Pat Garrett is a name that echoes through the tales of the Wild West, mostly because of one infamous event: the killing of Billy the Kid. Garrett himself feared that this single moment would overshadow his entire life. Whenever he met new people, they often exclaimed, “Hey! You’re Pat Garrett, the guy who shot Billy the Kid!” This event indeed became the defining moment of his legacy, as he took down one of the most notorious figures of the Old West.
As Billy the Kid’s legend grew, so did the public’s sympathy for him. Many began to see Garrett as the villain, accusing him of cowardice for shooting Billy in the dark. In the romanticized view of the Wild West, heroes were expected to face their foes in a fair duel, not in ambush. Had Garrett confronted Billy in a classic showdown, perhaps his story would be remembered differently.
Despite this, Garrett remains a complex figure in Western history. Some admire him as a tough lawman in a chaotic era, while others view him as a coward. His life continued with many adventures after Billy the Kid’s death, ending with Garrett’s own mysterious murder, which still intrigues historians today.
Patrick Floyd Jarvis Garrett was born on June 5, 1850, in Chambers County, Alabama. His family moved to Louisiana when he was young, where his father bought a cotton plantation. However, the Civil War devastated their finances, and both of Garrett’s parents died within a year of each other in the late 1860s. At 18, Garrett left home to seek his fortune.
Garrett spent some time in Texas, working as a farmhand near Dallas before becoming a buffalo hunter. He started a business selling buffalo hides, but as the buffalo population dwindled, he moved on to New Mexico. During this period, Garrett experienced a life-changing event when he killed a man named Joe Briscoe in self-defense during an argument. This incident left Garrett with a heavy heart, but he continued with his life.
In New Mexico, Garrett worked as a cowboy at Pete Maxwell’s ranch, the same place where he would later confront Billy the Kid. He married Juanita Gutierrez, who tragically died during childbirth. Garrett later married her sister, Apolinaria, and they had eight children together.
In 1880, Garrett was elected sheriff of Lincoln County, New Mexico Territory. His primary focus was capturing Billy the Kid, who had become infamous due to his role in the Lincoln County War. This conflict began in 1878 between two rival factions fighting for control of the local dry goods business. Billy the Kid was part of a group called the Regulators, who sought revenge for the murder of their leader, John Tunstall.
The Lincoln County War was marked by violent shootouts and revenge killings. After the death of Tunstall and another leader, Alexander McSween, the Regulators lost their leadership, but Billy the Kid continued his outlaw ways.
Garrett’s pursuit of Billy the Kid began in earnest in late 1880. He confronted the gang in December, resulting in the death of Tom O’Folliard. A few days later, Garrett led a siege on an abandoned farmhouse, capturing the gang. However, Billy the Kid escaped from custody in April 1881, killing two deputies in the process.
Garrett resumed his pursuit and suspected that Billy was hiding at Pete Maxwell’s ranch. On July 14, Garrett waited in the dark and shot Billy the Kid when he entered the room, ending the outlaw’s life.
News of Billy the Kid’s death spread quickly, turning him into a folk hero while Garrett was seen as a cold-blooded killer. To defend his actions, Garrett wrote a book titled “The Authentic Life of Billy, the Kid,” but it was criticized for inaccuracies.
Garrett did not seek re-election as sheriff and briefly joined the Texas Rangers. He later attempted to enter the irrigation business, partnering with Charles Eddy to form the Pecos Irrigation and Investment Company, but he was eventually pushed out.
In 1896, Garrett was drawn back into law enforcement to investigate the disappearance of Colonel Albert Jennings Fountain and his son. Despite finding evidence of violence, Garrett never solved the case, and the suspects were acquitted.
In 1901, President Teddy Roosevelt appointed Garrett as the collector of customs in El Paso, but his tenure was controversial and ended in 1905. Garrett’s life came to a mysterious end on February 29, 1908, when he was shot on his way to Las Cruces, New Mexico. His killer, Jesse Wayne Brazel, claimed self-defense and was acquitted, but many believe there was more to the story.
Garrett’s death remains a mystery, and his legacy as a lawman is a mix of admiration and controversy. His life story continues to captivate those interested in the Wild West and its legendary figures.
Research and create a detailed timeline of Pat Garrett’s life, highlighting key events such as his early life, his role in the Lincoln County War, the pursuit of Billy the Kid, and his later years. Use online resources and the article to gather information. Present your timeline using a digital tool or on a poster board, and be prepared to share it with the class.
Participate in a class debate about whether Pat Garrett should be considered a hero or a villain. Divide into two groups, with one side defending Garrett’s actions and the other criticizing them. Use evidence from the article and additional research to support your arguments. After the debate, reflect on how perspectives can shape historical narratives.
Imagine you are Pat Garrett and write a diary entry describing your thoughts and feelings after the shooting of Billy the Kid. Consider how Garrett might have felt about his legacy and the public’s perception of him. Use historical context from the article to make your entry authentic and insightful.
Research the Lincoln County War and create a presentation that explains its causes, key figures, and outcomes. Focus on how this conflict influenced Pat Garrett’s life and career. Use visuals such as maps and photographs to enhance your presentation, and be ready to present your findings to the class.
Conduct a mini-investigation into the mysterious circumstances surrounding Pat Garrett’s death. Gather information from the article and other sources to explore different theories about his murder. Create a report or presentation that outlines the evidence and your conclusions about what might have happened.
**Sanitized Transcript:**
Pat Garrett once admitted that he feared having his life defined by just one moment – the killing of William H. Bonney, better known as Billy the Kid. He dreaded meeting new people because they often said something like, “Hey! You’re Pat Garrett, the guy who shot Billy the Kid!” Unfortunately for him, this fear became a reality. His legacy is closely tied to the killing of Bonney, which is what happens when you take down one of the biggest icons of the Wild West.
As the outlaw’s reputation grew and he became a legend of the Old West, sympathy for him increased, and Garrett was slowly becoming the villain of this tale. While Billy the Kid was a ruthless individual who committed many violent acts, people felt that Garrett acted cowardly by shooting him in the dark. That was not how heroes of the Wild West were imagined to behave. If they had met in a duel, the story would likely be remembered very differently. Bonus points for Garrett if he had delivered a clever one-liner before shooting and lit a cigar afterward.
As it stands, Pat Garrett occupies a gray area in western lore where some admire him as a tough lawman in a lawless land, while others label him a coward. However, his life continued with other adventures after the death of Bonney, culminating in Garrett’s own mysterious murder that still puzzles people today.
**Early Years**
He was born Patrick Floyd Jarvis Garrett on June 5, 1850, in Chambers County, Alabama, to John Lumpkin Garrett and Elizabeth Jarvis. At a young age, he moved with his family to Louisiana after his father bought a cotton plantation in Claiborne Parish. Initially, the Garrett family thrived, but everything changed when the Civil War broke out, ruining their finances. Both parents died less than a year apart in 1867 and 1868, leaving behind a plantation burdened with debt. Pat’s younger siblings were taken in by various relatives. When Garrett turned 18, he decided to leave and, in 1869, rode off on his own.
Very few details are known about the next years of Garrett’s life. He settled in Texas for a while, near the Dallas area, where he worked as a farmhand. A few years later, he became a buffalo hunter on the Staked Plains and started a business selling hides. However, this was not a sustainable career, as buffalo were hunted nearly to extinction during the 19th century. Once the supply began to dwindle, Garrett left Texas and drifted toward Fort Sumner in New Mexico.
Before arriving there, another significant event in Pat Garrett’s life occurred – the first time he killed a man. This happened around 1876 when he shot a friend and fellow buffalo hunter named Joe Briscoe during an argument that escalated to violence. Briscoe charged at Garrett with an axe, prompting Garrett to shoot him at point-blank range. Allegedly, as he lay dying, Briscoe asked for forgiveness, leaving Garrett in tears. Overcome with guilt, he tried to turn himself in, but the authorities showed no interest in prosecuting him, so he continued with his life.
When he arrived in New Mexico, Garrett found work as a cowboy at Pedro “Pete” Maxwell’s ranch, the same place where he would later kill Billy the Kid. During this time, he married Juanita Gutierrez, who died less than a year into their marriage during childbirth. Garrett remarried in 1880 to Apolinaria Gutierrez, the younger sister of his first wife, and they had eight children together.
**The Lincoln County War**
In 1880, Garrett was elected sheriff of Lincoln County, New Mexico Territory, and immediately focused on Billy the Kid and his associates. By this time, Billy the Kid had gained notoriety due to his involvement in the Lincoln County War, a violent feud that began in 1878 between two factions vying for control of the dry goods business. On one side was the established group led by James Dolan and Lawrence Murphy, while the other was a new partnership between John Tunstall and Alexander McSween.
The Lincoln County War officially started on February 18, 1878, when the Boys killed John Tunstall. The Regulators, including Billy the Kid, formed to seek justice for Tunstall’s murder. This feud was marked by multiple shootouts and revenge killings, including the murder of Sheriff Brady, which forced Bonney to go on the run with Garrett in pursuit. The war culminated in the Battle of Lincoln, where both Tunstall and McSween were killed, leaving the Regulators without leadership.
**The First Pursuit**
By the time Garrett began pursuing Billy the Kid, Bonney was already a notorious gunman. He and a few other Regulators continued their violent ways, eventually crossing paths with Garrett in late 1880. On December 19, Garrett confronted members of the gang, resulting in the death of Tom O’Folliard. A few days later, Garrett tracked the gang to an abandoned farmhouse, leading to a two-day siege that ended with the gang’s surrender.
If this had been the end of the road for Billy the Kid, Garrett might have been remembered as a hero. However, on April 28, while awaiting execution, Bonney managed to escape from custody, killing two deputies in the process. Garrett was not in town when this happened, but he soon resumed his pursuit.
A few months later, Garrett suspected that Bonney was hiding at Pete Maxwell’s ranch. On the night of July 14, Garrett was waiting in the dark when Bonney entered the room. Upon recognizing his voice, Garrett shot him twice without warning, and Billy the Kid was dead before he hit the ground.
**Aftermath**
News of Billy the Kid’s death spread quickly, and he began to be portrayed as a folk hero in the media, while Garrett was depicted as a cold-blooded assassin. Unable to bear this portrayal, Garrett wrote his own account of the events titled “The Authentic Life of Billy, the Kid” in 1882, but it was later criticized for inaccuracies and embellishments.
Garrett did not seek re-election as sheriff and briefly joined the Texas Rangers before leaving law enforcement for about a decade. He attempted to enter the irrigation industry, realizing its necessity for successful agriculture in the arid Southwest. He partnered with businessman Charles Eddy and others to form the “Pecos Irrigation and Investment Company,” but eventually found himself sidelined as the company grew.
**The Fountain Mystery**
In 1896, Garrett was back in the headlines due to the disappearance of Colonel Albert Jennings Fountain and his son. Fountain had made powerful enemies while investigating cattle rustling. After their presumed murder, suspicion fell on two wealthy ranchers, leading Governor William Thornton to coax Garrett out of retirement as sheriff of Doña Ana County.
Garrett found evidence of violence at the presumed murder site but was never able to locate the bodies. He pursued suspects but faced challenges in the investigation, leading to a trial where the accused were acquitted, and the case remains unsolved.
**Presidential Appointee**
In 1899, Garrett was involved in a gunfight while pursuing a fugitive named Norman Newman, marking one of his last acts as a lawman. In 1901, he was appointed collector of customs in El Paso by President Teddy Roosevelt, but his tenure was marred by controversy and ended in 1905.
**The Strange Demise of Pat Garrett**
On February 29, 1908, Garrett was shot on his way to Las Cruces, New Mexico, and died at the age of 57. His killer, Jesse Wayne Brazel, claimed self-defense and was acquitted, but many believe there was more to the story. Disputes over land and personal animosities may have played a role in his death, leading to various conspiracy theories regarding the true circumstances.
Ultimately, Garrett’s death remains shrouded in mystery, and his legacy as a lawman is complex, marked by both admiration and controversy.
Pat Garrett – An American Old West lawman known for killing Billy the Kid. – Pat Garrett’s role as a lawman during the Lincoln County War made him a significant figure in the history of the Wild West.
Billy the Kid – An infamous outlaw and gunfighter of the American Old West, known for his role in the Lincoln County War. – Billy the Kid became a folk hero due to his rebellious nature and his involvement in numerous shootouts.
Wild West – A term used to describe the western United States during the late 19th century, characterized by lawlessness and frontier life. – The Wild West was a period marked by rapid expansion and frequent conflicts between settlers and Native Americans.
Lawman – An officer responsible for enforcing the law in the Old West, often in towns with little formal legal structure. – As a lawman, Wyatt Earp played a crucial role in maintaining order in the tumultuous environment of Tombstone, Arizona.
Lincoln County War – A conflict between rival factions in New Mexico during the late 1870s, involving cattle barons, merchants, and outlaws. – The Lincoln County War was a significant event that highlighted the power struggles and lawlessness of the American frontier.
Regulators – A group of vigilantes who took the law into their own hands during the Lincoln County War, often associated with Billy the Kid. – The Regulators were known for their attempts to bring justice to the corrupt practices of powerful cattle barons.
Shootouts – Gunfights that were common in the American Wild West, often involving lawmen and outlaws. – The shootout at the O.K. Corral is one of the most famous gunfights in Wild West history.
Folk Hero – A person who is admired by many for their courage or noble qualities, often celebrated in stories and legends. – Davy Crockett became a folk hero for his adventurous life and his role in the Texas Revolution.
Customs – Traditional practices and behaviors that are characteristic of a particular society or community. – The customs of Native American tribes varied greatly across different regions of the United States.
Mystery – Something that is difficult or impossible to understand or explain, often involving historical events or figures. – The disappearance of the Roanoke Colony remains one of the greatest mysteries in American history.
