History of "Billy The Kid" by Charles A. Siringo

[susan]

Just finished reading this book and wondered if anyone else has read it. It stated that Jesse Evans was a bit older than Billy but they had known each other since they were young. Is that factual? This book is a quick read and I do not feel like I learned anything new. I also wondered if he really knew Billy and Jesse all that well or just gathered information from other publications.

[MissyS]

Susan,
I feel the same as you about some books on Billy The Kid, after reading them I don't feel like I'v learned much new, seems like every aurthor agrees somewhat that Billy and Jesse were close friends but differ on how and when they met, Brushy said in "The Lost Interviews" ( pg.47) that he met Jesse in Silver City in 1870 or 1871, he said he met Mel Segura right after he met Evans, and Jesse and him stayed at the ranch of Segura's uncle in Chihuahua Mexico when he broke Segura from jail at San Elizario TX, they hid out on the ranch a few days then and Brushy said he went there lots of times and he learned to speak Spanish pretty good while staying there. Brushy said Jesse and him were like brothers, they roamed NM, Texas, Arizona, and Mexico together, he said they argued but he always felt close to him. He said Jesse was about the same age as him, and Tom O'Folliard, he said Jesse and him were both small, and I remember reading that Jesse was close to the same height as Billy with Jesse slightly bigger. Brushy's version of when he met Jesse Evans means they would have both been close to the age of 11 or 12 in 1870 or 1871 in Silver City. So I guess according to Brushy; Siringo was right that the two knew each other when they were young   or kinda young?

[susan]

Thank you, Missy. I am beginning the think that Jesse Evans was his real name. I did a search of Library of Congress and asked them to help me. They sent me a link for the newspapers and so far the only thing I found was that L.J. Cox, John Vandiver, and J.J. Allen were arrested for counterfeiting July 6, 1871. Also, Jesse Evans was fined $500 and costs for counterfeiting and the counterfeiter, Allen, was sentenced to 1 year on November 11, 1871. Unfortunately, Kansas Historical Society now charges for everything because they are short of staff, etc. I will see if I cannot circumvent that and have a library borrow the microfilm for me. The arrest in another newspaper could perhaps have the names of Jesse Evans family. There must be some information somewhere as to what happened to him after he was in prison in Huntsville. Also, when I look at pictures of Jesse Evans, there seems to be a discrepancy as one is blonde and the other (on the front of the book) seems to have dark hair. So do you think Joseph Hines was or was not Jesse Evans? Or was he Campbell? Also, what happened to Joseph Hines after he inherited land and how much land are we talking about. It must have been substantial since Morrison was sent from St. Louis.

[nmjames]

Susan,

In the Lawrence Daily Journal, June 18, 1871, it states that a big haul of counterfeiters had been made having arrested five near Parker and six near Elk City. Two more were being pursued. Listed are: L.J. Cox, John Vandever and J.J. Allen, the latter city marshal of Elk City. Two women, Mrs. Evans and Mrs. Allen.

In the Daily Kansas Tribune, Lawrence, Kansas, July 3, 1871 it states that five of the parties who were arrested in Montgomery county were Jailed in Lawrence Kansas. They were George Wilkinson, L.J. Cox, Jesse J. Allen, Jesse Evans, and John Vanderver. I think Jesse J. Allen was convicted on Nov. 11, 1871.

Just a side note: Billy the Kid is thought to have been born in 1859. This Jesse Evans was said to be about 18. In 1871, Billy would have only been about 12 years old. If Billy and Jesse were the same age, Jesse would have only been 12 years old when arrested.

nmjames

[susan]

I had read somewhere that he was arrested with his family. I notice it mentions Mrs. Evans but not Mr. Evans. Also, I understand what you mean about his age. Jesse Evans prison record at Huntsville lists him as being born in 1853, 27 years old. I also read in the Galveston Daily News that after leaving Huntsville that Jesse Evans made his way to Sonora, Mexico and became a ranch superintendent. Could that be true?