Did Pat Garrett really kill Billy The Kid?
Some believe that Billy The Kid might have survived his fatal shooting at the hands of Pat Garrett and went to live under the guise of Brushy Bill Roberts. But how much of this story could be true?
Pat Garrett became famous after killing Billy The Kid. Without his actions that night on 14 July 1881, the chances are that both men would have vanished into the obscurity of history. Garrett would later go on to write "The Authentic Life of Billy The Kid", which failed to find a wide audience but remained the key source for many future books about the infamous outlaw. It was a book that would go on to immortalise both the outlaw and the lawman and most importantly, detail how Garrett killed The Kid that night at Pete Maxwell's house.
It has since become a story that we are all familiar with given the rise of Billy The Kid's fame within popular culture. From movies such as Pat Garrett and Billy The Kid to Young Guns, the story and the history has become widely accepted. In many respects, the reality and myths have somehow merged into one and in doing so, created a legend surrounding these two men.
Pat Garrett's side of the story is that he and his two deputies, John Poe and Tom McKinney, had been searching for Billy The Kid since his escape following his death sentence for the murder of Sheriff Brady in Santa Fe. Rumours soon began to swirl around that The Kid might be in Fort Sumner visiting Paulitta Maxwell who was pregnant with what was thought to have been The Kid's child.
Entering the Maxwell house alone, Garrett waited whilst Poe and McKinney took guard on the porch. When The Kid entered the room where Garrett lay in wait he whispered "Quien es?" (Who is it?) Maxwell whispered to Garrett, "El es" [It's him], and Garrett pulls out his gun and fired twice, killing the Kid.
What follows next enters the realms where some have asked questions as to whether Garrett actually shot The Kid. A hasty burial and a lack of identification that was only verified by those involved and a reward that was never officially claimed. What this did was to create even more mystery to the legend of what happened with some suggesting that the outlaw may have survived or that Garrett may have even shot the wrong man altogether.
Garrett's recollection of that now famous night may have been universally accepted had it not been for the emergence of a probate lawyer called William Morrison trying to solve a land claim for his client, Joe Hines. 68 years after the death of Billy The Kid, his name would once again make the headlines as Hines told Morrison that he knew that The Kid was still alive but living under a new name.
Hines revealed that his friend, Ollie Roberts, also known as Brushy Bill Roberts was in fact, the famous outlaw Billy The Kid. To Morrison, the news would begin a search that would change his life forever.
Morrison immediately went in search of Brushy Bill who resided in Hico, Texas. At first, the now old man denied the claims that he was Billy The Kid but Morrison continued to push eventually getting him to confess. Brushy Bill then showed Morrison some evidence to help to corroborate his claim. He revealed scars across his body that matched those to previously documented scars that The Kid also had. For Morrison, it was proof that Roberts was telling the truth.
But if Brushy Bill Roberts really was Billy The Kid then who did Pat Garrett shoot on the night of the 14 July 1881?
According to Roberts, it was a case of mistaken identity claiming that the man who was shot was another outlaw called Billy Barlow. Realising his mistake, Garrett's cover-up began as Roberts slipped away into the night and vanished.
Whilst Morrison was convinced that Brushy Bill Roberts was telling the truth, Roberts was still edgy about telling his full story to the public. After all, despite the fact that he was now an old man, he was still a wanted criminal in the eyes of the law. What would it take for Roberts to come out of hiding? The answer was simple...a full pardon promised to him by Governor Lew Wallace back in 1879 for his involvement in the Lincoln Country War.
In November 1950, Morrison filed his petition on behalf of Brushy Bill for his pardon. For the media, it was a field day. They turned up to the hearing on mass. Whether Roberts wanted that kind of attention or not, the story was big news. Yet, it would be a pardon that Roberts would never receive and by December 1950 Roberts would pass away.
Morrison believed his case was still strong after he gathered sworn affidavits from those who knew Billy The Kid at the time who justified Roberts's claim. Later Morrison would collaborate with Charles Leland Sonnichsen to write a book about the life of Brushy Bill Roberts and their case about him being Billy The Kid. Alias Billy The Kid would convince many about Roberts's claim including former President Harry Truman. Since the release of Alias Billy The Kid debate has raged as to whether Roberts was telling the truth. Photographic analysis of Roberts and The Kid with new technology revealed a 93% match. Whilst not wholly conclusive it is enough for those who believed Roberts. However, there are also those who claim that Roberts and his story is not all that it seems to be. Brushy Bill's niece Geneva Pittmon claimed that her uncle was born August 26, 1879, according to the family Bible. Based on that information, Roberts would have only been two years old at the time of Billy's death. Yet, W.C Jameson wrote that Brushy Bill's real name was not Ollie Roberts but was in fact William Henry Roberts and that he was not the same person as "Brushy Bill". It is a debate that continues to be passionately discussed on YouTube and across many podcasts with both sides continuously claiming to discover new information.
Whilst the story of Brushy Bill Roberts implies that The Kid may have got away that night it still leaves many unanswered questions regarding Pat Garrett's account of that night. It is perfectly feasible that he shot the wrong man. In writing his own narrative, Garrett could have been looking to take charge of the events of that night and in doing so aimed to convince others that he shot The Kid. But why is this important?
Even in a lawless wild west, had he shot the wrong man not even his position as a Sheriff could have saved him. Gathering valuable witnesses such as Poe and McKinney who could back him up with his official story. Although Poe later had his doubts about if the man who died that night was The Kid. The lack of a death certificate for The Kid also meant that legally, Garrett could not claim the reward for The Kid's capture. All of this establishes doubt surrounding Garrett's story and where there is doubt there will always be controversy. Where there is controversy there will always be those willing to exploit it and look at any evidence to favour their own cause.
Whether Brushy Bill Roberts was Billy The Kid will remain a mystery. With so much conflicting evidence during the events of the night of 14 July 1881, only a select few will know what really happened. All of this allows for the legend of Billy The Kid to grow, not only in mythology but also in our enduring quest to find the truth.
This article first appeared in Issue 12 of Inside History. You can download your copy for free from our online store.