Authorities report vandalism at Fort Sumner Museum-Billy the Kid tombstone damaged, etc..

[Gay Mathis]

Authorities report vandalism at Fort Sumner Museum

http://www.kob.com/article/stories/S2671297.shtml

Excerpt: The Billy the Kid tombstone, weighing over 2,000 pounds, was tipped over and damaged

[Nicholas Narog]

I heard about this, and according to Tim Sweet the cemetery has been restored- however the museum was also robbed. I know 4 revolvers were stolen.

[Nicholas Narog]

Also to add: along with the $1000 reward the De Baca County Crimestoppers are offering, the Billy the Kid Outlaw Gang is also offering $500 for the arrest and conviction of those responsible.

[Murray A. Gewirtz]

The "Billy the Kid Outlaw Gang"? Wouldn't they be kind of oooold by now?

[anthony martin]

  Murray,

    They want there guns back so that they can pull a big job down at the old pioneer's senior center!

[Nicholas Narog]

http://www.billythekidoutlawgang.com/

[Nick Fatta Jr.]

this is not funny at all, and it wasnt revolvers it was rifles, history has been stolen, history that people like me may never be able to view with my own eyes, i dont see where someone gets a sense of humor out of this.

 

[Gay Mathis]

Murray & Anthony's humor, sometimes, takes a life of its own and lightens the mood.... :)

I don't think anyone thinks it is funny, except, the ones responsible for this particular vandalism and thief. However, vandalism happens in more cemeteries than we have a clue about..Other incidents just do not get the same press as this did, and it sure does not make those other vandalism incidents any less important to stop from happening in other cemeteries..So disrespectful..

Nicholas, thanks for the group link for "Billy the Kid Outlaw Gang"

[anthony martin]

  First off I take the business of historic preservation very seriously and also very personally and have been very involved in it for over 35 years now,so any thievery from a museum is always a  cultural crime.Vandalism of grave sites and thievery from cemeteries has become a huge problem all over the United States but many who are untouched by that problem will make much of this incident which I find rather ironic. Now,I will go on record by saying that I don't care a fig about the cult of Billy the Kid or any other maladjusted thug from the pages of history.I could never romanticize the likes of Clay Allison,the Younger brothers,Belle Starr or quite a few others that come to mind-there are numerous examples of people who made a real difference and were productive citizens in the old west who really don't get their adequate due.

[David Lee Anders, Sr.]

Just my two cents: It does not matter if you think billy was a good or bad man, The fact that persons unknown stole historic rifles and did damage in a grave yard is an evil deed! How would you feel if it was your parents grave? It comes down to an Act of Malice, nothing more and nothing less.