BILLY THE KID
Myth or True?
BILLY THE KID: Myth or True?
We all know the story of Billy the Kid. Or do we? Much of what we know is myth. Lets dig into the truth about Billy the Kid
Be sure to check out our Teespring Store at www.DragonDenProductions.store for great DragonDen merchandise!
Copyrighted content researched and produced by DragonDen Productions ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
All DragonDen media is intended for educational and entertainment purposes only.
Our videos do not cover all aspects of the topics discussed.
All opinions are personal.
For Creative Commons information on DragonDen media visit https://www.dragondenproductions.com/creative-commons-license
All DragonDen media is intended for educational and entertainment purposes only.
IMAGES USED IN THIS VIDEO:
THUMBNAIL:
DRAGONDEN PRODUCTIONS BRICK BACKGROUND WITH LOGO. © TM DRAGONDEN PRODUCTIONS LLC ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. FONTS: DRAGONDEN: WOLFS BANE II ICONIAN FONTS. LICENSED. PRODUCTIONS: ARIAL BOLD
CHAPTERS:
ADOBESTOCK 335227050 Free Horses, left to nature at sunset. Cappodocia, Turkey. By PawelUchorczak. Licensed. FONTS: Whiskey Stones Licensed Fontbundles.net. Stencil.
IMAGE: Billy the Kid.jpg
DESCRIPTION: Billy the Kid (1859-1881)
CITATION: PUBLIC DOMAIN. Photo by Ben Wittick (1845-1903)
SOURCE: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Billy_the_Kid.jpg
IMAGE: Billythekid birthplace.jpg
DESCRIPTION: Billy the Kid was reportedly born in this building on Allen Street, New York City
CITATION: c /. PUBLIC DOMAIN RELEASE BY AUTHOR Speedy78
SOURCE: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Billythekid_birthplace.jpg
IMAGE: (King1893NYC) pg400 ST PETER’S CHURCH, ROMAN CATHOLIC, BARCLAY AND CHURCH STREETS.jpg
DESCRIPTION: St. Peter’s Church, New York City 1893
CITATION: PUBLIC DOMAIN PD: Pre-1927 NO KNOWN RESTRICTIONS
_pg400_ST._PETER%27S_CHURCH,_ROMAN_CATHOLIC,_BARCLAY_AND_CHURCH_STREETS.jpg){kind=link}
IMAGE: Younger photo of Catherine McCarty for Wiki.JPG
DESCRIPTION: Tintype of a young Catherine McCarty
CITATION: PUBLIC DOMAIN PD:Pre-1927 NO KNOWN RESTRICTIONS
SOURCE: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Younger_photo_of_Catherine_McCarty_for_Wiki.JPG
IMAGE: Billy the Kid.png
DESCRIPTION: Billy the Kid circa 1873-1881
CITATION: PUBLIC DOMAIN Photo by Ben Wittick (1845-1903)
SOURCE: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Billy_the_Kid.png
IMAGE: Mrs. McCarty.JPG
DESCRIPTION: Mrs. Catherine McCarty
CITATION: PUBLIC DOMAIN
SOURCE: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Mrs._McCarty.JPG
IMAGE: Windy Cahill shooting.JPG
DESCRIPTION: Arizona Weekly Citizen, 8/25/1877 p.3 Shooting death of “Windy” Cahill
CITATION: PUBLIC DOMAIN NO KNOWN RESTRICTIONS
SOURCE: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Windy_Cahill_shooting.JPG
IMAGE: Billy the Kid Carte de visite.jpg
DESCRIPTION: Portrait of Billy the Kid on card c. 1881-1882
CITATION: c/. PUBLIC DOMAIN PD: Pre-1927 NO KNOWN RESTRICTIONS
SOURCE: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Billy_the_Kid_Carte_de_visite.jpg
IMAGE: Interior view looking northwest – Tunstall Store, U.S. Highway 380, Lincoln, Lincoln County, NM HABS NM- 218-2.tif
DESCRIPTION: Interior view of Tunstalls Store, US Hwy 380, Lincoln, Lincoln County NM
CITATION: c/. PUBLIC DOMAIN WFG NPS (HABS HAER HALS) NO KNOWN RESTRICTIONS
IMAGE: John Tunstall seated pose cropped and retouched.jpg
DESCRIPTION: John Tunstall. Photographer unknown
CITATION: c/. PUBLIC DOMAIN PD: Pre-1927 NO KNOWN RESTRICTIONS
SOURCE: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:John_Tunstall_seated_pose_cropped_and_retouched.jpg
IMAGE: Dick Brewer cropped b&w.jpg
DESCRIPTION: Richard “Dick” Brewer c. 1875
CITATION: c/. PUBLIC DOMAIN PD: Pre-1927 NO KNOWN RESTRICTIONS
SOURCE: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Dick_Brewer_cropped_b%26w.jpg
IMAGE: Billy the Kid card game.JPG
DESCRIPTION: Alleged photo of Billy the Kid, Richard “Dick” Brewer, Frederick Tecumseh Waite and Henry Newton Brown playing cards 1878
CITATION: c/. PUBLIC DOMAIN 17 U.S.C 303 NO KNOWN RESTRICTIONS
SOURCE: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Billy_the_Kid_card_game.JPG
IMAGE: Billy the Kid Trail – A Street in Lincoln – NARA – 7717398.jpg
DESCRIPTION: A street in Lincoln New Mexico on the Billy the Kid Trail
CITATION: c/. PUBLIC DOMAIN NARA CoOp Project WFG US CODE T17, C1 S105 NO KNOWN RESTRICTIONS
IMAGE: Billy the Kid corrected.jpg
DESCRIPTION: Photo of Billy the Kid flipped from tintype to show correct view
CITATION: c/. PUBLIC DOMAIN PD:Pre-1927 NO KNOWN RESTRICTIONS
SOURCE: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Billy_the_Kid_corrected.jpg
IMAGE: Lincoln, NM.jpg
DESCRIPTION: Ruins of McSween house in Lincoln, New Mexico c.1880s/1890s
CITATION: c/. PUBLIC DOMAIN PD:Pre-1927 NO KNOWN RESTRICTIONS
SOURCE: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Lincoln,_NM.jpg
IMAGE: Gatling Guns in Action WDL11499 (cropped).png
DESCRIPTION: Gatling Guns in Action John Burke (1843-1900)
CITATION: c/. PUBLIC DOMAIN NO KNOWN RESTRICTIONS
SOURCE: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Lincoln,_NM.jpg
IMAGE: BTKfull.jpg
DESCRIPTION: Tintype reportedly showing Billy the Kid and the Regulators playing croquet 1878 Unknown author
CITATION: c/. PUBLIC DOMAIN PD:Pre-1927 NO KNOWN RESTRICTIONS
SOURCE: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:BTKfull.jpg
IMAGE: Billy the Kid and Pat Garret in 1880.jpg
DESCRIPTION: Photo allegedly showing Billy the Kid (second from left) and Pat Garrett (far right) 1880
CITATION: c/. PUBLIC DOMAIN PD:Pre-1927 NO KNOWN RESTRICTIONS
SOURCE: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Billy_the_Kid_and_Pat_Garret_in_1880.jpg
IMAGE: Billy the Kid letter to Lew Wallace.jpg
DESCRIPTION: Photo of letter dated March 1881 written by Billy the Kid to Territory of New Mexico Governor Lew Wallace
CITATION: c/. PUBLIC DOMAIN PD:Pre-1927 NO KNOWN RESTRICTIONS
SOURCE: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Billy_the_Kid_letter_to_Lew_Wallace.jpg
IMAGE: Billy the Kid Trail – Courthouse and Jail in Lincoln – NARA – 7717372.jpg
DESCRIPTION: Billy the Kid Trail – Courthouse and Jail in Lincoln New Mexico
CITATION: c/. PUBLIC DOMAIN Photo: Dennis Adams FHWA. NARA CoOp Project US Code T17 C1 S105
IMAGE: Billy the Kid shooting Bob Olinger.jpg
DESCRIPTION: Billy the Kid shooting Bob Olinger. The Story of the Outlaw by Hough 1907
CITATION: c/. PUBLIC DOMAIN PD:Pre-1927 NO KNOWN RESTRICTIONS
SOURCE: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Billy_the_Kid_shooting_Bob_Olinger.jpg
IMAGE: Sheriff Bob Olinger.jpg
DESCRIPTION: Deputy-Sheriff Bob Olinger who was shot by Billy the Kid
CITATION: c/. PUBLIC DOMAIN PD:Pre-1927 NO KNOWN RESTRICTIONS
SOURCE: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Sheriff_Bob_Olinger.jpg
IMAGE: Bob Olinger death marker.jpg
DESCRIPTION: Deputy-Sheriff Bob Olinger death marker by Daniel Mayer 2006
CITATION: CC BY-SA 3.0 Unported/2.5 Generic/2.0 Generic/ 1.0 Generic
SOURCE: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Bob_Ollinger_death_marker.JPG
IMAGE: Gov Lew Wallace in 1893 cropped lightened.jpg
DESCRIPTION: Governor Lew Wallace from Lew Wallace: An Autobiography 1906
CITATION: c/. PUBLIC DOMAIN PD:Pre-1927 NO KNOWN RESTRICTIONS
SOURCE: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Gov_Lew_Wallace_in_1893_cropped_lightened.jpg
IMAGE: Pat Garrett2.jpg
DESCRIPTION: Sheriff Pat Garrett
CITATION: c/. PUBLIC DOMAIN PD:Pre-1927 NO KNOWN RESTRICTIONS
SOURCE: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Pat_Garrett2.jpg
IMAGE: Billy the Kid Headstone.jpg
DESCRIPTION: William H Bonney, AKA Billy the Kid headstone by Asagan
CITATION: CC BY-SA 3.0 Unported
SOURCE: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Billy_the_Kid_Headstone.jpg
IMAGE: Billy-The-Kid-Individual-Tombstone.jpg
DESCRIPTION: Grave marker for Billy the Kid at Fort Sumner, New Mexico
CITATION: c/. PUBLIC DOMAIN RELEASE BY AUTHOR: Sam Vast
SOURCE: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Billy-The-Kid-Individual-Tombstone.jpg
IMAGE: Photo of Billy the Kid (left).JPG
DESCRIPTION: Detail from a photo allegedly showing Billy the Kid (left) 1878
CITATION: c/. PUBLIC DOMAIN PD:Pre-1927 NO KNOWN RESTRICTIONS
SOURCE: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Photo_of_Billy_the_Kid_(left).JPG
.JPG){kind=link}
IMAGE: Billy le Kid, Doc Holliday, Jesse James et Charlie Bowdre, a Las Vegas en 1879.jpg
DESCRIPTION: Photo allegedly shows Billy the Kid, Doc Holliday, Jesse James and Charlie Bowdre in Las Vegas, NM 1879
CITATION: c/. PUBLIC DOMAIN PD:Pre-1927 NO KNOWN RESTRICTIONS
IMAGE: Brushy Bill Gravesite.jpg
DESCRIPTION: Gravesite of Brushy Bill Roberts, who claimed to be Billy the Kid, in Hamilton, Texas by Caknuck
CITATION: CC BY-SA 4.0 International
SOURCE: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Brushy_Bill_Gravesite.jpg
IMAGE: Billy the Kid Museum IMG 0748.JPG
DESCRIPTION: The Billy the Kid Museum in Hico, Texas 2008
CITATION: CC BY-SA 3.0 Unported by Billy Hathorn at English Wikipedia
SOURCE: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Billy_the_Kid_Museum_IMG_0748.JPG
SELECT BIBLIOGRAPHY AND FURTHER READING SUGGESTIONS:
“Did Billy The Kid Live Into Old Age In Candy Kitchen, NM?”. ENCHANTED LANDS.ORG. ACCESSED 09 JUNE 2022. http://www.enchantedlands.org/billy-the-kid.htm
Brothers, Marcelle. “About Billy The Kid”. Billy The Kid Outlaw Gang.com. ACCESSED 9 JUNE 2022. https://www.billythekidoutlawgang.com/blank
“Fact Vs Myth”. About Billy The Kid.com. ACCESSED 9 JUNE 2022. http://www.aboutbillythekid.com/fact_vs_myth.htm
“Billy vs. Brushy”. About Billy The Kid.com ACCESSED 9 JUNE 2022. http://www.aboutbillythekid.com/billy_vs_brushy.htm
“The Truth About Brushy Bill Roberts”. Lucas Speer. Angelfire.com. ACCESSED 9 JUNE 2022. https://www.angelfire.com/nm/boybanditking/pageBrushy.html
Nolan, Frederick. “What if everything we know about Billy the Kid is wrong?” May 2015. ACCESSED 9 JUNE 2022. https://truewestmagazine.com/article/what-if-everything-we-know-about-billy-the-kid-is-wrong/
Miller, Michael E. “One man’s quest to bury the Wild West mystery of Billy the Kid’s death”. THE Washington Post. 21 July, 2021. ACCESSED 9 JUNE 2022. https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/morning-mix/wp/2015/07/21/one-mans-quest-to-bury-the-wild-west-mystery-of-billy-the-kids-death/
Jameson, W.C. “The Controversial Inquests & Burial of Billy The Kid”. 8 October 2018. ACCESSED 9 JUNE 2022. https://www.historynet.com/controversial-inquests-burial-billy-kid/
Hoekstra, Kyle “The Wild West’s Most Wanted: 10 Facts About Billy The Kid”. HISTORY HIT. 12 JAN 2022. ACCESSED 9 JUNE 2022. https://www.historyhit.com/facts-about-billy-the-kid/
“The Life and Legend of Billy the Kid” American Experience. ACCESSED 9 JUNE 2022. https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/features/billy-life-and-legend-billy-kid/
Samantha. “Billy The Kid’s Real Name Was Not William H Bonney” Today I Found Out. 27 Dec 2011. ACCESSED 9 JUNE 2022. https://www.todayifoundout.com/index.php/2011/12/billy-the-kids-real-name-was-not-william-h-bonney/
Trimble, Marshall “What can you tell me about Billy the Kid’s brother?” True West Magazine. 6 Jan 2014. ACCESSED 9 JUNE 2022. https://truewestmagazine.com/what-can-you-tell-me-about-billy-the-kids-brother/
“Billy The Kid Kills His First Man”. HISTORY.com. August 17, 2020. ACCESSED 9 JUNE 2022. https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/billy-the-kid-kills-his-first-man
“Joseph “Josey” Antrim FIND A GRAVE. ACCESSED 9 JUNE 2022. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/42628153/joseph-antrim
“Joseph (McCarty) Antrim (1863 – 1930). WIKITREE. ACCESSED 9 JUNE 2022. https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/McCarty-1981
“Billy the Kid: Truth and Myth: The Truth Behind the Old West’s Greatest Outlaw”. World History.us. 12 Aug 2017. ACCESSED 9 JUNE 2022. https://worldhistory.us/american-history/billy-the-kid-truth-and-myth-the-truth-behind-the-old-wests-greatest-outlaw.php
“Young Guns” Film. WIKIPEDIA. ACCESSED 9 JUNE 2022. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Young_Guns_(film)
“Brushy Bill Roberts” WIKIPEDIA. ACCESSED 9 JUNE 2022. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brushy_Bill_Roberts
Trimble, Marshall. “A family Bible belonging to the sister of Brushy Bill, who claimed to be Billy the Kid, listed his birth year as 1879. If this is true, then Brushy Bill couldn’t possibly be Billy the Kid, right?” TRUE WEST MAGAZINE. April 2007. ACCESSED 9 JUNE 2022. https://truewestmagazine.com/article/a-family-bible-belonging-to-the-sister-of-brushy-bill-who-claimed-to-be-billy-the-kid-listed-his-birth-year-as-1879-if-this-is-true-then-brushy-bill-couldnt-possibly-be-billy-the-kid-rig-2/
Please note: as images are sometimes unavailable for some items, topics or periods of history, we may use an image of a similar item or event when necessary. All images are attributed. No image is intended to cause offense in any way to any person, place, thing or event.
*FACT CHECK* We use trusted and verified sources for information and images.
We strive for 100% accuracy. Trademark and Copyrights are extremely important to us, too.
Information is verified at time of writing.
New research or information may come to light after publication.
If you notice something that does not seem right, please contact us.
We appreciate the opportunity to update information if necessary.
Let us know at contact@dragondenproductions.com
License Creative Commons Attribution license (reuse allowed) see dragondenproductions.com for more information.