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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, With a unique history spanning 165 years, the Old El |
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Paso County Jail Museum is one of El Paso County's cultural |
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treasures; and |
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WHEREAS, Following the creation of El Paso County on January |
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3, 1850, San Elizario, the largest and most prosperous community in |
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the area, became the county seat and the site of the county's first |
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jail; established in an adobe building, the jail was furnished with |
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wrought-iron cages that could hold up to six prisoners; though El |
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Paso became the county seat in 1883, the jail remained in use until |
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the 1940s; and |
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WHEREAS, According to oral tradition, in the fall of 1876, |
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Billy the Kid traveled from Mesilla, New Mexico, to break his |
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friend, Melquiades Segura, out of the Old El Paso County Jail; he |
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disarmed the guards by pretending to be a Texas Ranger and released |
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his friend, and then the two outlaws headed toward the Mexican |
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border; the popularity of this historical anecdote has led to |
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frequent reenactments and the establishment of an annual Billy the |
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Kid Festival in San Elizario; and |
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WHEREAS, The residents of the State of Texas are heirs to an |
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extraordinarily rich heritage, and the Old El Paso County Jail |
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Museum serves as an important reminder of this legacy; now, |
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therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 84th Texas |
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Legislature hereby honor the Old El Paso County Jail Museum and |
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extend to all those associated with the museum sincere best wishes |
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for the future; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for the museum as an expression of high regard by the Texas |
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House of Representatives. |