Billy the Kid’s Great Escape

Godfrey Gauss witnessed Billy the Kid escape the Lincoln County Jail on April 28, 1881.

Gauss said Deputy J.W. Bell died in his arms after Billy shot the lawman.  And when Deputy Bob Olinger heard the shot and came out of the Wortley Hotel, Gauss reportedly called out to him to come running.

After the Kid then killed Olinger, he “forced” Gauss to saddle a horse for the escape.  Gauss was a bit biased; he and Billy were friends who’d both worked for John Tunstall. Some say he was in on the escape.