On the night of April 28, 1881, Billy the Kid, the infamous outlaw, managed to escape from his jail cell in the Lincoln County Courthouse in Lincoln, New Mexico. Here’s a detailed account of what happened:
Situation in the Jail: Billy the Kid was being held on the second floor of the courthouse, under the watch of two guards. The escape began when he asked to use the outhouse.
The Kid's Actions: While being escorted to the outhouse, Billy the Kid somehow managed to overpower one of his guards, Deputy James Bell. There are different accounts of how exactly he did this, with some suggesting he might have obtained a weapon or used a hidden key.
Killing the Guards: After overpowering Deputy Bell, Billy the Kid retrieved a firearm. He then shot and killed Bell as he tried to flee down the stairs. The second guard, Bob Olinger, was across the street at the time, supervising other prisoners.
Confrontation with Olinger: Upon hearing the gunshots, Olinger rushed back to the courthouse. As he approached, Billy the Kid seized Olinger’s shotgun from the guardroom. As Olinger entered the building, Billy the Kid shot and killed him as well, reportedly saying, "Hello Bob," before firing the fatal shot.
Escape: With both guards dead, Billy the Kid was free to leave the courthouse. He armed himself further with the guards' weapons and a horse, making a dramatic escape from Lincoln. He would remain on the run for several more months until he was finally tracked down and killed by Sheriff Pat Garrett in July 1881.
This daring and violent escape further cemented Billy the Kid’s notoriety as one of the Wild West’s most famous outlaws.
Source: Some or all of the content was generated using an AI language model
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