One of Billy the Kid's guards, Ollinger, was eating dinner at Mr. Thornton's hotel when he heard the "Kid's" shot that killed Bell, the other guard. On running from the dining room, Ollinger, at a call from Billy the Kid, looked up and received a volley of shots from his own gun that he had left leaning against the wall at the jail. With both guards killed within two or three minutes' time, Billy the Kid ordered his shackles sawed off by the blacksmith, mounted a horse and made his sensational escape.

Mr. Thornton also owned the Pioneer Livery Stable at Lincoln and organized the first produce establishment at that place, in which he handled hay and feed.

General Lew Wallace spent some time in Lincoln during Mr. Thornton's residence at that place. They were friends who were on the side of peace, law, and order and were united in the common cause of bringing to a close the days of horror of the Lincoln County War and of bringing Billy the Kid to justice.

Mr. Thornton, with a posse of nine men under leader John Hurley, one day entered a cave near White Oaks seeking the young killer and desperado. The Kid was concealed behind rocks at the farthest end and was not discovered, but he could have shot each one as they entered the cave if he had desired. He afterwards said they all had once been his friends and he couldn't shoot them down unless they had him cornered and forced him to do so.