A Picture Says A Thousand Words.
This is the only authenticated photograph of Billy the Kid.
For well over a century, this single image has shaped the world’s perception of one of the most famous outlaws in American History. It’s authenticity is not in dispute. Yet the photograph itself has long been regarded as a poor likeness to the man it depicts. Those who knew Billy described features that are difficult-or-impossible-to reconcile with the famous tintype.
If Billy the Kid’s life is one of the greatest mysteries to come out of the Wild West, then the only authenticated photograph of him may have done as much to obscure that mystery as to illuminate it.
And nowhere is that mystery more apparent than in one of the most defining features of the human face.
A False Impression
The famous tintype of Billy the Kid has become the image by which generations have come to recognize him. Yet, by the accounts of those who new him, it was a poor representation of what he actually looked like.
His facial expression, the lighting, and the quality of the photograph combine to flatten and distort his features. Although Billy was consistently described as having a prominent aquiline nose, similar to the example shown in the third image, that defining characteristic is difficult to recognize in the tintype and remains largely absent even in many modern restorations. The photograph also gives the impression that the chin was longer and more pronounced than it likely was, altering the natural balance of his face.
Perhaps the most telling detail is how those who knew him described him. He was repeatedly remembered as being remarkably handsome. Looking only at the famous tintype, that description is difficult to reconcile. Rather than revealing his true appearance, the photograph may have shaped a public image that differed significantly from the man himself.
The fourth image shows actor Tom Blyth portraying Billy the Kid in the Netflix series. While still a fictional portrayal, his youthful, boyish good looks, softer facial features, and more prominent aquiline nose create an appearance that is far more consistent with the descriptions left by those who knew Billy personally. Although no modern actor can be considered an exact likeness, this portrayal offers a glimpse of how different Billy the Kid may have looked in real life. If the famous tintype truly failed to capture his appearance, the false Impression it created may have only deepened the mystery surrounding Billy the Kid and the man history believes it has been looking at all along.
Attention to Detail
From the first time I saw this photograph,, I couldn’t help but notice the unusual way his thumb and forefinger are wrapped around the rifle.
Of course, this could be completely innocent. People often hold objects in unusual ways without giving it a second thought. But the more I studied the photograph, the more I found myself wondering whether there might be another explanation.
At this point, I am not suggesting any particular conclusion. I’m simply pointing out an observation that stood out to me. As the Investigation unfolds, we’ll return to this photograph and take a much closer look at whether that unusual hand position has any significance, or whether it’s simply an innocent coincidence.
A Story Full of Holes
The accepted account of Billy the Kid’s death comes primarily from Pat Garrett’s book, The Authentic Life of Billy, the Kid. Yet from the very night of the shooting occurred, people questioned whether Garrett had actually killed Billy the Kid. More than a century later, those same questions continue to be debated by historians and researchers. The following are a few examples of discrepancies that raise doubts about that infamous night.
- Garrett claimed to identify Billy in a nearly pitch-black room, relying largely on his voice before pulling the trigger.
- Deputy John Poe had never seen Billy before that night and could not independently identify the body.
- Garrrett’s own account of the shooting changed in important details over time.
- No photograph was taken of the body, despite postmortem photography being well established by the late 19th century, and Garrett was never paid the reward for killing Billy at the time. He only received compensation years later because of political connections, raising additional questions that continue to fuel debate.
This isn’t a history website, so I won’t attempt to examine every discrepancy here. My goal is simply to encourage you to ask questions and follow the evidence wherever it leads. If you’d like to explore the subject further, I’ve included a collection of books, articles, and other research sources elsewhere on this website. Read the evidence for yourself and decide whether Pat Garrett’s story deserves to be accepted without question.
The Real McCoy???
I first heard the story of Brushy Bill Roberts when I was in my early teens, watching an episode of Unsolved Mysteries. At the time, I was too young to know much about Billy the Kid beyond the name itself, and I didn’t really appreciate the story of Brushy Bill Roberts. I simply dismissed him as a fraud without knowing much more about him.
Year later, I returned to the story with an open mind and began doing my own research. After examining the evidence objectively, I became convinced beyond a reasonable doubt, or really, beyond any doubt, that Brushy Bill Roberts was the real McCoy.
He perfectly matched the physical description of Billy the Kid, including all of his known scars. He spoke fluent Spanish and could slip handcuffs. He knew details about the Lincoln County War that historians didn’t know at the time, and people who knew Billy the Kid signed affidavits stating they believed he was him. He didn’t come forward seeking fame or fortune. All he wanted was the pardon that was promised to him decades ago.
By publicly claiming to be Billy the Kid, Brushy Bill was putting himself at risk of arrest and potentially execution. That is difficult to explain if he was nothing more than a fraud looking for attention.
For anyone who wants to examine the case for themselves, I highly recommend Daniel A. Edwards’ Billy the Kid: An Autobiography. It is a well-written, thoroughly researched book that allows readers to examine the evidence and draw their own conclusions.
I know some people are so committed to the accepted story of Billy the Kid’s death that even DNA evidence might not convince them otherwise. I encourage everyone else to keep an open mind, do their research, and make up their own mind.
Once I became convinced that Brushy Bill Roberts was indeed Billy the Kid, I also had to accept that the faking of Billy’s death could not have been carried out by one person. For it to have succeeded so completely, and for the truth to have remained hidden for so long, It had to involve multiple people.
And if Billy the Kid’s death was really part of a conspiracy, then it is reasonable to believe that there was more to him than the story history books have sold.
That realization started this Investigation and led me to the question:
If Brushy Bill Roberts was Billy the Kid, then who the hell was Billy the Kid?
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