On the Trail of Sheriff Pat Garrett
From Amarillo, Texas, to Las Cruces, New Mexico.
Categories: Renegade Roads
By: Johnny D. Boggs 01/01/2008
Honest Lincoln
The Lincoln County Courthouse has been turned into a museum. In fact, the whole town is a museum. You can grab a bite to eat or hang your hat at the Wortley Hotel across the street, walk down to the store owned by Billy the Kid’s former boss, John Tunstall, or check out the Anderson Freeman Visitor Center for a great history lesson on the Lincoln County War.
In December 1880, Pat captured Billy near Taiban and—after a trial in Old Mesilla for the murder of Sheriff William Brady during the Lincoln County War—housed him in the second story of this courthouse awaiting execution. On April 18, 1881, however, Billy broke loose, killing deputies James Bell and Bob Olinger, and lighting a shuck north.
Pat was in White Oaks, either collecting taxes or finding lumber for Billy’s gallows, so I’m off to this ghost town near Carrizozo.
DIGG | del.icio.us | REDDIT