FACT vs. LEGEND: Billy the Kid

[devinb]

I became interested with the legend of Billy the Kid after watching the Young Guns movies (and perhaps earlier than that, catching his name in old westerns). But as I grew older, what really resonated in me was a sincere search for the unvarnished truth.

In 2005, I read about Ollie "Brushy Bill" Roberts' claim to be the Kid, passing away of a sudden heart attack at age 90 in 1950 (and not at the hands of Pat Garrett in 1881). The thought of someone, like Billy the Kid, surviving beyond his legendary demise fascinated me.

What if...?

So, I did my own amateur forensic comparison of two images--one, the iconic tintype, and then an image (allegedly of Brushy Bill, aged 25-29). Here are the results (see images)--


I am coming into this with a fresh perspective. I am not believing all the so-called "history" about the Kid...it seems flawed, and not thoroughly investigated; it's been mythologized to the point of absurdity.

Behind the myth...the "21 victims...one for each year of his life" nursery rhyme...beyond the larger-than-life cult figure is a real man who, like all of us, lived and died.

THAT'S the guy I want to learn about.

Attachments:

[devinb]

Here's the opposite side of the same image(s) for comparison.

In my mind, they are the same person.

Attachments:

[devinb]

Some historians seems so enamored of the mythology surrounding Billy the Kid that they are unwilling to look at any new evidence which might suggest otherwise. It's a case of a legend outshining the human being it's about. I am far more interested in the actual person then the folklore and the story.

[searcher64]

here, hear. i like what you said on one of the other topics about the need to study brushy's life after 1881... circumstancial evidence of these endeavors of his are popping up. notice how the tintype auction got everyone scurrying to their attic? well now several photos have come up which initially excite the historical community, 'til they noticed that (gee wiz) these 'matching' photos were taken much later than 1881. knowing our brushyology will help with the photo i.d. ... for example, 'el gabacho' is a clue. one photo was labeled on back as 'el gabacho (the american) billy the kid': we know that brushy ranched in mexico and aided the rebellion of villa. this may be the origin of the phrase. it wouldn't mean as much in the u.s... also in the shaw photo the 2 men look very detective or police-like and are in a later era certainly... gladewater? or possibly pinkerton or the u.s. marshals service he said he was with... i wish we could get a look at who the other man in the photo is...

[Nik Oak]

with regard to Billy the kid being left or right handed or ambidextrous, the sworn statements of both Severo Gallegos and Jose Montaya both say that Billy fired a rifle left handed, and a pistol with either hand, this would strongly suggest that billy was ambidexterous but with a preference for his left. Could this explain why the famous tintype shows Billy with a pistol in a right hand holster? if Billy was in a jam, then he could have used the rifle (which was said to be his preferred weapon) for greater accuracy at longer range, and could then have used his pistol quickly and slickly (right handed) without any fumbling about changing over hands and still kept his rifle at the ready. He would also not have the problem of his rifle catching on a left hand holster.