Description:

Garrett Pat 1850 - 1908 Pat Garrett, Lawman who killed Billy The Kid, writes to his wife on superbly illustrated letterhead, in the year he was appointed by Teddy Roosevelt



Single page ALS on ornate lined stationary for The Claire Hotel in Sante Fe, New Mexico, 6" x 9.5". Dated "March 3rd, 1901". Signed by Pat Garrett as "yours P.F. Garrett". Expected folds, faint handling marks. Ink smudged in a few places, else near fine.

A fantastic ALS by the infamous Pat F. Garrett, known for being the lawman to have killed Billy The Kid. His quest to "kill the Kid", began when Garrett moved to New Mexico in 1880, and became the Sheriff for Lincoln and Dona Ana country New Mexico. The pursuit for Billy The Kid became one of obsession, with hunt starting even before his sheriff title was official. Garrett had a few unsuccessful attempts but by December 19, 1880, managed to locate Billy the Kid, Charlie Bowdre, Tom Pickett, Billy Wilson and Tom O'Folliard when they rode into Fort Sumner. Lying in wait were deputy Garrett and his posse. Mistaking O'Folliard for the Kid, Garrett's men opened fire and killed O'Folliard; Billy the Kid and the others escaped unharmed. Garret, unhindered pressed on and merely three days later, Garrett's posse cornered the Kid and his companions at a spot called Stinking Springs. They killed one man and captured the others, including Billy the Kid. On April 15, 1881, Billy the Kid was sentenced to hang by Judge Warren Bristol, but he escaped thirteen days later.

Garrett, still undeterred, visited Fort Sumner on July 14, 1881 to question a friend of the Kid's about his whereabouts and learned the Kid was staying with a mutual friend, Pedro Menard "Pete" Maxwell. Around midnight, Garrett went to Maxwell's house. The Kid was asleep in another part of the house, but woke up in the middle of the night and entered Maxwell's bedroom, where Garrett was standing in the shadows. The Kid did not recognize the man standing in the dark. He asked him, repeatedly, "åÀQuiÌ©n es?" (Who is it?), and Garrett replied by shooting at him twice. The first shot hit the Kid in the chest just above the heart, killing him. This was his claim to fame and would be the highlight of his life which floundered afterward.

Fast forward 10 years to the time of this letter, Garrett now married with a family writes to his wife, as shown in full:

"Dear Wife,

I had expected to come home last night but have not get through here yet the Bill that I am interested in has passed the House and will comes up in the council Tuesday. I think it will pass as soon at it becomes a Law I will be home write me in care of The Claire Hotel by return mail and tell me how you and our babies are. Yours P F. Garrett"

By this period, Pat Garrett was entering his phase in politics having killed his last victim in 1899. By mid 1901 President Theodore Roosevelt appointed Garrett to the position of Collector of Customs in El Paso. However, continued complaints about Garrett's alleged incompetence were sent to Washington and ultimately Roosevelt wanted him replaced. Ultimately Garrett became financially destitute, had to sell his personal possession, and in the final act of his demise, only 7 years later, he was murdered, but exactly by whom forever remains the subject of controversy.

A great letter, leaving the reader's imagination thrown back to the days of the Wild Wild West, with even the Stationary header lavishly depicting a classic Western hotel where one can envision horses being tied to the building posts

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