Billy the Kid

The recent story about the finding of a picture of Billy the Kid worth 5.2 million had me reading for the last two days about this fascinating story.I'm not a wild west buff but the details of Billy's life and his supposed killing by Sheriff Pat Garrett as history dictates really makes you wonder how much of history is true. Billy,according to history, was killed by Garrett at Ft. Sumner after a long chase and buried the next day. In 1948, a history buff heard a rumor Billy was still alive and living in Pecos, Tx. He contacted the man known as Brushy Bill Roberts who was 88 at the time and met w/ him. Brushy initially denied he was Billy as he didn't want his wife to know but told the man, Morrison, to come back the next day when his wife would be gone and they could talk privately. Billy admitted to Morrison he was Billy the Kid the next day and wanted to get his pardon before he died like the Gov. of New Mexico had promised him years ago and never followed through. He wanted to be forgiven for his crimes. Morrison wanted proof he was the real Billy and Brushy took off his clothes and showed him numerous scars from bullet wounds and knives that were in the exact same place as Billy the Kids renowned scars. Brushy also had the large wrists and small hands that Billy had which enabled him to get out of hand cuffs easily and demonstrated that to him. He was the same height and had the same blue grey eyes w/ specks of brown like Billy. Still not convinced, Morrison took Brushy on a road trip to meet w/ some of the old outlaws that were still alive to confirm it was Billy. They all signed affadavits stating it was him. Brushy was also fluent in Spanish just like Billy. Brushy told Morrison the real story about the night in Ft. Sumner and Pat Garrett had actually shot a half Mexican friend he rode w/ called Billy Barlow and buried him collecting a reward and writing a book about killing Billy.Of course, it was in Billy's best interests to stay dead. Garrett's deputies confirmed Garrett killed Billy but years later to family and friends they admitted Garrett shot the wrong man. Barlow was not wanted for anything.Brushy also filled in some details of his life after he disappeared and assumed the identity of his dead cousin Ollie Roberts. Billy rode w/ Poncho Villa and fought in the Spanish-American war after that amongst other things. Morrison arranged a private meeting w/ the then Gov. of New Mexico w/ Billy to discuss his pardon. The Gov. made a publicity stunt out of it and had the press,armed police and Garretts son's there which traumatized the old Billy and he didn't do well in the meeting. The Gov. refused the pardon not believing Brushy which devastated him and he died not long after of a heart attack while walking down the street. This would make a good movie w/ Clint Eastwood as Brushy and his son as the young Billy. Many people don't believe Brushy but there is too much evidence he was Billy and he tried to his dying days to get a pardon for his crimes.

Cool story ...

It was a cool story because Billy the Kid had incredible good luck. He killed Sheriff Brady was convicted and sentenced to hang. He broke out of jail killing two deputies while still a teen. He was ambidexterous and allegedly could shoot just as well w/ both hands but said he never killed anybody that he didn't have to. He was like a folk hero to many people and had over 26 scars on his body from wounds. All this done before he was 21.