Billy the Kid

He was known by many names, William Henry McCarthy, William H. Bonney, but he was best known as "Billy the Kid." Born in New York City in 1859, he would find infamy in the old west as a hired gun, outlaw and otherwise stone cold killer. His mother died in 1874, when he was 14 leaving Billy to spend the next year in foster homes. In 1875 he was caught stealing clothing from a Chinese laundry. McCarthy fled town and began his career as a roving ranch hand, gambler and gang member. Billy first earned his reputation as a gunslinger in 1878 when he participated in a bloody frontier war in Lincoln County, NM. He joined a vigilante group called "The Regulators" and was charged with the murder of Lincoln County Sheriff William Brady. Pursued by Sheriff Pat Garrett, the Kid sought refuge with friends in Fort Sumner, NM. On the night of July 14th, 1881, Garrett went to the home of rancher Peter Maxwell to question him about Billy's whereabouts. No sooner had he woken Maxwell, the kid also approached the house suspicious of one of Garrett's deputies on the porch. The Kid backed into the Maxwell's darkened room, shouting "who's that?" Recognizing the kids voice, Garrett drew his gun and fired off two rounds, one bullet struck the 21 year old near his heart, killing him instantly.