Old document sheds light on lawman who killed Billy the Kid

Officials in a southern New Mexico county have found a century-old document inside a box of un-archived records that sheds light on the death of the Old West lawman who gained fame for killing Billy the Kid.

Dona Ana County officials say the 1908 coroner’s jury report refers to the investigation of the death of former Lincoln County Sheriff Pat Garrett.

Historians long-looked for official documents assigning blame for Garrett’s mysterious shooting.

The county says a filing supervisor was combing through un-archived records as part of a preservation effort last fall when she found the handwritten document.

Pointing to its value, the county is seeking more grant funding for its preservation work.

The document is locked away in a safety deposit box.

The county plans a public unveiling next month.