Billy the Kid: Beyond the Grave

Beyond the Grave

by W.C. Jameson

Did Billy the Kid escape to die in 1950 in Hico, Texas? W.C. Jameson analyzes the evidence, including use of new technology to produce a compelling case for Billy's survival.

Genres: Nonfiction, History, Biography, Westerns, Historical

184 pages, Hardcover

First published December 2, 2004

About the author

W.C. Jameson is the award-winning author of 70 books, 1500 articles and essays, 300 songs, and dozens of poems. He is the best selling treasure author in the United States and his prominence as a professional fortune hunter had led to stints as a consultant for the Unsolved Mysteries television show and The Travel Channel. He served as an advisor for the film, "National Treasure" starring Nicolas Cage and appears in an interview on the DVD. Jameson has written the sound tracks for two PBS documentaries and one feature film. His music has been heard on NPR and he wrote and performed in the musical, “Whatever Happened to the Outlaw, Jesse James?” Jameson has acted in five films and has been interviewed on The History Channel, The Travel Channel, PBS, and Nightline. When not working on a book, he tours the country as a speaker, conducting writing workshops and performing his music at folk festivals, concerts, roadhouses, and on television. He lives in Llano, Texas.

Reviews

[Elliott · Rating 4 out of 5]

Deny it if you will, but every American regardless of admitted interest has got a soft place for the old West. I'm no different. I read Proust, Joyce, Tolstoy, and Cervantes but I wanted to be a cowboy and still sort of do. With that kind of romanticism I of course buy Brushy Bill Roberts as Billy the Kid. I personally find the evidence convincing enough, but the image of an old man who never got the pardon he was entitled to, and accordingly living in hiding from lawmen for nearly seven decades as an unassuming old man is by itself a really great story.

[Matt · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book purports to establish that Billy the Kid was not really killed in New Mexico in the early 1880s but instead escaped and lived another 60 plus years under another name. His main theory is the man who he claims is truly Billy the Kid, William Roberts, knew details about the crimes, times and characters that no one who had not been there would possibly know. Along with some pseudo-scientific computer facial studies of photographs of the Kid and Roberts. All in all, an interesting read because of the subject matter, but overly repetitive and not exceptionally ground breaking in it's scholarship. In the authors defense, very little is known about The Kid, even his true name, birthplace or parentage.

[MTW · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm fascinated with Billy the Kid lore and this book only served to further that fascination. True or not, the tale is told in a compelling manor and the text is a page-turner. If Roberts wasn't The Kid (and I'm not convinced he was) he was certainly in or around Lincoln at the time and possibly rode with Billy. His knowledge of events is simply to vast to completely discredit what he says. If you're a fan of BTK you'll love this book.

[Davy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a great book and gave a very accurate account of Billy the Kid and the claims by William Henry Roberts that he was Billy the Kid. After reading this I am convinced that William Henry Roberts is Billy the Kid.

[Patricia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very well written and researched. I am convinced!

[Hepfer Amanda · Rating 3 out of 5]

very informative, but very dry.

[Robyn Kiser · Rating 1 out of 5]

If you’re truly interested in the real history of Billy The Kid this book is a waste of time. I originally looked into the claims of Brushy Bill Roberts with an open mind at the possibility he may have been the kid. After reading several books by multiple authors and just as many different points of view it became undoubtedly clear Brushy Bill was a fraud. Not mentioned is the fact that the man who brought to the attention of paralegal Van Morrison the existence of the Billy want to be, was J. Frank Dalton, a man who claimed to be Jesse James, Brushy Bill first claimed to be a former James gang member. In fairness the author does admit the two appeared together for autograph signings.
Skip the tabloid fiction and go for something like To Hell on A Fast Horse. The true story is much more entertaining.

[Tony Lee Ross Jr. · Rating 4 out of 5]

W.C. Jameson argues that Billy The Kid did not die the way as commonly held but instead lived until a good old age. I'm typically skeptical of claims like this, as many figures from Adolf Hitler to Tupac Shakur have been said to have survived and lived in practical anonymity until their death at a ripe old age.

However, Jameson's evidences seem to be more grounded in reality than the aforementioned stories.

[Rich Coad · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thought provoking case

A very interesting read where the author puts together a good believable case for William H Roberts being Billy the Kid.

While clearly the author has staunch belief that Roberts is the Kid he does at least present the findings of investigations that discredit the theory.

Very interesting read to any followers of the old west.

[Rob Adams · Rating 3 out of 5]

Subjective documented book about the question: Was Billy the kid really shot by Pat Garrett on July 14, 1881 or did The Kid live until 1950? Some arguments for the last one, but often the story is too subjective and feels like wanting to proof the 1950 story. Repetitive too, but in the end it is a nice read.

[Judy Tarver · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you have ever had doubts that Pat Garrett really killed Billy the Kid, then this is a good book to read. It might sway your beliefs even if you do believe so. Either way, it is a good and interesting read.

[Autumn Randall · Rating 3 out of 5]

Really good... I would have liked it more but for the repetitiveness of the inconsisties of Garrett's and Upson' stories...

[Brian Hoffman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Never believed Billy the Kid lived. But now I think he may have.

[Lori · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Billy the Kid: Beyond the Grave" by W.C. Jameson is fascinating reading. Whether or not you believe the conspiracy that Jameson alleges took place, the historical detail of a little known conflict (the Lincoln County War) and the many intriguing characters that participated, along with the rough American West, makes for quite a literary journey.
Jameson's story centers on Bill Roberts, a man who died at 90 in Texas, who claimed to be Billy the Kid. His story is that Pat Garrett passed off a buddy of his, who he shot by mistake, as the Kid in order to collect the bounty that was on the Kid's head and advance his own political career. Such a tactic would have been much easier in 1881, when very few people knew exactly what Billy the Kid looked like - - most went on legend or newspaper drawings.
Jameson presents a very detailed outline of why Roberts could have been the notorious outlaw - - as an earlier reviewer pointed out, there is no smoking gun here, no "a-ha!" solution, but there is some solid background.
Was Bill Roberts the Wild West gunslinger, who managed a narrow escape from the law? Or was he a confused, publicity seeking old man?
This book will probably not convince those devout historians who believe without a doubt that Pat Garrett sent Billy the Kid into the hereafter in 1881 in New Mexico. For those who may know little about the Kid, or who are open minded about a possible conspiracy, it will be an exciting read.
The book itself is not too long, just over 100 pages, and has a nice section of photographs.
Definitely recommended for history buffs!

[Cathy Houston · Rating 3 out of 5]

did Pat Garrett really kill Billy the Kid? Does it really matter?

[Sue · Rating 2 out of 5]

I don't care if the 90-year-old was Billy the Kid, or not. To be . . . or not to be. Just makes me wanna run straight to a psychic and be done. All this rhetoric, right out of the gate.

[Michael Bourret · Rating 4 out of 5]

worth reading.

[Gaylene]

Too boring. Didn't finish.