NEWS
Research on nun shows Billy the Kid's religious affiliation, petitioner for her canonization says
Sister Blandina Segale reportedly had multiple interactions with the famous outlaw
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Billy the Kid continues to make headlines, 145 years after being gunned down in Fort Sumner.
The latest chapter in the outlaw鈥檚 saga came Thursday when historians announced new evidence that he was Catholic 鈥� a detail that adds another layer of intrigue to one of the Wild West鈥檚 mythologized figures. Billy the Kid died July 14, 1881, after being shot by Lincoln County Sheriff Pat Garrett about two hours southeast of Albuquerque.
On the first day of the Wild West History Association Roundup, Allen Sanchez said certificates of Billy the Kid鈥檚 baptism and his parents鈥� marriage were located inside St. Peter鈥檚 Church in New York City. St. Peter鈥檚 is connected to the Sisters of Charity, which is considered to be the .
It was with this order that Sister Blandina Segale served and helped start hospitals in Santa Fe and Albuquerque, including St. Joseph鈥檚 Hospital, which became Lovelace Health System.
鈥�(Finding the certificates) means he had some religious formation and that has an effect on how people live their lives,鈥� Sanchez said after his presentation. 鈥淎nd it kind of gives clues to Billy鈥檚 loyalty to people, which is kind of what got him in trouble.鈥�
The certificates were uncovered during research to canonize Segale, whom some called the In May, Vatican theologians voted to advance her sainthood cause, said Sanchez, a petitioner for the cause of canonization.
鈥楾ell a set purpose, good or bad鈥�
Maria Rosa Segale was born on Jan. 23, 1850, in Cicagna, Italy.
Her family migrated to Cincinnati, Ohio, when she was 4 years old. In 1866, she entered the Sisters of Charity before being sent to work out West six years later, .
She was later named after a 2nd-century Christian martyr and patron saint of servants, who was tortured and killed in Lyon, France.
In Trinidad, Colorado, Segale taught poor Hispanic children and also reportedly met Billy the Kid, also known as Henry McCarty.
In her diary, 鈥淎t The End of the Santa Fe Trail,鈥� Segale described Billy as having 鈥渟teel-blue eyes,鈥� and being 鈥渋nnocent looking, save for the corners of his eyes, which tell a set purpose, good or bad.鈥�
Billy the Kid addressed her as 鈥渟ister鈥� then added that 鈥渋t would give me pleasure to be able to do you any favor.鈥�
Segale asked the outlaw to cancel plans 鈥渢o scalp our Trinidad physicians,鈥� which he agreed to do.
She said he added, 鈥淣ot only that, Sister, but at any time my pals and I can serve you, you will find us ready.鈥�
鈥淪he was so full of fear for the cowboys, but every cowboy that encountered her respected her,鈥� Sanchez said.
In 1877, Segale transferred to Santa Fe, where she co-founded public and Catholic schools, .
In May 1881, during her time in Santa Fe, she reportedly spoke with Billy the Kid in jail while visiting a man named Ed Kelly.
Segale recalled Billy the Kid telling her, 鈥溾�楧o what you can for Kelly鈥� 鈥� he was not himself when he did it. I鈥檒l get out of this; you鈥檒l see, Sister.鈥欌��
Sanchez said Segale鈥檚 interactions with Billy the Kid were verified by members of the historical commission for the canonization inquiry.
鈥淭he study of history helps us identify not just outlaws, but heroes who we are invited to imitate,鈥� he said.
Gregory R.C. Hasman is a general assignment reporter and the Road Warrior. He can be reached at ghasman@abqjournal.com or 505-823-3820.
