Pat Garrett: Frontier Lawman and Slayer of Billy the Kid

Pat Garrett was a veteran fighter of the frontier days in New Mexico and served as the sheriff of Lincoln County ^[2][3]. He was widely known as one of New Mexico's old-timers ^[1][3]. Garrett achieved significant fame as the slayer of Billy the Kid, an event that occurred nearly twenty-five years before Garrett's own death in 1908 ^[1][3][2]. The killing of Billy the Kid took place near old Fort Sumner, close to the town of Sunnyside on the Santa Fe cut-off, about a hundred miles south and east of Tucumcari ^[1][3]. Fort Sumner, a former military fort, became famous as the location where Billy the Kid was killed by Pat Garrett after the fort's closure ^[5][6]. Prior to his encounter with Garrett, Billy the Kid and his mother had lived at Chloride Flat, four miles east of Silver City, New Mexico ^[7]. It was at Chloride Flat that Billy the Kid committed his first killing, reportedly after a blacksmith insulted his mother and refused to apologize ^[7].

Following his tenure as sheriff, Pat Garrett became a resident of Roswell, New Mexico, where he was considered a pioneer ^[2]. He settled and improved eight hundred acres of land located east of Roswell ^[2]. Later in his career, Garrett served as the collector of customs at El Paso ^[3][2]. He was also a personal friend of President Roosevelt ^[2][3]. Garrett was regarded as a useful man in the civilizing of Southeast New Mexico ^[1].

Pat Garrett's life ended in a gunfight near Las Cruces ^[1][3]. Reports indicate his death occurred on February 28, 1908, four miles northeast of Las Cruces ^[2]. Other accounts state he was killed on February 29, 1908, five miles out of Las Cruces ^[3], or six miles out of Las Cruces ^[1]. The fatal incident involved a ranchman named Wayne Brazele ^[2], also identified as Wayne Brazil ^[3] or Wayne Brazel ^[1]. The killing was the result of a quarrel ^[2], specifically a "wordy battle" over a lease of the Garrett ranch ^[1][3]. According to one account, the men were quarreling en route from the ranch to Las Cruces when Garrett jumped out of his buggy with a shotgun in hand ^[1][3]. Brazel then shot Garrett twice with a Colts .45, once in the head and once through the lungs ^[1]. Developments later suggested that the wound to the head was from the back ^[1]. Brazel, who was on horseback, surrendered and pleaded self-defense ^[3].

The news of Pat Garrett's killing was widely reported, and his funeral was scheduled to be held in the cemetery at Las Cruces ^[4]. Garrett, was expected to arrive from Louisiana to attend the service ^[4]. The preliminary hearing for Wayne Brazel was anticipated to take place shortly after Garrett's death, with Brazel intending to plead not guilty ^[4].