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The Break-In of El Paso's County Jail
El Paso Texas is a melting pot of curious and interesting historical and recent events. Sadly, even though I live here, I did not bother to search for these events myself. In fact, it was only thanks to my mother, I came to find out that the most contradictory actions any outlaw could possibly do, especially one as notorious as Billy the Kid, happened in our old County Jail.
Even though our jail cells were built to be impenetrable, Billy the Kid, who was notorious for his jailbreaks, executed one of the most peculiar yet strangely honorable actions; breaking INTO our own little run down El Paso County Jail to save his friend Melquiades Segura who was being trialed for murder.
These acts along with his involvement in the Lincon County War, a dispute between rival territories over dry goods profits, and cattle interests over the county, and his jail breakout from his execution sentence for the murder of Sheriff Brady, forced Billy on a run from the law.
In January 1850 El Paso County was created by Texan Legislature in which San Elizario became its first county seat. Built like a death trap. The Old County Jail was the first jail Texan legislature created for El Paso County. With its pre-fabricated iron cells that held up to six prisoners and a measly hole as a restroom, it proved impossible to escape, from the inside that is. It was the year 1857 during the time Sheriff Charles Kerber guarded the jail that Melquiades Segura was being kept there and tried for murder.
Billy the Kid for the sake of saving his acquaintance rode from Las Cruces to San Elizario to somehow break him out of jail. Since record-keeping at the time wasn’t so well developed we only have limited information and no concrete evidence as to how true or precise these events transpired. It is said though, that at his arrival around three in the morning while using the cover of the night, he disguised himself as a Texas Ranger in order to trick the Mexican guards into opening the jail making them believe he had brought in two American prisoners. As the guard opened the door he found himself face to face with a revolver. It is said Billy disarmed the guards and threw them in the jail cell, throwing away the key to prevent them from escaping
