Pat Garrett

Pat Garrett was a West lawman that was called a hero and a coward. There were many stories of good guys vs. bad guys, and over time it is hard to look back and figure out who the real good guys were. Pat Garrett had honorable and honest qualities that led him to want to search and capture the famous Billy the Kid. Pat Garrett is known to be a famous western lawman that traveled the southwest with the courage to face violence, and uphold the law by capturing and killing Billy the Kid.
Pat Garrett is a famous historical figure, mostly known for killing Billy the Kid, also known as William H. Bonney, who was one of the most famous outlaws. Garrett was known as a sheriff or lawman that killed “The West’s” most famous outlaw. Garrett led a very interesting life, and was known to be hot tempered and very sarcastic. Garrett had many jobs throughout his lifetime, and he worked as a bartender, cowpuncher, buffalo herder, and sheriff. He was a father and husband, and he also killed “The West’s” most famous outlaw which some said were friends.
Pat Garrett was born on June 5th, 1850 in Chambers County, Alabama. He was one of seven children of John and Elizabeth Garrett. When Garrett was 3 years old, he and his family moved to Louisiana, where the family owned and worked their plantation. He spent close to 16 years of his life going to school and growing up in the South. His mother and father died in the years 1867-1868. The house and the land were sold and Garrett and his family were left with nothing so Garrett moved to Texas at the age of 19.

Garrett found work being a cowpuncher tending herds of animals on horseback. He was soon working with a man named John Briscoe in 1877 as a buffalo hunter. Garrett and Briscoe got into an argument over a herd of buffalo when Briscoe began attacking Garrett with an ax, and Garrett shot Briscoe because he thought that Briscoe would kill him. Briscoe died, and Garrett turned himself in, but there were no charges put against Garrett because the killing was in self-defense.
In 1878 Garrett moved to New Mexico, and he worked on a ranch for about a year before going to work as a bartender at a saloon called Beaver Smiths. Saloons were found in the mid-west and they had gambling and alcohol. This saloon is where Garrett would meet with “Billy the Kid” and they would drink and gamble. There is a card game called Casino, and the ten of diamonds is called the Big casino, and the two of spades was called Little Casino. Garrett and Billy the kid were seen drinking and gambling in the Saloon quit often, so people gave them the nicknames as the “little casino” and “big casino”.
Garrett decided to work on Peter Maxwell’s ranch, and then worked as a bartender in a salon that was called Beaver Smith’s Salon, and that is where Garrett met his wife. Garrett married a woman by the name of Juanita Gutierrez who ended up dying soon after they were married. Garrett later married Juanita’s sister Apolinaria in January 14, 1880, and the two raised 9 children over the years. During these years, Billy the Kid was becoming famous for his killings and unlawful behavior. That same year on November 2nd Pat Garrett became Lincoln County Sherriff. Garrett promised “to restore law and order”.

Garrett’s main focus was to catch Billy the Kid. Billy the Kid was an outlaw and was rumored to have killed 9 men, though the legend states he killed 21 men. Billy the kid joined a gang, and was part of the Lincoln County War. This is where he met his friend John Tunstall. John Tunstall was killed in 1878, and this really affected Billy the Kid. After the death of his friend Billy the Kid promised that he would kill every person that was involved in killing his friend John Tunstall. Garrett and Billy the kid had met in Fort Sumner, and would hang out around the Pecos River. A friendship was started, but it wasn’t hard for Garrett to put their friendship aside, because of Garrett’s devotion to justice. On December 15, 1880 Governor Wallace decided to put a $500 reward on Billy the Kids head, which would hopefully encourage the people to capture him. Garrett’s first vow was “to bring the current reign of lawlessness to an end”. After becoming sheriff Garrett began searching for Billy the Kid by setting up traps and ambushes. Billy the Kid and his gang were the most well-known men in the wild west.
Garrett’s captured Billy the Kid and threw him in jail in December along with 2 other people in Billy’s gang. After spending a few months in jail, Billy managed to escape while Garrett was away from Lincoln County working. A guard was walking Billy up some steps to his cell when Billy sprinted out grabbing a gun and shooting two of Pats guards.
On July 14, 1881 Garrett received information from Billy’s friend Peter Maxwell that Billy had been hiding out in Fort Sumner. So Pat and some of his deputies left to Fort Sumner to capture Billy. The night Garret arrived to Fort Sumner, he went to Maxwell’s house to try and get information on Billy’s whereabouts. While Pat was questioning Maxwell, Billy was also making his way to the Maxwell’s to pick up some meat. Billy spotted the deputies on the porch of the Maxwell house and began to question Maxwell who they were. Garrett heard Billy’s voice outside, and knew it was “The Kid”. Garrett was able to surprise Billy and from the shadows in a dark room Garrett fired two shots, which went through Billy’s heart, killing him.
Billy the Kid was known to have killed 21 men, and it was Garrets desire to uphold the law and capture him. Garrett a lawmen and Billy the Kid an outlaw were able to be friends on Sunday and at odds on Monday. Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid had an interesting friendship, which did not end well. Garrett could have easily been on the other side of the law, but decided that it was his duty to continue the search and capture Billy the Kid. People said that Garrett should have fought face to face rather than sneak up on Garrett. He was called a hero and a coward, and that would follow him for the rest of his life. Garrett had many struggles after the death of Billy the Kid. Garrett didn’t return to Lincoln County as Sheriff, and decided to travel to Dona Ana County in 1896. Pat was given the job to find the murder of a politician and his son, but Garret was not able to solve the murder case, so Garrett decided not to run for Sheriff ever again. In 1901 Garrett had the job of customs collector in El Paso, but because of his drinking and gambling Theodore Roosevelt decided it was not a good idea to reappoint him. Garrett decided to move to his ranch in the San Andreas Mountains. Garrett couldn’t afford the mortgage, so Wayne Brazel moved in to help Garrett out. Garrett decided that he didn’t want Wayne’s help, and wanted him to move out, but Wayne refused, and on February 28, 1908 after an argument with Wayne Brazel Garrett was shot and was killed. Brazel confessed that he killed Garrett but told the law that it was self-defense, and so Brazel was set free. Pat Garrett was buried at the Odd Fellow Cemetery in Los Cruces, New Mexico. Pat Garrett will always be known as the famous Marshall who killed Billy the Kid.