Billy the Kid was reportedly born in New York City on November 23, 1859, the son of William and Kathleen (or Catherine) McCarty Bonney, and named William H. Bonney. Another story has it that he was born on September 17, 1859, as Patrick Henry McCarty, and another account has it that he was born in Indiana to Joseph McCarty. The first report seems to be the most reliable since the Kid used the name of William H. Bonney signing his letters and such. .
Billy reportedly moved west with his family and it was there that he first got in trouble, arrested for stealing butter and other items from a local store. He eventually became a "cowboy" in Lincoln County, New Mexico Territory, working for cattlemen J.H. Tunstall, who became the father figure Billy never had. Tunstall thought the Kid showed promise and was later quoted as having said of Billy: "That's the finest lad I ever met. He's a revelation to me every day and would do anything on earth to please me. I"m going to make a man out of that boy yet.".
Tunstall's plans for Billy never materialized. On February 18, 1878, Tunstall was stopped on the road by a group of gunmen, that included many of Billy's former friends, before he had switched sides in the Lincoln County War. These so-called deputies informed Tunstall that they were going to take part of his herd, cattle that they claimed belonged to Murphy. Tunstall objected, pointing out that all of his cattle were branded and if they checked the brands, they would see for themselves that Murphy could not lay claim on them. They drew their guns and ordered Tunstall to surrender. He handed over his gun saying "I don't want bloodshed." As he was handing over his gun, Jesse Evans fired a bullet into the helpless man. Billy Morton then cruelly fired a bullet into Tunstall's head, killing him. When the Kid heard the news of Tunstall's death, he said "He was the only man who ever treated me kindly, like I was free born and white.
