Featured in this lot is this Lincoln County, New Mexico Territory Grand Jury Summons (associated with the grand jury responsible for Billy the Kid's arrest warrant) signed by than Sheriff George Kimball circa 1879; Provenance: From the Tombstone Western Heritage Museum in Tombstone, Arizona. This is an official hand written court document by clerk Bowman in 1879 with written order from Judge Bristol for the summons of 15 citizens including a very historic New Mexican citizen Juan B Patron. Each name has a plus next to the name as is Kimball was checking them off as he was delivering the summons. Historically this summons is associated with the grand jury responsible for the arrest warrant for William "Billy the Kid" Bonnie. This year of 1879 would mark Sheriff George Kimball as the authority but on November 2, 1880, Garrett turned to law enforcement. He was elected to the office of sheriff of Lincoln County, New Mexico, winning ahead of incumbent Sheriff George Kimball. Garrett was so impatient to capture the outlaw William Bonney, a.k.a. “Billy the Kid,” that he asked Sheriff Kimball to appoint him deputy sheriff until his term officially began in January of 1881. He also obtained a deputy U.S. Marshal’s commission to have jurisdiction in other counties. Juan Patrón was a prominent figure in New Mexico's history, particularly during the Lincoln County War. He was a teacher, a desperado hunter, and served as Speaker of the Territorial House, making him the youngest person to hold that position in New Mexico. He was known for his heroism and efforts to bring order to a lawless frontier, but was ultimately killed by a Texas cowboy named Michael Maney. The document comes complete with an original museum tag that reads as follows: 6. Jury Summons - to the Sheriff of Lincoln Co. for the Grand Jury, who swore out the bill to arrest Billy the Kid - 1879 - signed by George Kimball, who was the one Billy the Kid surrendered to, and who took him to Lincoln and put him in jail. Also mentions Juan Patron. The condition of this Lincoln Co. Grand Jury Summons is well preserved with no obvious signs of damage to the document with slight browning to the pages consistent with age but otherwise shows a well preserved condition. The measurements of this two page document is 12 1/2" x 7 3/4". LO180