A Reporter Remembers Garrett

From a somewhat lengthy article titled "The Career of Pat Garrett," which appeared in the Daily Press in Newport News, Virginia, on March 20, 1908, we get these interesting details, supposedly related by a correspondent for the Charleston News-Courier who had spent some time with Pat Garrett:

“Mr. Garrett gave me a life of Billy the Kid, which he prepared. He always expressed sincere regret in having had to kill that unfortunate boy. I had heard of Mr. Garrett in San Antonio, where I spent some time putting a roof on the post office…Mr. Garrett told me he was raised in Mississippi…Mr. Garrett said that when he was elected sheriff the boys, as he called them, got around him and begged him not to take the office, Billy the Kid among them. They said they hated to hurt him. He was very popular and a dead shot. He told the boys he was going to accept the office and that they knew he would do his duty, but he invited the crowd to take a smile, which, of course, they did. After the treat he said, now boys, let us get to business. All of you go to the upper end of this street and I will go to the other end and we will fight it out. Remember, I will kill as many of you as I can, so don’t spare me. On the first run he emptied two saddles. On the return charge he emptied one, killing a notorious scoundrel. They gave him three cheers and a tiger and confirmed the election of the voters…Garrett had information that the Kid would visit a certain house. He concealed himself in a bedroom the Kid was to use. When the robber opened the door he asked in Spanish, who is here? It was pitch dark. Garrett fired at the voice and ended the Kid…Mr. Garrett said the Kid was very fond of dress and a great pet among people of a certain class. He gave away all he stole, only keeping enough to by the finest horses, clothes and jewelry.”