New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson has stirred up a historical hornet's nest with his talk of pardoning Old West outlaw Billy the Kid.
SANTA FE, NEW MEXICO (AP) -- The latest to come out against it is a descendant of the territorial governor who once met with the Kid but never granted him clemency 130 years ago.
William N. Wallace, great-grandson of Civil War Gen. and New Mexico territorial Gov. Lew Wallace, says he sees no solid historical foundation for Richardson to offer a posthumous pardon for the Kid, also known as William H. Bonney.
Richardson is considering a pardon to make good on an alleged promise by Gov. Wallace to provide some form of clemency for the Kid in exchange for his testimony about killings during the Lincoln County War.
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