Frontier peace officer. J.W. Bell was a deputy sheriff of Lincoln County, NM under Sheriff Pat Garrett in 1881. Bell, along with fellow deputy Robert Olinger, was killed in the line of duty by Billy the Kid when he escaped from custody in Lincoln while awaiting hanging for the murder of the previous sheriff, William Brady. The murders of Bell and Olinger have been dramatized in the various Hollywood treatments of Billy the Kid. Deputy Bell is memorialized on the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial in Washington, DC at Panel 13, W3.
Bell's grave was unmarked for over 100 years, but was located and an impressive headstone erected in 2003.
Bell's grave was unmarked for over 100 years, but was located and an impressive headstone erected in 2003.
Frontier peace officer. J.W. Bell was a deputy sheriff of Lincoln County, NM under Sheriff Pat Garrett in 1881. Bell, along with fellow deputy Robert Olinger, was killed in the line of duty by Billy the Kid when he escaped from custody in Lincoln while awaiting hanging for the murder of the previous sheriff, William Brady. The murders of Bell and Olinger have been dramatized in the various Hollywood treatments of Billy the Kid. Deputy Bell is memorialized on the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial in Washington, DC at Panel 13, W3.
Bell's grave was unmarked for over 100 years, but was located and an impressive headstone erected in 2003.
Bell's grave was unmarked for over 100 years, but was located and an impressive headstone erected in 2003.
Inscription
James W. Bell Deputy Sheriff Born - 1853 - Died April 28, 1881 Murdered by William Bonney A.K.A. "Billy the Kid" during his escape from the Lincoln County Jail Lincoln N.M.
Gravesite Details
Recent research (as of 2010) has cast doubt on whether this is actually Bell's grave site. It may be appropriate to characterize this headstone as a cenotaph rather than an actual grave marker. Note: there are no authenticated photos of Bell.
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