Billy the Kid's Jail, Santa Fe, New Mexico: A Glimpse into Wild West History on the Southwest's Frontier

By Lynn Michelsohn

Billy the Kid spent the winter of 1880-1881 in Santa Fe, New Mexico, trying desperately to get out its jail.

He hired lawyers.
He wrote the Governor.
He even tried digging his way out!

Nothing worked.

Billy only escaped the “safest jail in the Territory” in March when deputies finally escorted him to the railroad station for a trip to southern New Mexico—where a jury of his peers waited to convict him of murder.

But just where was this invincible Santa Fe jail?

Today, in Santa Fe, two plaques mark the spot.
Or rather, two competing spots . . .

Lynn Michelsohn tracks down historical sources to identify the actual location of Billy’s long-disputed Santa Fe jail, and to provide this brief glimpse into life on America’s Southwestern frontier (12,000 words; 17 photos, maps, and drawings; 82 pages in paperback).

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lynn Michelsohn
• Release date: Aug 18, 2013
• ISBN: 9781301605309

Lynn Michelsohn

Travel, history, and folklore often come together in Lynn Michelsohn's books. Ghost stories associated with particular historical locations especially interest her, as do fascinating characters and quirky facts about places she loves--the South Carolina Lowcountry, the American Southwest, and the Galapagos Islands. A Message from the Author: I write for three reasons. First of all, it's fun. Secondly, it keeps my brain alive and functioning as I learn new things. Finally, and probably most importantly, it keeps me out of my sons' hair (I just know I could run their lives, if only they would let me!). Several years ago, I closed my long-time New Mexico practice in clinical and forensic psychology to devote more time to writing--and beachcombing. My husband, a former attorney, and I now divide our time between Santa Fe and Hutchinson Island, Florida, where our two adult sons visit us regularly (but not often enough). Wow! This writing (and beachcombing) is really great! I recommend it to all of you who have ever thought about starting that memoir or article or novel. Kindle makes publishing incredibly easy, and who knows, you might even sell a few hundred thousand copies (I haven't yet)! After years of living in Roswell with its sometimes offbeat attractions and history--the Roswell Incident, for example--writing "Roswell, Your Travel Guide to the UFO Capital of the World!" gave me the chance to share these interests with visitors to the Land of Enchantment. Next I wrote a book about a distinctly different region, one I have loved since my childhood spent knee-deep in the marshes and saltwater creeks of the South Carolina coast. "Tales from Brookgreen: Folklore, Ghost Stories, and Gullah Folktales in the South Carolina Lowcountry" recounts stories from Brookgreen Gardens, South Carolina's popular tourist attraction near Myrtle Beach. I am happy to see that the three shorter collections of tales from this longer work are quite popular on Kindle: "Lowcountry Ghosts," "Gullah Ghosts," and "Crab Boy's Ghost." Recently I released two new short collections, "Lowcountry Hurricanes" and "Lowcountry Confederates" in a new series called "More Tales from Brookgreen." I hope to add more lowcountry ghost stories and folktales to the series soon. Did you know that Herman Melville, of "Moby-Dick" fame, wrote a series of articles describing the Galapagos Islands? Neither did I until recently. I've had fun putting Melville's articles together with wonderful photographs taken by my son Moses in the Galapagos Islands, and writing introductory material to create a book for the modern visitor to the place Melville referred to as "The Encantadas." We call the book "In the Galapagos Islands with Herman Melville" and hope this glimpse into the "Enchanted Isles," written over 150 years ago, will enrich the visits of today's travelers. I've also put two shorter ebooks from it on Kindle that feature even more of Moses' great photos: "Galapagos Islands Birds" and "Galapagos Islands Landscapes." Recently I've gotten interested in researching the famous New Mexico outlaw Billy the Kid, especially the time he spent in Santa Fe. Did you know that more movies have been made about him over the years than about ANY OTHER individual? I have already completed one short book, "Billy the Kid's Jail," and one longer book, "Billy the Kid in Santa Fe, Book One: Young Billy." It is the first in a non-fiction trilogy exploring Santa Fe of the 1870s and 1880s and the time Billy spent there. I'm currently working on "Book Two: Outlaw Billy," describing his stay in the Santa Fe jail during the winter of 1880-1881. It's hard to avoid detouring into writing more about Santa Fe itself as I often get lost in reading local newspapers from that era. So many fascinating details!

Book preview

Billy the Kid’s Jail

Santa Fe, New Mexico

A Glimpse into Wild West History on the Southwest’s Frontier

by

Lynn Michelsohn

Published by Cleanan Press, Inc.

Roswell, New Mexico

USA

www.cleananpressbooks.com

Copyright 2011 Lynn Michelsohn

Smashwords Edition

Lynn Michelsohn tracks down historical sources to identify the actual location of Billy’s long-disputed Santa Fe jail, and to provide this brief glimpse into life on America’s Southwestern frontier.

Table of Contents

Title Page

Preface

Chapter 1. Where was Billy the Kid’s Santa Fe Jail?

Chapter 2. More than You Ever Wanted to Know about Santa Fe’s New Jail

Chapter 3. What about Santa Fe’s Old Jail?

Appendix A. Background Information: Billy the Kid

Appendix B. Contemporary Accounts of Billy the Kid in the Santa Fe Jail

Bibliography

Acknowledgements

About the Author

Extended Copyright

Other Books by Lynn Michelsohn

Preface

A young outlaw known as Billy the Kid spent the long, cold winter of 1880-1881 in Santa Fe—trying desperately to get out of its jail.

He hired lawyers.

He wrote the governor.

He even tried digging his way out!

Nothing worked.

Billy only left the safest jail in the Territory in March when deputies finally escorted him to the railroad station for a trip to southern New Mexico—where a jury of his peers waited to convict him of murder.

But just where was this invincible Santa Fe jail?

Today in Santa Fe, two plaques mark the spot.

Or rather, two competing spots . . .

Chapter 1. Where Was Billy the Kid’s Santa Fe Jail?

On the morning of March 1, 1881, Santa Fe residents woke to news of yet one more attempted escape from the Santa Fe jail:

Digging for Dear Life.

Yesterday afternoon it was discovered that the Kid and his gang had concocted and were stealthily carrying out a plan by which they hoped to gain their freedom and escape the fate that awaits them. And very fortunate it was that the discovery was made just when it was, for a night or two more would have sufficed for the completion of the well laid scheme.

It appears that Sheriff Romulo Martinez, fearing that the four desperate men, the Kid, Rudabaugh, Billy Wilson and Kelly, would ere long make a desperate effort to get out, had promised to pay one of the prisoners if he would assist the guard in keeping watch and yesterday the fellow informed him that the men were trying to dig out.

Sheriff Martinez, accompanied by Deputy Marshal Neis, at once proceeded to the jail, and entering the cell, found the men at supper. They examined the room and found that the bed ticking was filled with stones and earth, and removing the mattress discovered a deep hole.

Further investigation showed that the men had dug themselves nearly out, and by concealing the loose earth in the bed and covering the hole up with it had almost reached the street without awakening the suspicion of the guard.

Last night they were closely guarded and heavily ironed, and today further precautions will be taken. (Daily New Mexican)

Lincoln County Sheriff-elect Pat Garrett and his posse had captured Billy and three other gang members at Stinking Springs in southern New Mexico on December 23, 1880. Garrett delivered Billy to the Santa Fe jail four days later to collect the $500 reward on his head. Here Billy remained in the adobe lock-up for three months awaiting trial for two Lincoln County murders, or alternatively, awaiting the full pardon that Territorial Governor Lew Wallace had promised him.

Most of what we know about Billy the Kid comes from myth or legend—sometimes loosely based on fact—concocted by authors trying to sell books or by those who just wanted to become part of the Billy-the-Kid mystique. Perhaps this web of fantasy adds to Billy’s continuing appeal. He can become almost

Reviews for Billy the Kid's Jail, Santa Fe, New Mexico

[dlga_1 · Rating: 1 out of 5 stars]

Sadly this booklet on Billy the Kid's stay in a Santa Fe Jail is bulked up with pictures resulting in the large 3+Mb file size of this kindle version.The material itself is repetitive and uninteresting as well as bitsy piecy in layout. While the pictures do little but bulk up the memory.I was given the book through a smashwords free code from the author as a library thing website giveaway. But there's no way I would recommend that anybody else should buy the book priced at $3. EVEN 50 cents would be a waste of money in my opinion.

[samantha100_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Billy the Kid's Jail, by Lynn Michelson, is a well researched book that tells how the actual location of the jail in Santa Fe, New Mexico was determined. The author also includes interesting and informative historical information on this iconic character. I think this would be a good book to read when planning a trip to Santa Fe. I found this to be a well written book and I recommend reading it.I received this book free of charge through LibraryThing and I give this review of my own free will.

[pkidcaff · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Lynn Michelsohn does as she says she'll do: she gives the reader a glimpse into the wild west history on the southwest frontier.As a young boy I was fascinated by the stories of the gunfighters & outlaws of the wild west & found this publication provided further fascinating insight into the history attached to the famous Billy the kid. Normally I do not read historical stories but found this one to be fascinating & so well researched that I could not resist the opportunity to at least have a look at it. I was glad I did. I found the information along with the research, the photos & the sketches to be particularly & painstakingly well done. There was a build-up of factual information one layer upon the next to establish where the actual jail was located that housed Billy the Kid. This was then followed by sketches & descriptions of the jail & what the prisoner's conditions were like.Then the Appendixes gave an insight into the known background of his childhood & family life. Some points that I felt could have been improved upon were as follows: 1. Twice I felt you gave a description that was, to me, unnecessary because the same descriptions were clearly illustrated in a photo of the plague; & 2. A close-up picture of the jail compound seemed to me to serve no real purpose as it was hard to see & had previously been shown in the general layout shot of the jail compound picture. But these are only small criticisms & the only ones I can make. Overall a test for me on whether or not I enjoy reading a historical publication is whether or not I can see what the author wants me to see. Also to find myself wondering about the subject & wanting to go there to actually see where the historical event took place. The author has passed on both counts & is to be commended on her painstaking work of historical writing.

[sahara20_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This is an interesting little book about determining the location of the jail that held Billy The Kid in Santa Fe. This is more of interest to those who have at least some prior knowledge of Billy The Kid as it does not cover Billy's story in great detail, concentrating on determining the facts of the location and layout of the jail. With the amount of background knowledge I have of his story, I found this an interesting addition to my knowledge.

[tbrennan1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

The author goes on a journey to track down historical sources to provide the definitive location of the outlaw's Sante Fe jail. A good introduction to life on the Southwest frontier in the 19th century and a brief glimpse into wild west history around the figure of Billy the Kid.

[lmacbeth.lori · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I enjoyed this little book. I like everything about precise historical bits of information that help clarify events that are usually generalized or past over. Especially with someone as interesting as Billy the Kid. Incredibly well researched. Interesting for anyone who enjoys Sante Fe history or knows a little bit about Billy the Kid, but would like more information. Nicely done.