the name of Henry McCarty , some may not even know the name of William H. Bonney but mention the name Billy the Kid and most may know that the name comes out of the Old West. Billy the Kid was a gunfighter who participated in the New Mexico Territory's Lincoln County War of 1878. Bonney is known to have killed 8 men.

Born November 23rd 1859 the kid would live only 21 years. His crime of life started when Billy was only 16 years old. Henry McCarty was caught stealing some food and was arrested in 1875. In the next few months he would also be arrested for stealing clothing and firearms. William Bonney would escape from jail a few days later and head towards the New Mexico Territory. The summer of 1877 would see Bonney accused of murdering a blacksmith in Arizona territory. Billy the kid would become part of a group of cattle rustlers and headed back to New Mexico territory. Henry McCarty would become a regulator and fight in the Lincoln County War. The spring of 1878 the regulators would kill 3 men including the Lincoln co Sheriff. Billy the kid would be charge in connection with killing of all 3 men.

The stories of Billy the Kid would grow and in the winter of 1880 newspapers in Las Vegas, New Mexico and New York. Bonney would be captured by at Garret and in 1881 Bonney was tried and convicted of murder of Brady. He would be sentenced to hang in May but that April he would escape from jail killing 2 sheriff's deputies in process and evading capture for 2 more months. At the age of 21 Garrett would shoot and kill William Bonney July 14, 1881 in Fort Summer. Billy the Kid was a mere 21 years old or did he?? The Legend of Billy The Kid grew for years and many men claimed to be him.