Book written by pat garrett

The authentic life of billy, the kid by pat garrett. Jan 01, 2006 of all firsthand accounts of lawlessness in the old southwest, none is more fascinating than pat f. The authentic life of billy the kid by garrett, pat f. Abrams thinks that set of pictures once belonged to pat garrett s friend marshall ashmun upson, better known as ash upson. Interesting to read the so called authentic life of william bonney in the book written by the man that ended his life, pat garrett. The pat garrett version of the war was almost entirely written by roswell postmaster, ash upson, and was designed to improve garrett s lot in the eyes of history as well as to further his political fortune.

He was more than just a famous western sheriff, more than the slayer of the legendary billy the kid. Sheriff pat garrett tracked down and killed the outlaw bill the kid but also became a victim of the. In later years though, this book became the main reference source for historians writing about the kid. Biography of the man who killed billy the kid, this thorough and wellwritten analysis deals effectively with almost every question that has been raised about the controversial life and death of pat garrett. Pat f garrett s the authentic life of billy the kid pdf. It is remarkable book that uncovers the short and violent life of one of the most famous gunslingers in history.

The book was written in collaboration with journalist marshall ashmun upson. The tangled story of pat garrett, the old west lawman who. For the 57yearold lawman, his was an undignified death. Arizona and northern mexico by pat garrettsheriff of lincoln co. This is a tintype believed to have been taken in ft. Listen to authentic life of billy the kid by pat f. Written by sheriff pat garrett, the man who shot and killed william h. Bonney, born in november of 1859, began his criminal career early. Explore the life, controversies, and legacy of pat garrett, the wild wests most famous. Pat garretts life was a remarkable adventure, with enormous highs. In many ways, the narrative of the wild west has endured more as legend than reality, and a perfect example of that can be found in the legend of. The night pat garrett probably shot billy the kid lincoln county. My only knowledge of billy the kid was seeing peckinpahs movie pat garrett and. Thomas is considered a leading scholar on pat garretts career and life in new.

Should have been written as a dime novel, it might have been more believable. The authentic life of billy, the kid is a biography and firsthand account written by pat garrett, sheriff of lincoln county, new mexico, in collaboration with a ghostwriter, marshall ashmun ash upson. The book is written so the reader experiences garretts life as he did, as it happened, event by event. In the history of the southwest, pat garrett stood tall, both physically and in legend. This was fascinating, but one needs to overlook the fact that it was written in the 1800s by a man who was not a writer by profession. Until i read this book i had only read mythological accounts of billy the kid, which usually contain nothing of pat garretts life.

The assassination of pat garrett true west magazine. As he was so occupied, somebody hidden about 50 feet behind him put a winchester bulletin the back of his head. Books and movies have mythologized bill they kid as a robin hood type, happy go lucky outlaw and pat garrett is demonized as a cowardly man who shot him down in the dark. This book is at once the most authoritative biography of william h. As you can deduct from the title, this book s focus is the controversial 1908 killing of garrett, shot in selfdefense by jesse wayne brazel. In 1882, pat garrett published a book titled the authentic life of billy, the kid. Oct 01, 2012 billy the kid and pat garrett the shadow of doubt posted on october 1, 2012 32 comments paul colt and i had had a few interesting exchanges in the americanwesterns group of goodreads when i learned he had written a book about the lincoln county war. This book is at once the most authoritative biography of william. Patrick floyd jarvis pat garrett june 5, 1850 february 29, 1908 was an american old west lawman, bartender and customs agent who became renowned for killing billy the kid. In 1882, garrett and his ghost writer, marshall upson, published the authentic life of billy the kid although the book was not successful when it was released, an original edition became quite valuable over the years.

Garrett, the southwests most celebrated sheriff, is best known for his killing of billy the kid and for this book, which was written in collaboration with his friend, frontier newspaperman ashmun upson. Billy the kid and pat garrett the shadow of doubt posted on october 1, 2012 32 comments paul colt and i had had a few interesting exchanges in the americanwesterns group of goodreads when i learned he had written a book about the lincoln county war. Sometimes the best history is written by those who make it. Surprised, hough sat down to write to garrett, wondering what had prompted the exlawmans unannounced train trip from new mexico territory. While on occasion his gun was for hire, and while he was sometimes known to protect special interestsparticularly those of the cattle baronsmore often than not pat garrett combined in his sixfoot five. Pat garrett, legendary law enforcer of the southwest. During the summer of 1881 in a small new mexican village, garrett shot and killed the notorious outlaw, william h. This book is written so you experience his life as he did, as it happened, event by event.

Garrett tried to break the lease when he learned his creditor, w. The authentic life of billy the kid is a biography of william h. Feb 03, 2020 the book is written so the reader experiences garretts life as he did, as it happened, event by event. My only knowledge of billy the kid was seeing peckinpahs movie pat garrett and billy the kid many decades back, and i preferred the sound track. Killing pat garrett, the wild wests most famous lawman murder. Brazel used the land to raise goats, which was unacceptable to the garrets. This is an audio book which was released by librivox recordings and is in the public domain. The night pat garrett probably shot billy the kid desertusa. New days of operation at fort stanton and lincoln historic sites. Pat garretts death is focus of lecture, book at nm farm and.

To hell on a fast horse ten years on true west magazine. If youre looking for a factual, well documented book on the life of billy the kid, well this isnt it. The principle, firsthand sources of nearly all the information we have on the shooting comes from two sources, namely, pat garrett, told via his book, an authentic life of billy the kid, written in 1882, and his deputy, john poe, as told in his book the death of billy the kid, the manuscript of which was written in 1919. The authentic life of billy, the kid is a biography and partly firsthand account written by pat garrett, sheriff of lincoln county, new mexico, in collaboration with a ghostwriter, marshall ashmun ash upson. As a historian who has read numerous books on the kid, i commend thomas for covering new ground if youll forgive the pun. Following billy the kids death, the media turned him into a folk hero and made garrett out to be the bad guy. Patrick pat floyd garrett was an american old west lawman, bartender, and customs agent who was best known for killing billy the.

Pat garrett was urinating on the side of the road to las cruces, new mexico, about four miles east of town. He was eventually murdered under unclear circumstances in 1908. His book, the authentic life of billy, the kid was published in 1882 and popularized the story of the famous. It was first published in 1882, a year after sheriff garrett killed the kid, the bravest and most feared gunman of the cattle war in lincoln county, new mexico. Join facebook to connect with pat garrett and others you may know. Of all firsthand accounts of lawlessness in the old southwest, none is more fascinating than pat f. Richardson although their literary collaboration was a disappointment, the midwestern writer and the man who shot billy the kid formed a lasting bond that reflected the principled code of the west. A 3rd photo has been discovered, but not all experts have acknowledged it yet. Abrams thinks that set of pictures once belonged to pat garretts friend marshall ashmun upson, better known as ash upson. Born in alabama and reared in louisiana, garrett left home at about the age of 17 and headed for texas and the life of a cowboy and buffalo hunter.

Pat garrett will remain on the bottom of my pile of billy bonney lincoln county wars books pat garrett got what he deserved. Upon noticing the trend, pat garrett wrote a book himself narrating the true story of the murdered outlaw and successfully countered the mushrooming of such malicious publications. Those looking for more details about that story may also be interested in another book i enjoyed the authentic life of billy, the kid written by. Pat garrett could pretend to write a book about knowing billy but it was really that ash guy who wrote this book. Bonney, the outlaw known as billy the kid, for many years this book was considered the definitive work on the life and death of billy the kid. Garrett author of the authentic life of billy the kid. Billy the kid and pat garrett the shadow of doubt andrea.

The book was named the authentic life of billy, the kid and was cowritten by garrett and his friend marshall ashmun upson. When garretts book appeared, eight lurid dime novels had glorified and falsified the kid, making him into a murderous superoutlaw. My advice is that if youre interested in this uniquely american character s you should. Nov 17, 2017 abrams thinks that set of pictures once belonged to pat garretts friend marshall ashmun upson, better known as ash upson.

Jan 06, 2014 for the 57yearold lawman, his was an undignified death. One of only two images acknowledged by experts to be billy the kid. Pat garretts name still generated controversy three quarters of a century after his murder. Killing pat garrett, the wild wests most famous lawman. The authentic life of billy, the kid is a biography and partly firsthand account written by pat garrett. Listen to thousands of best sellers and new releases on your iphone, ipad, or android.

Another daughter was blinded by a wellintended eye treatment. Patrick floyd jarvis garrett june 5, 1850 february 29, 1908 was an american old west lawman, bartender and customs agent who became renowned for killing billy the kid. The authentic life of billy, the kid pat garrett, ash. Consequently, garrett s version has always been suspect amoung serious historical scholars although it is one of the most frequently quoted. Pat garrett was an american old west lawman, bartender and customs agent who became renowned for killing billy the kid. However, this is outweighed by the fact that pat garrett was there, and he knew billy the kid. Explore the life, controversies, and legacy of pat garrett, the wild wests most famous lawman at the pat garrett western heritage. Those looking for more details about that story may also be interested in another book i enjoyed the authentic life of billy, the kid written by pat garrett, the lawman who shot the. Sep 07, 2014 this is an audio book which was released by librivox recordings and is in the public domain. One of his two companions placed the dead mans burgess folding. Extremely rare photo of billy the kid and pat garrett. Nov 25, 2017 pats son dudley arranged with jesse brazel for a fiveyear lease of the garretts bear canyon ranch.

Aware of garretts reputation as a coldblooded killer, wayne had to take garretts threats seriously. Shortly after the killing billy, garrett asked his friend ash upson to help him write a book about the kid, but the book was a failure. Soon afterward pat garrett ran for sheriff as a law and order candidate in roswell, new mexico. He coauthored the authentic life of billy, the kid with ash upson, and for decades after william h. A perfect example of how garrett is generally viewed today is garretts presence in a 2001 volume titled the book of assassins. While on occasion his gun was for hire, and while he was sometimes known to protect special interestsparticularly those of the cattle baronsmore often than not pat garrett combined in his sixfoot. Pat garrett western heritage festival to unveil new photograph. Pat garrett, a duly elected county sheriff who risked his life more than once to end the kids outlaw days, is featured in this book alongside the likes of john wilkes booth and lee harvey oswald. His book, the authentic life of billy, the kid was published in 1882 and popularized the story of the famous outlaw. The pat garrett version of the war was almost entirely written by roswell postmaster, ash upson, and was designed to improve garretts lot in the eyes of history as well as to further his political fortune. Consequently, garretts version has always been suspect amoung serious historical scholars although it is one of the most frequently quoted. Billy the kid written by sheriff pat garrett of lincoln county, new mexico. A failure when originally released, an original copy of the pat garrettash upson book became a rare commodity. The journalist and author was the ghostwriter of garrett s book.

Pat garretts death is focus of lecture, book at nm farm. Events in homer will remember old west sheriff pat garrett. Garrett, the sheriff of lincoln county, does his best to tell us the incredible story of the kid who became a coldblooded outlaw. A december 26, 1982, story in the huntsville item huntsville, texas, daily newspaper said jarvis garrett, 77, son of pat garrett, filed a lawsuit against farah manufacturing over the patented label that the clothing firm used to show a mustachioed. He was the sheriff of lincoln county, new mexico as well as dona ana county, new mexico. Pat garrett was the sheriff of lincoln county who killed billy the kid. Although the narrator was excellent, this is not an easy book to listen to, just because its an older book and the style of writing is oldfashioned. When emerson hough returned home on a brisk chicago afternoon in february 1906, his maid reported that a visitor to town had phoned, giving his name as pat garrett. Pat garrett, the wild wests most famous lawman the man who killed billy the kid was himself killed on leap day, february 29, 1908. There is a lot more value in discovering who killed pat garrett, said new mexico author don bullis, who has written nine books about new mexico. Pat had become increasingly quarrelsome and violent as his economic fortunes declined, and he saw brazel as the major obstacle to a deal that would bring an end to his troubles. Pat garrett biography facts, childhood, family life. Although some historians now question the veracity of some of the selfaggrandizing bluster garrett and his ghostwriter included in the book, the authentic life of billy, the kid is a wonderful read for aficionados of the.