What do you think?
Rate this book
Billy the Kid: An Autobiography
Did Pat Garrett kill Billy the Kid? It was a moonlit night in Ft. Sumner, NM when history tells us that Sheriff Pat Garrett shot down the notorious outlaw Billy “the Kid”. Newspapers across the country quickly reported that the Kid was dead and Garrett quickly put the body in the ground. But rumors spread that the Kid had survived and the testimony of Garrett’s posse was contradictory about how, exactly, the shooting had gone down. Nevertheless, without evidence, the story of the heroic Sheriff stood for almost 70 years. Then, in 1950, an old man from Hico, TX petitioned the governor of New Mexico for a pardon for crimes he committed as Billy the Kid. No one took him seriously, and yet the old man was an exact match in physical characteristics and knew intimate details about the Kid’s life. He also knew details about the fateful shooting the night Garrett claimed to have shot him that had been erased by history. Details, for example, that Garrett had killed his very drunk bearded half-Mexican partner, a claim that has only recently been verified by modern research. It has been said that the living write history and not the dead, but when one returns from the dead, so to speak, that which was lost to history is restored. This is the true story of Billy the Kid, complete with new evidence that he lived to a ripe old age and died a free man. THE STORY In 1882 the notorious outlaw Jesse Evans, a childhood friend of Billy the Kid and a participant in the Lincoln County War, walked out of jail after serving a sentence for killing a Texas ranger. Jesse walked out of prison a free man and disappeared, never to be heard from again. Never, that is, until 1949 when Jesse came out of hiding after almost 60 years to claim an inheritance left to him by his brother. In the course of proving his identity to a court Jesse told some amazing stories of his time when he was an outlaw but his biggest revelation of all was that his good friend Billy the Kid was still alive. Jesse led a young lawyer named William Morrison to an old man named not William H. Bonney but William H. Roberts who after some consideration finally agreed to come forward and reveal himself as Billy the Kid. He agreed to this on one condition- that the lawyer help him obtain the pardon he was promised by the Governor but never received so he could die a free man. You see, Billy the Kid was still wanted for murder and was condemned to hang. To reveal himself was to risk arrest and death. This was a risk that William H. Roberts was willing to take. He sat down with Mr. Morrison and told his story. This book contains that story. It is the one true autobiography of Billy the Kid. A story that aside from some definite highlights and adventures that one would expect from the Kid, was remarkable normal and focused on his skill breaking horses as much or as more as his skill as a gunslinger. Billy the Kid was, in fact, just a gifted young cowhand who found himself juxtaposed against corrupt officials and lawmen at what became a key moment in American History. Before one dismisses Mr. Roberts it should be considered that 5 living acquaintances of Billy the Kid, aside from Mr. Evans who revealed him, were willing to sign legal affidavits that Mr. Roberts was the man they knew as Billy the Kid. Further, new photographic comparison shows beyond a shadow of a doubt that they were the same man. Mr. Roberts' story became the inspiration for the opening scene in hit movie "Young Guns II" starring Emilio Estevez as Billy the Kid. Also Consider that Pat Garrett was denied his reward for killing the kid for many months, and that only a special act of the legislature allowed him to finally receive it. All of this and more is contained in this book. Thanks to Mr. Morrison each of us can now pull up a chair, sit down across from Billy the Kid, and listen as he shares his story.
253 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 31, 2014
507 people are currently reading
242 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews
December 1, 2022
What if, every now and then, the long established story that has been passed down to us over time is factually incorrect? What if it's just plain wrong? Or rather, what if some very important facts were once lost in the shuffle, during a time when record keeping wasn't always even halfway close to what it is today, and the positive identification of the body of a dead man simply was not, in any way, shape or form, the finely tuned, incredibly precise, and highly exacting C.S.I. science that it has very much become in today's "space age," computer-driven world?
What if, in the rugged, untamed, early 1880s territory of New Mexico, a lawman who'd already shot the wrong man more than once before, wanted to not only cover up yet another one of his botched manhunts, but he also wanted to collect the territorial governor's promise of a then whopping $500 dollar reward for the "capture," dead or alive, of the notorious outlaw, Billy the Kid? What if... on top of all that, this particular lawman (who himself had once been on the wrong side of the law, AND was even a former friend of Billy the Kid himself) had not long before made a bold campaign promise to bring that particular infamous outlaw to justice?
Yet, of course, officially accepted history tells us that Billy the Kid, who has become so mythical in stature over the years that he has oft been depicted in many a movie, TV show, and even quite a few comic books, was gunned down at the tender age of 21 by his former friend, Sheriff Pat Garrett, on July 14, 1881. Which may of course be true. At least part of it, anyway. But then again... maybe a very big part of this particular story is just plain false. At least, that's exactly what this alleged "autobiography" of Billy the Kid purports to explain.
Don't buy it? Is the mere idea that Billy the Kid did not in fact die a violent death at a very young age simply just too hard to swallow? Well, believe this: The cover of this well written and thoroughly researched book by author Daniel A. Edwards features only part of the long famous, and therefore readily recognizable, ferrotype photo of William H. Bonney (alias Henry Antrim, alias Kid Antrim), that was taken in 1880, roughly a year before the legendary outlaw's supposed demise.
In fact, the other half of the face shown on the cover was digitally lifted from a tintype photo of a man who later came to be known as Brushy Bill Roberts, and this image of Roberts, that was taken a number of years after the famous 1880 ferrotype (and therefore well after the assumed death of Billy the Kid), interestingly enough, perfectly matches the facial structure clearly on display in what was long thought to have been the only surviving photographic image of the Kid.
Even more interesting, perhaps, is that this Brushy Bill character was, throughout the course of his later life, variously known as William Henry Roberts, Ollie Partridge William Roberts, Ollie N. Roberts, or simply O.L. Roberts (which may be just a few of an even longer list of his aliases), who eventually passed away in his bed in Hico Texas on December 27, 1950.
Now, if you happen to find all of the above a bit confusing, or even just highly doubtful, don't worry. This book is not only an easy read, it's highly entertaining, quite informative, and more than just a little convincing as well. And if you have even a passing interest in the Old American West, you might even enjoy reading it at least half as much as I did.
Of course, a whole lot of people, many of whom like to think of themselves as "experts" on the Old West and its many colorful (and often quite heavily fictionalized) characters will simply refuse to even bother to lend much credence to the well documented evidence presented in this book. But I for one fail to see why it isn't at least highly plausible that "Brushy Bill Roberts" had once been Billy the Kid, who is officially listed as having been born Henry McCarty. Although Brushy Bill contended that the Kid's real name was actually William Henry Roberts.
Not to give too much of the book away, but let's just say, for the sake of argument, that even though Sheriff Garrett killed the wrong man, he was apparently still lucky enough to be able to easily pass off the corpse as the genuine article. Because not only did the still warm body strongly resemble the infamous Kid, but his name had also just happened to be Billy!
In fact, Billy Barlow and Billy the Kid were well known to have looked more than just a bit similar. They were also quite well acquainted with one another, which is why they were in such close proximity on the fateful night in question. So naturally, when Garrett accidently gunned Barlow down in the heat of the moment, in the middle of the night, it only makes sense that even if he wasn't entirely sure if he'd slain the right man, he had every reason to believe that he could more than likely still get away with deliberately offering up the wrong Billy instead.
And then there's the fact that the deputy who was with Garrett on that fateful night not only wrote an account alleging that he'd at first frantically told the Sheriff immediately after the killing that he was sure the wrong man had been shot, but he also testified that from where the two crouched in the darkness, they had distinctly heard someone call out in Spanish, “Quien Es?" ("Who is it?"), at least four or five times.
Why Spanish? Well, except for the fact that the killing took place in New Mexico, where that language was obviously widely spoken in some areas of the territory, it makes sense that Barlow, being half-Mexican, might be more apt to use Spanish than Billy the Kid, who has never been reported as anything other than Anglo-American, and whose primary language therefore was almost certainly English.
Yet, granted, the young outlaw Billy must have gained at least a fair command of Spanish at some point, given that Brushy Bill claimed to have worked as a rancher in "old Mexico" for several years after the Kid's supposed death at the hands of Garrett.
And what if the real Billy was actually nearby that night, heard the shot that killed the other unfortunate Billy, and ended up getting wounded in the subsequent crossfire himself, but still managed to escape and was eventually helped by friends, who nursed those wounds, and were therefore then, many years later, not only able to see the scars left by those same wounds on the person of one Brushy Bill Roberts...? Well then, who the HELL is absolutely anyone else to say that ANY of them were liars?
In fact, a number of people who were still alive in 1950 who had known Billy the Kid took the time, trouble, and personal risk to write and sign lawfully witnessed affidavits clearly stating that the man who was then going by the name of Ollie Roberts was indeed, as far as they were concerned, THE legendary western outlaw that most history books still contend was actually killed by Sheriff Pat Garrett.
But hey, don't take it from me! Read this book, or one of the similar accounts by other authors who've also written about the work of Texas lawyer William V. Morrison, who, in 1948, met an elderly man that claimed that not only had he fought in the 1878-81 Lincoln County War, but that that conflict's perhaps most famous participant, Billy the Kid, was still very much alive, and was living in Texas under yet another one of his many assumed names.
Yes, other elderly men at one time or another had claimed to be the real Billy the Kid, but only O.L. "Brushy Bill" Roberts had the exact (though certainly now aged) characteristics (including relevant scars, other prominent physical features, and behavioral traits that the Kid was well known to have), AND could recite by memory, an incredible amount of highly detailed inside information about Billy the Kid's life experiences that were either not well known prior to 1950, or not even previously known at all.
Before, that is, Morrison finally coaxed the elderly Mr. Roberts into reluctantly revealing his true identity. But only in the hopes that the infamous outlaw who'd been laying low, living under a series of assumed names, might finally, after so many long years, be able to receive the pardon he'd once been promised way, way back in the late 1800s, when he was still little more than the desperate boy who'd run away from an abusive father when he was only fourteen.
A young man whom, his whole life long, looked roughly a decade or more younger than his real age. Which was of course how he came to be called "the Kid," not to mention how he eventually assumed the identity of the real, already deceased Ollie Roberts, who actually, really had been born on the exact date that the man who later assumed that identity, one "Brushy Bill Roberts," is now conveniently listed in official historical records as having been born on. What's more, because he'd so oft been on the run so early in life, young Henry McCarty's first crime was actually getting caught stealing clothes from a Chinese laundry. Oh, but there's more! A whole lot more, in fact.
So... what if I told you then, that the man so famously known as Billy the Kid not only really, honestly, did NOT die at the age of 21, like most history books "officially" claim, but that, because he was so good at breaking horses, he THEN even went on to serve in Teddy Roosevelt's famous Rough Riders unit in Cuba during the Spanish-American War? Ah! But I'm afraid you'll have to read the book to learn more about that, won't ya? Besides, isn't that the ONLY way you're going to be able to really make up your very own mind, once and for all? Yep. I thought as much.
What if, in the rugged, untamed, early 1880s territory of New Mexico, a lawman who'd already shot the wrong man more than once before, wanted to not only cover up yet another one of his botched manhunts, but he also wanted to collect the territorial governor's promise of a then whopping $500 dollar reward for the "capture," dead or alive, of the notorious outlaw, Billy the Kid? What if... on top of all that, this particular lawman (who himself had once been on the wrong side of the law, AND was even a former friend of Billy the Kid himself) had not long before made a bold campaign promise to bring that particular infamous outlaw to justice?
Yet, of course, officially accepted history tells us that Billy the Kid, who has become so mythical in stature over the years that he has oft been depicted in many a movie, TV show, and even quite a few comic books, was gunned down at the tender age of 21 by his former friend, Sheriff Pat Garrett, on July 14, 1881. Which may of course be true. At least part of it, anyway. But then again... maybe a very big part of this particular story is just plain false. At least, that's exactly what this alleged "autobiography" of Billy the Kid purports to explain.
Don't buy it? Is the mere idea that Billy the Kid did not in fact die a violent death at a very young age simply just too hard to swallow? Well, believe this: The cover of this well written and thoroughly researched book by author Daniel A. Edwards features only part of the long famous, and therefore readily recognizable, ferrotype photo of William H. Bonney (alias Henry Antrim, alias Kid Antrim), that was taken in 1880, roughly a year before the legendary outlaw's supposed demise.
In fact, the other half of the face shown on the cover was digitally lifted from a tintype photo of a man who later came to be known as Brushy Bill Roberts, and this image of Roberts, that was taken a number of years after the famous 1880 ferrotype (and therefore well after the assumed death of Billy the Kid), interestingly enough, perfectly matches the facial structure clearly on display in what was long thought to have been the only surviving photographic image of the Kid.
Even more interesting, perhaps, is that this Brushy Bill character was, throughout the course of his later life, variously known as William Henry Roberts, Ollie Partridge William Roberts, Ollie N. Roberts, or simply O.L. Roberts (which may be just a few of an even longer list of his aliases), who eventually passed away in his bed in Hico Texas on December 27, 1950.
Now, if you happen to find all of the above a bit confusing, or even just highly doubtful, don't worry. This book is not only an easy read, it's highly entertaining, quite informative, and more than just a little convincing as well. And if you have even a passing interest in the Old American West, you might even enjoy reading it at least half as much as I did.
Of course, a whole lot of people, many of whom like to think of themselves as "experts" on the Old West and its many colorful (and often quite heavily fictionalized) characters will simply refuse to even bother to lend much credence to the well documented evidence presented in this book. But I for one fail to see why it isn't at least highly plausible that "Brushy Bill Roberts" had once been Billy the Kid, who is officially listed as having been born Henry McCarty. Although Brushy Bill contended that the Kid's real name was actually William Henry Roberts.
Not to give too much of the book away, but let's just say, for the sake of argument, that even though Sheriff Garrett killed the wrong man, he was apparently still lucky enough to be able to easily pass off the corpse as the genuine article. Because not only did the still warm body strongly resemble the infamous Kid, but his name had also just happened to be Billy!
In fact, Billy Barlow and Billy the Kid were well known to have looked more than just a bit similar. They were also quite well acquainted with one another, which is why they were in such close proximity on the fateful night in question. So naturally, when Garrett accidently gunned Barlow down in the heat of the moment, in the middle of the night, it only makes sense that even if he wasn't entirely sure if he'd slain the right man, he had every reason to believe that he could more than likely still get away with deliberately offering up the wrong Billy instead.
And then there's the fact that the deputy who was with Garrett on that fateful night not only wrote an account alleging that he'd at first frantically told the Sheriff immediately after the killing that he was sure the wrong man had been shot, but he also testified that from where the two crouched in the darkness, they had distinctly heard someone call out in Spanish, “Quien Es?" ("Who is it?"), at least four or five times.
Why Spanish? Well, except for the fact that the killing took place in New Mexico, where that language was obviously widely spoken in some areas of the territory, it makes sense that Barlow, being half-Mexican, might be more apt to use Spanish than Billy the Kid, who has never been reported as anything other than Anglo-American, and whose primary language therefore was almost certainly English.
Yet, granted, the young outlaw Billy must have gained at least a fair command of Spanish at some point, given that Brushy Bill claimed to have worked as a rancher in "old Mexico" for several years after the Kid's supposed death at the hands of Garrett.
And what if the real Billy was actually nearby that night, heard the shot that killed the other unfortunate Billy, and ended up getting wounded in the subsequent crossfire himself, but still managed to escape and was eventually helped by friends, who nursed those wounds, and were therefore then, many years later, not only able to see the scars left by those same wounds on the person of one Brushy Bill Roberts...? Well then, who the HELL is absolutely anyone else to say that ANY of them were liars?
In fact, a number of people who were still alive in 1950 who had known Billy the Kid took the time, trouble, and personal risk to write and sign lawfully witnessed affidavits clearly stating that the man who was then going by the name of Ollie Roberts was indeed, as far as they were concerned, THE legendary western outlaw that most history books still contend was actually killed by Sheriff Pat Garrett.
But hey, don't take it from me! Read this book, or one of the similar accounts by other authors who've also written about the work of Texas lawyer William V. Morrison, who, in 1948, met an elderly man that claimed that not only had he fought in the 1878-81 Lincoln County War, but that that conflict's perhaps most famous participant, Billy the Kid, was still very much alive, and was living in Texas under yet another one of his many assumed names.
Yes, other elderly men at one time or another had claimed to be the real Billy the Kid, but only O.L. "Brushy Bill" Roberts had the exact (though certainly now aged) characteristics (including relevant scars, other prominent physical features, and behavioral traits that the Kid was well known to have), AND could recite by memory, an incredible amount of highly detailed inside information about Billy the Kid's life experiences that were either not well known prior to 1950, or not even previously known at all.
Before, that is, Morrison finally coaxed the elderly Mr. Roberts into reluctantly revealing his true identity. But only in the hopes that the infamous outlaw who'd been laying low, living under a series of assumed names, might finally, after so many long years, be able to receive the pardon he'd once been promised way, way back in the late 1800s, when he was still little more than the desperate boy who'd run away from an abusive father when he was only fourteen.
A young man whom, his whole life long, looked roughly a decade or more younger than his real age. Which was of course how he came to be called "the Kid," not to mention how he eventually assumed the identity of the real, already deceased Ollie Roberts, who actually, really had been born on the exact date that the man who later assumed that identity, one "Brushy Bill Roberts," is now conveniently listed in official historical records as having been born on. What's more, because he'd so oft been on the run so early in life, young Henry McCarty's first crime was actually getting caught stealing clothes from a Chinese laundry. Oh, but there's more! A whole lot more, in fact.
So... what if I told you then, that the man so famously known as Billy the Kid not only really, honestly, did NOT die at the age of 21, like most history books "officially" claim, but that, because he was so good at breaking horses, he THEN even went on to serve in Teddy Roosevelt's famous Rough Riders unit in Cuba during the Spanish-American War? Ah! But I'm afraid you'll have to read the book to learn more about that, won't ya? Besides, isn't that the ONLY way you're going to be able to really make up your very own mind, once and for all? Yep. I thought as much.
November 3, 2018
Plenty of interesting behind-the-scenes information in a book that was tedious at times. The case was made, over and over, that Brushy Bill was in fact Billy the Kid. The author needs to remember to use an editor, though. Catching multiple errors in copy is a buzz kill.
July 4, 2020
Very interesting. Especially with the stories of his life. Got long winded in the last third of the book.
December 15, 2025
This is a fantastic, almost unbelievable history of the American west as experienced by Billy the Kid. Not only is it a fast paced retelling of some of the most famous incidents of the cowboy era, it is also a forensic analysis of the best available evidence and documentation supporting the claims of “Brushy Bill Roberts”. Experience the joy of a great adventure story combined with the careful research of a good biographer including an entire chapter dissecting the known photos of Billy and about 50 pages of appendices containing the most relevant documents.
October 15, 2018
Okay when I decided to read this book I was skeptical. Initial reading contained lots of little hits of "that can't be true." Then when I read about Brushy breaking horses in Cuba for Teddy Roosevelt Rough Riders, the gig was up. The only horse I'm aware of that the Rough Riders brought to Cuba was Little Texas, Teddy's horse. With Teddy in the saddle, the Rough Riders hoofed it up those hills on their own two feet as their horses were left in Tampa, Florida. There was no ship in Tampa to take horses to Cuba. That did it!
I give it three stars for a good fiction read.
I give it three stars for a good fiction read.
October 30, 2023
It’s a disgrace that the author is willing to rewrite history in order to seek out his 15 minutes of fame along with ill gotten gain. He’s a carnival barker at best. Conspiracy theories are fun, but Brushy Bill has been long since debunked for the fraud he was. Most likely he was a mentally ill elderly man suffering from illusions of grandeur. It doesn’t take much digging to uncover his lies in the Information Age that we now live.
October 15, 2021
Interesting read
The author has presented compelling
information on the topic of Billy the Kid. However, the book reads like an essay with fluff and repetition.
The author has presented compelling
information on the topic of Billy the Kid. However, the book reads like an essay with fluff and repetition.
December 9, 2022
This is one of those books that makes you think, a process which for some, is a bit taxing. For others though, it makes you wonder, was the man known as Brushy Bill Roberts who died in 1950 in Hico, Texas really the notorious old West outlaw known as Billy the Kid (and countless other aliases)? And did he not really die at the hands of Sheriff Pat Garrett in 1882? Did he instead make good his escape and engage in a number of other enterprises throughout his life - and that includes being a part of Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show to being a member of Teddy Roosevelt's Rough Riders? After reading this, you'll wonder - and perhaps hope that he didn't die in 1882, but did live to be 90 before his death in 1950.
The book calls upon "Brushy Bill's" memory who related his story to one man - and one many only - before his death. Finally, Daniel Edwards compiled everything and put it together in a readable form a few years ago and we got this book which really makes you wonder if indeed, Billy The Kid, lived to the ripe old age of 90. And, it's not just an old, impoverished man looking for glory in his waning years, Roberts had the scars to prove it and knew details about certain incidents that only someone who had been there and involved could have known. This certainly lends credence to the fact he was the notorious outlaw.
In addition, the author provides illustrations, most of which are grainy and of poor quality showing comparisons between the facial characteristics of Roberts and Billy the Kid, but sadly they look like they were about 10th generation photos taken from an old book or magazine, but yet they are clear enough to show the similarities - such things as facial symmetry for example, can't be faked no matter how poor the photos are.
If true - and to be totally honest - I want to believe Bill Roberts was Billy The Kid and lived to be 90 years old. There is enough evidence to show that was probably the case. However, debunkers will point to other books that prove they weren't the same person. It will be up to the individual reading the book to make that decision.
If you like what amounts to a good mystery, you need to check this one out.
The book calls upon "Brushy Bill's" memory who related his story to one man - and one many only - before his death. Finally, Daniel Edwards compiled everything and put it together in a readable form a few years ago and we got this book which really makes you wonder if indeed, Billy The Kid, lived to the ripe old age of 90. And, it's not just an old, impoverished man looking for glory in his waning years, Roberts had the scars to prove it and knew details about certain incidents that only someone who had been there and involved could have known. This certainly lends credence to the fact he was the notorious outlaw.
In addition, the author provides illustrations, most of which are grainy and of poor quality showing comparisons between the facial characteristics of Roberts and Billy the Kid, but sadly they look like they were about 10th generation photos taken from an old book or magazine, but yet they are clear enough to show the similarities - such things as facial symmetry for example, can't be faked no matter how poor the photos are.
If true - and to be totally honest - I want to believe Bill Roberts was Billy The Kid and lived to be 90 years old. There is enough evidence to show that was probably the case. However, debunkers will point to other books that prove they weren't the same person. It will be up to the individual reading the book to make that decision.
If you like what amounts to a good mystery, you need to check this one out.
July 5, 2024
The errors and typos just about drove me nuts. Edwards mustn't have bothered with any proofreading. Using "the" where he meant "to." A typo turns "fellow" to "follow." Later, he rewrote a sentence, but left both the original and the edited sentences in the text. It was sloppy and distracting. I can't stand marking up books, but I was very tempted to start adding corrections as I went.
The other big problem with this book was the repetition. Readers know that Edwards is trying to prove that Brushy Bill was Billy the Kid. There was no need to reiterate that point again and again and again.
According to Brushy Bill Roberts, after his presumed death, Billy the Kid lived the life of a dime novel hero: riding for Buffalo Bill Cody, joining the Pinkerton Agency, becoming a Deputy U.S. Marshall, presenting a gift to Teddy Roosevelt in Cuba. It all sounds too entertaining to be true. Edwards presents a string of nicknames and false identities as indications that all these people (the Texas Kid, William S. Murphy, William H. Carr, etc.) were, in fact, Billy the Kid, but there is no evidence to support the claim. Edwards also contends that due to being impoverished in his old age, Brushy Bill wouldn’t have had access to newspapers or historical records that would have allowed him to make his story match factual incidents in Billy the Kid’s life, and, therefore, he must be telling the truth. This is nothing but speculation.
There are many holes in Brushy’s story, some may be intentional, some may be due to his age when he finally told his story. Unfortunately, Mr. Morrison would not get the chance he needed to interview Brushy for more details. That being said, the book raises enough questions regarding the circumstances surrounding the Kid’s death to support the claim that Pat Garrett did not kill Billy the Kid that night in Fort Sumner.
It’s an interesting read for history buffs and American West aficionados.
The other big problem with this book was the repetition. Readers know that Edwards is trying to prove that Brushy Bill was Billy the Kid. There was no need to reiterate that point again and again and again.
According to Brushy Bill Roberts, after his presumed death, Billy the Kid lived the life of a dime novel hero: riding for Buffalo Bill Cody, joining the Pinkerton Agency, becoming a Deputy U.S. Marshall, presenting a gift to Teddy Roosevelt in Cuba. It all sounds too entertaining to be true. Edwards presents a string of nicknames and false identities as indications that all these people (the Texas Kid, William S. Murphy, William H. Carr, etc.) were, in fact, Billy the Kid, but there is no evidence to support the claim. Edwards also contends that due to being impoverished in his old age, Brushy Bill wouldn’t have had access to newspapers or historical records that would have allowed him to make his story match factual incidents in Billy the Kid’s life, and, therefore, he must be telling the truth. This is nothing but speculation.
There are many holes in Brushy’s story, some may be intentional, some may be due to his age when he finally told his story. Unfortunately, Mr. Morrison would not get the chance he needed to interview Brushy for more details. That being said, the book raises enough questions regarding the circumstances surrounding the Kid’s death to support the claim that Pat Garrett did not kill Billy the Kid that night in Fort Sumner.
It’s an interesting read for history buffs and American West aficionados.
December 16, 2017
I thought this was a very well written and researched book. I would have like to have seen some more aspects of Brushy Bill’s story thoroughly researched though, that’s why only 4 stars. I think the more we learn about Billy the Kid the more evidence there is to support Brushy Bill’s claim. It is my belief we will never get the “smoking gun”evidence that is needed to prove it one way or the other due to the fact that New Mexico and Hico, Texas don’t want to lose tourist dollars and Pat Garrett’s family is too afraid of a possibility that the Pat Garrett shot the wrong man. At this point it is about money and saving face. The system is just as corrupt now as it was back then. There have been 3 New Mexico governor’s that have used Billy the Kid to further their own agenda. One as recently as 2010. I would like to see a Governor say enough is enough. Let’s get the proof we need as difficult as that may be.
June 23, 2025
Let's get this out of the way first: Brushy Bill Roberts was not Billy the Kid. There are over 30 witnesses documented to have seen Billy's body and not a single person who was in Fort Sumner that night ever claimed it was anyone other than Billy who was killed. The author trys to twist and misrepresent the historical record to match his preconceived view-point. But moving beyond that, this is a poorly written, formatted and researched, obviously self-published. To highlight the lack of time that went into researching it I'll use a non-Brushy example. The author has a photo of a living Dave Rudabaugh in the book—the problem: there are no photos of a living Dave Rudabaugh (and the death ones are up for debate). The author obviously just Googled Dave Rudabaugh and took a misidentifed image that, if he has done even minutes of research into it, would have realized it's not a photo of Rudabaugh (this is why no other authors use the image). I couldn't recommend this book less.
December 6, 2023
Unfortunately, this was an extremely disappointing read. I had high hopes due to the 4.0 rating but I’m unsure how this book is rated so highly.
I agree with several other reviews that this book reads like a long winded essay with lots of repetition. I forced myself to read on knowing the coming chapter would be a repeat of the information I’d read in the previous.
Additionally, the lack of editing was a glaring issue. There were multiple errors and missing words throughout. On one page an entire paragraph was repeated, one after another. In the same chapter a straight line ran down the page.
While the subject matter was interesting-the first time it was presented- the book was difficult to get through. I don’t recommend reading cover to cover.
I agree with several other reviews that this book reads like a long winded essay with lots of repetition. I forced myself to read on knowing the coming chapter would be a repeat of the information I’d read in the previous.
Additionally, the lack of editing was a glaring issue. There were multiple errors and missing words throughout. On one page an entire paragraph was repeated, one after another. In the same chapter a straight line ran down the page.
While the subject matter was interesting-the first time it was presented- the book was difficult to get through. I don’t recommend reading cover to cover.
Read
May 28, 2020Interesting and thought-provoking
This is an interesting and thought-provoking presentation of "Brushy Bill" Roberts' story. Individually the stories are far-fetched. As a whole, the stories are a compelling argument for discrediting the status quo.
It needed a good editor to give it more cohesiveness. As it stands, it is a jumbled set of conversations with an elderly man. I know a lot of the story was not clarified because of Brushy Bill's untimely death, but a better editor could have made better use of what they did have.
This is an interesting and thought-provoking presentation of "Brushy Bill" Roberts' story. Individually the stories are far-fetched. As a whole, the stories are a compelling argument for discrediting the status quo.
It needed a good editor to give it more cohesiveness. As it stands, it is a jumbled set of conversations with an elderly man. I know a lot of the story was not clarified because of Brushy Bill's untimely death, but a better editor could have made better use of what they did have.
October 17, 2020
Very interesting read. Was “Brushy Bill” Roberts really Billy the Kid? A part of me really hopes so. The life Mr Roberts led after walking away from being The Kid is fascinating and captivating on its own, if he is in fact Billy the Kid, it’s even better.
There are many points arguing for him being The Kid, and of course some points arguing away, but I do find myself hoping that he was.
There are many points arguing for him being The Kid, and of course some points arguing away, but I do find myself hoping that he was.
November 29, 2023
Excellent book! Very convincing! A real page turner!
I appreciate the in depth research that went into this book. The evidence presented is overwhelming and history rewritten about this notorious man of the west known as Billy the Kid. If you like adventure, history and detective work… the book is for you. I highly recommend it!
I appreciate the in depth research that went into this book. The evidence presented is overwhelming and history rewritten about this notorious man of the west known as Billy the Kid. If you like adventure, history and detective work… the book is for you. I highly recommend it!
January 3, 2019
Contains a more modern analysis of the interviews of Brushy Bill Roberts and his claims to being Billy the Kid. Lots of research and photo comparisons are made. It's very convincing. I really think that Brushy Bill could possibly have been who he said he was. Makes a lot of good points.
January 13, 2020
Fascinating explanation of legend of Billy the Kid
Billy the Kid lived to be an old man. After reading this I have little or no doubt. Pat Garret seems to have been both a conman and killer
Billy the Kid lived to be an old man. After reading this I have little or no doubt. Pat Garret seems to have been both a conman and killer
April 29, 2020
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I thought it was well written and it held my attention all through it.
I’m inclined to believe Mr. Roberts account of his life. It just seems that so much he had to say could not be coincidental . Be that as it may. I give it a thumbs up.
I’m inclined to believe Mr. Roberts account of his life. It just seems that so much he had to say could not be coincidental . Be that as it may. I give it a thumbs up.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 13, 2020
Fantastic Book
This was a absolute joy to read!! There is a lot of evidence that point to Brushy Bill was really Billy the Kid. I would recommend for people to keep an open mind and enjoy the book.
This was a absolute joy to read!! There is a lot of evidence that point to Brushy Bill was really Billy the Kid. I would recommend for people to keep an open mind and enjoy the book.
January 5, 2022
Fascinating Read
The photographs alone sell the story. Very interesting subject. Entertaining and totally believe-able. Its too bad that there's not mire to it, sad that he died before sharing more.
The photographs alone sell the story. Very interesting subject. Entertaining and totally believe-able. Its too bad that there's not mire to it, sad that he died before sharing more.
January 11, 2023
A very interesting book although it dragged at the end. It really makes you think what if this is what really happened and what we think we know are just stories told to cover up another botched attempt at catching Billy The Kid
June 27, 2023
This book was fun. Not ha-ha gleeful fun but just a good read. It gave a good sense of history. I read it mainly because a family story tells of a shopkeeper (Billy Brown I think) who knew Billy the kid and claimed to have seen him after his supposed death. This book showed me it was possible.
August 23, 2023
This book is very well done. Billy could very well have lived to be 90 years old. There is a lot of evidence to support the claim, and I would love to know that Billy The Kid lived a long life. I want to read other books on his life, and make comparisons.
September 4, 2024
Super interesting. I always liked Billy the Kid since Young Guns. This book asserts that the movie is correct and Billy the Kid survived. Some of the evidence is pretty convincing while some other is a stretch. Enjoyed the read. I hope it’s true.
June 14, 2018
Good book
I heard this about the kid growing up. I believe it. The quickest way to settle it would be with a DNA test of the body buried in N.Mexico.
I heard this about the kid growing up. I believe it. The quickest way to settle it would be with a DNA test of the body buried in N.Mexico.
April 19, 2019
Fascinating and detailed analysis. Do not see how anyone could doubt the authenticity, except those with agendas or with reputations at stake.
July 12, 2021
Best biography
If this doesn’t convince you that Billy the kid lived a long life, then I don’t know what else could it.
If this doesn’t convince you that Billy the kid lived a long life, then I don’t know what else could it.
February 18, 2022
Absolutely fascinating!
April 20, 2024
Excellent Documentary
Proves beyond a doubt that Billy the kid lived until 1950. History books should be changed to reflect the new evidence.
Proves beyond a doubt that Billy the kid lived until 1950. History books should be changed to reflect the new evidence.
October 4, 2024
You’ve got me convinced that William H Roberts was in fact the real Billy the Kid. It’s interesting how throughout history things are rewritten or told to support the narrative of the writer.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews