In some ways, his life is more interesting than that of Billy the Kid.
The general consensus is Pat Garrett is the man who shot and killed Billy the Kid. Years later, Garrett was shot and killed and the circumstances around his death are still under debate.
I like western history, but don’t know a whole lot about Pat Garrett. I know he was a tall guy, and according to the Young Guns franchise, he and Billy the Kid were allegedly friends. Plus, I understand he’s really tall. So, on to some facts about Pat Garrett.
A special coffin had to be shipped in from El Paso. The company that made the coffin gave a jar of salsa as a promotional tool. What’s that? Apparently, that salsa thing wasn’t accurate.
He also shot and killed another buffalo hunter, Joe Briscoe, but wasn’t prosecuted. I wonder if he said Briscoe didn’t announce himself, which I believe what in legal terms is now called, “The Dick Cheney Defense.”
For years it was the definitive source for information about Billy the Kid. However, the book did not prove to be a financial success. Wow, Pat Garrett, starving artist.
Actually, Garrett was one of a number of lawmen involved in the shootout which resulted in the death of Newman. Newman was wanted for murder in Greer County, Oklahoma but the shootout occurred on the San Augustin Ranch in New Mexico. So. it was “Good-bye, Newman.”
8: Teddy Roosevelt nominated Garrett to the position of collector of customs in El Paso. He was subsequently confirmed by the Senate.
During his tenure at that position, Garrett was played by charges of incompetence. Finally, in 1905 Garrett was invited to a reunion of the Rough Riders, even though Garrett wasn’t part of regiment. Garrett took a guest with him. The guest was Tom Powers, who Garrett presented as a prominent Texas cattleman. It was later revealed to Roosevelt that Powers was actually the owner of the Coney Island Saloon, a notorious dive bar. When Roosevelt was informed of that, he dumped Garrett. The moral of the story? Your and one matters.
9: Garrett was plagued by financial problems in his later years.
After being canned by Roosevelt, Garrett was in line for job of superintendent of the territorial prison at Santa Fe. However, that job dried up when it was discovered he was living with a woman reputed to be an El Paso prostitute. I wonder if he met her in the Coney Island Saloon?
The stories of Billy the kid, Pat Garrett, Dallas Stoudenmire, the Earps, and Doc Holliday, among others, flavored my youth. The fact that I grew up in the area they all lived (for a spell) helped etch those stories in my memory. The Janes gang lived and "worked" further east and north and are not documented as having been in the southwest.
Kenneth Anderson
01-24
one fact for sure Pat Garrett buried unmarked grave .where who knows.
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