The suddenly popular outlaw had a chance of being pardoned more than a century after his death, but the outgoing governor of New Mexico, Bill Richardson, couldn't find it in his heart — or, most likely, his jurisdiction — to do it, despite the pardon papers having been drawn up.
The story is that William Bonney, better known as Billy the Kid, made a deal with Lew Wallace, the territorial governor of New Mexico at the time, to testify in court about killings he witnessed, presumably to help convict other outlaws. The operative word there is story, since no papers proving this agreement have ever been found. The recent exposure of what has been a long-dead issue is thanks in part to the diligence of an attorney, Randi McGinn, who has no doubt made a name for herself arguing on behalf of someone long dead and unable to provide evidence in his own behalf.
What is a fact is that Bonney was a killer. He was in jail awaiting hanging for the killing of a sheriff when escaped, killing two deputies along the way. New Mexico government officials say that Bonney killed at least nine people. Popular lore puts the figure at more than 20. The final killing belonged to Sheriff Pat Garrett, who killed Bonney himself in 1881.
The issue has caught on with a small segment of the world population. The governor's office set up a website asking for public comment and received 809 emails from all round the world. The final tally was 430 in favor of a pardon and 379 against.
So who has the last word? Apparently, it's Richardson, because the incoming governor, Susana Martinez, has gone on record as saying that the State of New Mexico has more pressing matters to attend to in these tough economic times.
Enough said.
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