Folklore: Pardon for Outlaw?

Subject: Pardon for Outlaw?
From: Fiolar
Date: 02 Feb 01 - 09:59 AM

Relatives of Henry McCarthy alias William Bonney alias Billy the Kid have apparently asked New Mexico State Representative Ben Rios to ask the Governor to pardon the outlaw some 120 years after he was killed by Pat Garrett. Billy was due to be hung for the killing of a Sheriff but managed to escape to keep his date with Pat. I wonder if the request will succeed?

Subject: RE: Pardon for Outlaw?
From: Midchuck
Date: 02 Feb 01 - 10:08 AM

Nahhh...not enough money.

Peter.

Subject: RE: Pardon for Outlaw?
From: Metchosin
Date: 02 Feb 01 - 10:09 AM

why? Did he shoot the Sherriff but not the deputy.

Subject: RE: Pardon for Outlaw?
From: Troll
Date: 02 Feb 01 - 10:34 AM

Actually, he was found guilty of killing the sherriff although there were four others present and supposedly shooting at the time. He then killed two deputies making his escape. troll

Subject: RE: Pardon for Outlaw?
From: Kim C
Date: 02 Feb 01 - 12:22 PM

don't they have anything better to do? Why do they think he should be pardoned anyway? He was nothing more than a 2-bit criminal.

Subject: RE: Pardon for Outlaw?
From: Rick Fielding
Date: 02 Feb 01 - 12:24 PM

Does he have any decendants who've contributed to the Democratic Party? Or in four years to the Repubs?

Subject: RE: Pardon for Outlaw?
From: Lonesome EJ
Date: 02 Feb 01 - 12:44 PM

In the Lincoln County Cattle War of the 1880s, two large ranches were pitted against one another for control of range land. Billy was a cow puncher on the losing side. The law in Lincoln County, which was in the hands of the winning side, wanted Billy and several of his cohorts brought in for trial. He eluded capture, killing several men in the process. Eventually he was taken prisoner and put in a cell in Las Vegas, New Mexico, from which he escaped after tricking the guard, a deputy, and shooting him dead. He fled to a friends ranch at Fort Sumner where he hid out until tracked there by his friend Pat Garrett, who hid in a darkened room until Billy entered and heard the hammer of Garrett's pistol click back. Billy said "quien es?" several times, and then Garrett shot and killed him. Billy Bonny was eighteen years old.

It is clear that Billy, whatever is said about his reasons for killing several men, was proud of the notoriety it gave him, and he himself carved 23 notches on the stock of his Winchester. At this point, a pardon would seem to be superfluous.

Subject: RE: Pardon for Outlaw?
From: catspaw49
Date: 02 Feb 01 - 12:47 PM

What is it with this stuff? Exactly how is anything changed? Okay Billy, you're pardoned.....Who gives a shit?

Spaw

Subject: RE: Pardon for Outlaw?
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 02 Feb 01 - 01:25 PM

Some historical apologies are important, a way of setting the records straight on injustices. This is clearly just public relations for someone who wants a few headlines.

Subject: RE: Pardon for Outlaw?
From: Hollowfox
Date: 03 Feb 01 - 09:18 AM

Thanks, LEJ, for the clearest explanation of the story behind Billy the Kid's notoriety that I've come across yet.

Subject: RE: Pardon for Outlaw?
From: Greg F.
Date: 03 Feb 01 - 10:06 AM

Billy ain't DEAD, Spaw-- he's underground,hangin' out with Elvis.

Subject: RE: Pardon for Outlaw?
From: GUEST,laughsalotatSlickWillie
Date: 03 Feb 01 - 10:48 AM

If Billy isn't a billionaire on the TOP TEN MOST WANTED LIST, he hasn't a hope in hell of getting a pardon.

Subject: RE: Pardon for Outlaw?
From: Willie-O
Date: 03 Feb 01 - 12:15 PM

Speaking of pardons, this genuine-certified-to-be-true-cause-I-fot-it-on-the-internet letter showed up in my inbox this morning... I pass it on without comment.

Willie-O

Subject: John Hinkley pardoned!

The White House
January 19, 2001

Mr. John Hinkley
St. Elizabeth Hospital
Washington D.C.

Dear Mr Hinkley,

Hillary and I wanted to drop you a short note to tell you how pleased we are with the great strides you are making in your recovery. In our country's new spirit of understanding and forgiveness we want you to know there is bilateral consensus of compassion and forgiveness abroad throughout the land. Hillary and I want you to know that no grudge is borne against you for shooting President Reagan. We, above all, are aware of how the mental stress and pain could have driven you to such an act of desperation. Hillary and I are confident that you will soon make a complete recovery and return to your family to join the world again as a healthy and productive young man.

Best wishes,

Bill Clinton

P.S. George W. Bush is f*cking Jodie Foster.

(well, I thought it was f*nny but I'm a s*ck b*stard--W-O)

Subject: RE: Pardon for Outlaw?
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 03 Feb 01 - 08:11 PM

Noone's planning to pardon my sometime neighbour Dick Turpin, I imagine. And in fact, I think he'd be highly insulted at the idea.

Here's a contemporary report about his hanging which I posted on the current Sorcha Dorcha thread

The reason I posted it there is because InOBU's got a good version of Turpin Hero on his CD (Incidentally the DT version of that, DICK TURPIN AND THE LAWYER, is from Nova Scotia with the chorus given as "Eh ro, Turpin I ro", instead of "Hoorah, Turpin Hero".) :

So here is the extract from The Gentleman's Magazine of the time, about the execution, which took place on April 7 1739, (it's taken from a book about highwaymen called Stand and Deliver by Patrick Pringle):

The notorious Richard Turpin and John Stead, were executed at York for horse-stealing. Turpin behaved in an undaunted manner; as he mounted the ladder, feeling his right leg tremble, he stamped it down, and looking around him with an unconcerned air, he spoke a few words to the topsman, then threw himself off, and expired in five minutes.

He declared himself to be the notorious highwayman Turpin, and confessed to a great number of robberies, and that he shot the man that came to apprehend him on Epping Forest, and King, his own companion, undesignedly, for which latter he was very sorry.

He gave £3 10s to five men who were to follow the cart as mouners, with hatbands and gloves to them and several others.

Jumping off the ladder was an unusual way to do it. Maybe he had some cunning plan. It made for a speedier death - but required courage. (And InOBU reckon he got away in spite of it all, and went off to live as a Rom in Scotland.)

Subject: RE: Pardon for Outlaw?
From: Amos
Date: 03 Feb 01 - 11:16 PM

Well, while we're at it, we should probably pardon Columbus, too; he's taken a bit of a drubbing in the revisions of history in the last five years. Oh, and if being legendary qualifies, we should get busy on the case law surrounding a few others -- Bruno Hauptman, the Rosenbaums, that Texas loonie who started a grand tradition by climbing the clock tower with his .22, maybe Jim Jones, Jack Ruby and his victim, oh, and let's pardon John Wilkes Booth, and maybe that Schikelgruber fella who used to hang wallpaper over in Vienna; and if we're really going to set a precedent here, can some one dig up the file on Rasputin, Alexander, Genghis Khan, and that ne'er-do-well who plugged Wild Bill Hickok during an innocent poker game?

Sheesh.

A

Subject: RE: Pardon for Outlaw?
From: Sorcha
Date: 03 Feb 01 - 11:32 PM

You got it, Amos!! Having lived in both Las Vegas, NM and Santa Rosa, NM, both only about 30 miles from Ft. Sumner, NM, I got all the local skinny while I lived there, and Kim C has the ayes as far as I am concerned. He was a 2 bit criminal, and what difference could it make now if he is pardoned? Dead is dead.......maybe while we're at it, we could get a pardon for my boy who was (of course!!) not guilty of his charges, either!! Hoo Hoo Hoo. Who really cares at this point?

If I were family of Billy Bonney, I suppose I should be "proud" that I was descended from/related to such a notorious person. After all, I have to claim Ulyssess S Grant.......

Subject: RE: Pardon for Outlaw?
From: Uncle_DaveO
Date: 04 Feb 01 - 11:04 AM

About forty years ago I used to date the great-great-great-granddaughter of Jefferson Davis. For whatever distinction that may give me.

Dave Oesterreich

Subject: RE: Pardon for Outlaw?
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 04 Feb 01 - 12:01 PM

I think that Cain has always been a bit harshly judged. After all Abel must have been a bit of a pain in the neck.

Mind you their parents had a raw deal, which really lies at the heart of the trouble their eldest boy got into. I mean, all that fuss over a piece of fruit...

Subject: RE: Pardon for Outlaw?
From: Amos
Date: 04 Feb 01 - 12:54 PM

It's the principle of the thing, McGrath! Har har. Wodda flimsy excuse. Probably some Republican was wanting to develop the real estate...