Sheriff Garrett tracked down and shot dead Billy the Kid, aka William Bonney and several other aliases, in 1881 after the notorious gunslinger had killed two deputies while busting out of jail in Lincoln County. A couple of years earlier, the territorial governor, Lew Wallace, reportedly offered the Kid a pardon in connection with a murder charge he faced in return for his testimony against those involved in a bloody range war. But Wallace is said to have reneged on the promise.
AP
This undated photo is thought to show William Bonney, better known as Billy the Kid, near the age of 18.
"If Billy the Kid was living amongst us now, would you issue a pardon for someone who made his living as a thief and, more egregiously, who killed four law enforcement officers and numerous others?" the Garrett family wrote.
Richardson's spokeswoman told the El Paso newspaper that the governor's staff is trying to set up a meeting with Garrett's family.
As is the case with much of what transpired in the Old West, the line separating legend and truth can be blurry. Some skeptics insist that someone other than Billy the Kid was killed by Garrett, and that he might have lived until 1950 in Texas under the name of "Brushy Bill" Roberts. And there are several numbers thrown around when it comes to toting up the outlaw's victims.
The chairman of the El Paso County Historical Commission told the El Paso Times he opposes having the governor grant a pardon.
"It's more of a news grabber than anything else,'' Bernie Sargent said. "[Billy the Kid] did some bad things. He is somewhat a false hero."