Billy the Kid meets author of Ben-Hur

1879 American outlaw Billy the Kid (Henry McCarty, c. 1860 - '81; alias William Henry Bonney) had a meeting with General Lew Wallace (pictured), Governor of New Mexico (and also author of the classic book Ben-Hur), in the governor's home.

Billy, reputed to have killed 21 men, made an arrangement with the governor to turn state's evidence against other criminals in return for an amnesty for the crimes he had himself committed.

In typical fashion, McCarty greeted the governor with a revolver in one hand and a Winchester rifle in the other. After several days to think the issue over, Billy the Kid agreed to testify in return for an amnesty.

Categories: usa, biography, history, crime, law, legal, literature