New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson is still considering whether to grant a posthumous pardon of famed gunfighter Billy the Kid, but descendants of lawman Pat Garrett and former Territorial Gov. Lew Wallace are opposed.
At issue for Richardson is whether Wallace had promised the Kid a pardon in exchange for his testimony against three men accused of murder.
Then Sheriff Pat Garrett is reported to have killed the Kid, aka william Bonney, in July 1881.
The descendants say there's no record that Wallace ever offered Bonney the pardon, and in fact, they cite an interview Wallace gave in April 1881, in which he said he did not make such an offer, the Associated Press reported.
Richardson set up a website to garner public sentiment on the issue, and a spokesman said so far, it is running slightly in favor of a pardon. He plans to make a decision by Dec. 31, the AP reported.
-- Lance Murray
