First off, his name was probably not William Bonney but Henry McCarty. ("Hank The Kid" doesn't have the same ring to it, does it?) It approaches certainty that he didn't kill more than six or so people (as has been noted) and those during the so-called "Lincoln County War" (if you want REAL political shenanigans, check that one out). He had been promised a pardon by Lew Wallace, who reneged because Wallace just wanted out of New Mexico. McCarty was probably born in Indianapolis, possibly in New York City; his mother was widowed or divorced, moved to Kansas, remarried, was either widowed or divorced or deserted again, and moved to Texas.

Her son Henry was a cattle thief, shootist, and a generally bad seed. While it was no loss to the world when his acquaintance (not really a friend, but they did know each other) Pat Garrett shot him dead, McCarty HAD been promised a pardon.

Of course, it makes very little difference to him now....

He was just a poor boy tryin' to get a head
Poor Jeff, poor Jeff Dahmer
No friends and not enough to eat
Poor Jeff, poor Jeff Dahmer....

Somebody else finish this song I've just started about a kid livin' in Milwaukee who just wanted to have a ball.