Lincoln Lecture: The Last Escape of Billy the Kid

Join us for a special Lincoln Lecture Series during Old Lincoln Days in the Billiard Hall inside the Courthouse at 11 a.m. Lori Goodloe will present about the last escape of Billy the Kid from the Lincoln County Courthouse, exploring one of the most daring jail breaks in the history of the American West. She will provide a brief background on how a boy named Henry McCarty became the infamous outlaw we know today and how his role in the Lincoln County War ultimately led to his capture, trial, and death sentence. She will then shift the story to that infamous April day in 1881 where Billy was biding his time and waiting for the perfect opportunity to make his escape.

Lori will also explore the many different theories of how Billy escaped, and which version of events is the most plausible. Set in the actual courthouse where Billy escaped, this lecture will give listeners a perfect backdrop to see for themselves what Billy had to do to break free, walking in his footsteps and getting a sense of his timing, the layout of the rooms, and how quickly he worked to pull off his escape. We hope you’ll join us for this lively presentation of history where it happened!

Lori Goodloe is an artist, writer, and historian who has studied Billy the Kid for more than 25 years. In 2009, she published On the Trail of Billy the Kid, a photographic journey of his life in New Mexico. She has since released an updated second edition. In 2011, she became editor of the Outlaw Gazette, the annual publication of the Billy the Kid Outlaw Gang (BTKOG) and has served as president of the organization since 2012. In addition to her book, Lori has written numerous articles, led historical tours, appeared in documentaries, and given presentations that reflect the BTKOG’s mission: to preserve, protect, and promote the true history of Billy the Kid in New Mexico.

The Lincoln Lecture is held in the Billiard Hall in the historic Courthouse and is included with admission of $7 for adults and free to children 16 years and younger, NM disabled veterans, NM foster families, Friends of Lincoln, and MNMF members.