Dona Luz, Lucien Maxwell's widow, took over the family business. She turned the officer's quarters into a luxurious home that became the social hub of the small town of Fort Sumner. Many dances and other social gatherings were held there. Their son, Pedro "Pete" Maxwell, attended the family ranching business. Pete's sister, Paulita Maxwell, caught the eye of one "Billy The Kid" during one of these social gatherings.
Billy the kid was caught up in the Lincoln County War, during which his friend and mentor, John Tunstall, was murdered. He joined "The Regulators". This group of deputized posse set out to bring to justice the persons responsible. Vigilante justice was a more accurate way of describing it.
In one of the Lincoln County War battles, Sheriff William Brady and Deputy George Hindman were killed. That made the regulators wanted men. This included Billy The Kid.
Correspondence began between Billy and Governor Lew Wallace. Wallace promised Billy a pardon. To this day, that promise has not been fulfilled.
After being found guilty of murder and scheduled to be hung, Billy escaped from Lincoln County Jail. He took the lives of two more deputies in the process. His last ride was fleeing to the home of Pete Maxwell in Fort Sumner. Billy The Kid was only 21 at the time of his death. He was killed by Sheriff Pat Garrett at the Maxwell House in Old Fort Sumner on July 14, 1881.
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