Interesting information printed in 1881 about The Kid

[MissyS]

I thought this interesting, I recently bought an old dime store novel, actually a nickle book about Billy The Kid, I believe it to be a re- copy or replica re-printed in the 50's, its titled "Wide awake Library", and it was originally printed in 1881 just weeks after Billy was supposedly shot. Whats interesting is the information about Billy thats  different from any book Iv read, it says he had a sister that married a miner and also had a brother named John, I know this was just a nickel book for kids but since it was printed back in the day right after Billy was supposed to have died, I would expect the information to be more accurate, Im curious as to where the information was obtained or the source for the info?, did Billy's mother get confused as his sister?, and the brother named John, where did that come from? curiously the book also has Billy speaking with an Irish accent, it made me think if his mother did come from Ireland on a ship to New York as some books say then she could very well have had an Irish accent and Billy could very well have had one also? A pic of the book is below, curious of your thoughts?



 

[mckinley412]

Even if that is from the 1950's there were only 1000 printed so it is rare. The story was based on newspaper articles. All this according to Frederick Nolan in his book The Billy the Kid Reader which is a must have for any Billy the Kid buff. It is awesome.

[mckinley412]

I have seen his sister mentioned a couple times, and his mother still be alive at the time of his death mentioned a couple times. In the WPA files taken in the 30's Dr. J.R. Carver says mentions that the Kid died a few years ago by Marfa, Texas. One of the reasons he says people don't believe the kid is dead is because his sister came out and did not go to his grave. 2. his horse was never seen again. 3. him and Pete and Pat were friends. He says the kid went down to Texas on the Rio Grande

[mckinley412]

If the book has commentary and notes by Jeff C. Dykes it is a reprint. If it doesn't then you are rich.

[Deleted]

My great, great, great grandparents kept articles about this. But I've never taken the time to have them looked at or anything.