Letters From The Old West - Billy The Kid - March 13, 1879 - (Documentary) - tv shows full episodes

Documentary Biography TV series episode. This is episode 1 of Letters from The Old West, an original TV series produced by The Westerns Channel Productions. Letters from The Old West is a new historical, documentary, biography, western television series about the Real Wild West. This show features people, places and events in the history of the American West. Lawmen, Outlaws, Gunfighters and much more. The real authentic letters written by American west legends like William H. Bonney in this episode and other letters to come include James Butler Hickok ( Wild Bill Hickok ), Jesse James, Cole Younger, William Barret Travis, Theodore Roosevelt and many more. Many of these are what has inspired Movies, TV Shows and Video Games. In this episode of Letters from The Old West featuring Billy The Kid's first letter to Governor Lew Wallace on March 13, 1879 we take a look at his language and see that William H. Bonney also known as Kid Antrim, seems to be a fairly educated individual. The two letters in this episode deal with Billy wanting to meet with the territorial governor about the murder of Huston Chapman Mrs. Susan McSween's Attorney.These letters give great inside to the Lincoln County War in New Mexico Territory in the 1870's and 1880's. Other letters we hope to share are from General George Armstrong Custer, John Wesley Hardin, Willian F. Cody also known as Buffalo Bill Cody and many other United States Old West Outlaws and Characters. This episode of Letters from The Old West is hosted and narrated by Bob Terry. These letters reveal realtime knowledge and information of the people, places, events, dialog and history of the American Old Wild West. This full length complete episode has been produced for and uploaded to the Westerns On The Web channel to watch free online. This series is produced by The Westerns Channel https://www.thewesternschannel.com is the most definitive network dedicated to the preservation of the American Western Film. Here is the complete typed out letter.
On March 13, 1879 Billy the Kid writes to Governor Lew Wallace for the first time.

"To his Excellency the Governor,
General Lew Wallace

Dear Sir, I have heard that You will give one thousand $ dollars for my body which as I can understand it means alive as a witness. I know it is as a witness against those that murdered Mr. Chapman. if it was so as that I could appear at Court I could give the desired information, but I have indictments against me for things that happened in the late Lincoln County War and am afraid to give up because my Enemies would Kill me. the day Mr. Chapman was murdered I was in Lincoln, at the request of good Citizens to meet Mr. J.J. Dolan to meet as Friends, so as to be able to lay aside our arms and go to Work. I was present when Mr. Chapman was murdered and know who did it and if it were not for those indictments I would have made it clear before now. if it is in your power to Annully those indictments I hope you will do so so as to give me a chance to explain. Please send me an awnser telling me what you can do You can send awnser by bearer I have no wish to fight any more indeed I have not raised an arm since your proclamation. As to my character I refer to any of the citizens, for the majority of them are my friends and have been helping me all they could. I am called Kid Antrim but Antrim is my stepfathers name.

Waiting for an awnser I remain your Obedient Servant
W.H. Bonney"
And here is the response letter from Governor Lew Wallace.

"Lincoln, March 15, 1879

W.H. Bonney,

Come to the house of Squire Wilson (not the lawyer) at nine o'clock next Monday night alone. I don't mean his office, but his residence. Follow along the foot of the mountain south of the town, come in on that side, and knock on the east door. I have authority to exempt you from prosecution, if you will testify to what you say you know.

The object of the meeting at Squire Wilson's is to arrange the matter in a way to make your life safe. To do that the utmost secrecy is to be used. So come along. Don't tell anybody not a living soul where you are coming or the object. If you could trust Jesse Evans, you can trust me.

-Lew Wallace"