" For all of the murders and countless other
offenses committed during the Lincoln County War
on both sides, Billy the Kid was the only person
ever charged with breaking the law. An incredibly
unjust thing, especially considering he was just
one of six gunmen in the shooting for which he
was charged. This made him a fugitive and the
leader of a small gang of rustlers that terrorized
the county until he was caught in December of
1880. Billy was tried and sentenced to hang.
On the afternoon of April
28, 1881 he catapulted himself into international
legend when he escaped from jail. During the jailbreak,
he killed a guard that had taunted him constantly
about the pains of death by hanging and had dared
Billy to try to breakout so he could shoot him.
As a testament to how well liked he was in Lincoln,
he stayed around for an hour making a speech to
the locals and then went around shaking hands.
He left town singing on a borrowed horse that
he actually returned as he promised he would.
"