New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson denies pardoning Billy the Kid, who was killed in 1881 after running away from prison.

The Old West outlaw was imprisoned for a murder and was awarded death sentence.

New Mexico’s territorial governor had however assured to give a pardon to Billy the Kid provided he gave a testimony to other killings.

It was believed that the then governor proposed to forgive Billy the Kid to cover the murder of Lincoln County Sheriff William Brady. However, Billy the Kid escaped from prison and was shot dead by Lincoln County Sheriff William Brady very shortly in 1881.

Billy the Kid had killed 21 people; however the state tourism department tried to suppress the real number of murders by him to avoid panic among people.