Pat Garrett

Patrick Floyd Garrett ( born June 5, 1850 in Cusseta, Chambers County, Alabama, † February 28, 1908 at Las Cruces, New Mexico) was an American sheriff in Lincoln County, New Mexico.

As Sheriff of Lincoln County he shot on July 14, 1881 Henry McCarty (also William Bonney or Henry Antrim called ), who achieved fame as Billy the Kid. In his youth, Garrett worked as a pig farmer and brickmaker in New Mexico, where he met Henry McCarty in a bar. Nine years younger McCarty and Garrett became friends during this time.

Life

Garrett grew up in Louisiana and left his home to hunt bison in New Mexico. Then he worked at Pete Maxwell as a groom, where he met Henry McCarty. Later, the two they separated. Garrett married his fiancee Apolonaria Gutierrez and was the father of seven children. McCarty became more and more on the straight and narrow.

On January 1, 1880 Garrett was elected as sheriff of Lincoln County. Several law enforcement officials had already tried to make Billy the Kid arrest. Garrett got the job and Billy finally was able to provide. Instead of imprisoning him, he gave him six weeks to settle in Mexico. When Billy refused, the hunt was on him. Garrett asked Billy again on 23 December 1880 and this was sentenced on April 13, 1881 to death. Fourteen days later, Billy escaped from the Lincoln County Courthouse. Garrett Billy was again six weeks to go to Mexico, Billy refused again. On July 14, 1881 Pat Garrett shot Billy the Kid finally without warning when he entered the bedroom at the home of Pete Maxwell in Fort Sumner. Billy was unarmed. Because of the refusal on the part of many citizens had Garrett erstreiten with the help of a lawyer, the reward of $ 500. After he shot Billy the Kid, Garrett was shunned by the people more and more.

Garrett bought a ranch in the Organ Mountains near Las Cruces, New Mexico, which he leased to a man named Jesse Wayne Brazel. Between the two men there were disputes over again until Garrett was shot in 1908 by Brazel.

Garrett's grave is located at the Masonic Cemetery in Las Cruces.

Works

• Pat F. Garrett: The authentic life of Billy the Kid. A faithful and interesting story. University of Oklahoma Press, Norman, OK 2000, ISBN 0-8061-3227-2 (English; edition. The Authentic Life of Billy, the Kid, The Noted Desperado of the Southwest New Mexican Printing and Publishing Company, Santa Fe, 1882)

Movies

The story of Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid was filmed several times. A selection of films can be found in the article on Billy the Kid.