Believing that Brushy could be the real deal, Morrison promised him he would do all he could to help obtain a pardon, provided Brushy would allow him to investigate further into his history to find more proof that he was authentic. The folklore is that a guy named Brushy Bill was really Billy the Kid. Present in the room were several photographers and reporters, armed policemen, Oscar and Jarvis Garrett (Pats sons), Cliff McKinney (Kip McKinneys son), Arcadio Brady (William Bradys grandson), and historians William Keleher, E. B. Mann, and Will Robinson. Brushy Bill Roberts - Wikipedia Thomas J. Mabry, governor of New Mexico, agreed to a private hearing with Morrison and Brushy, along with one or two historians of Mabrys choosing, to be held on Nov. 29. The stories told byBrushy Bill seemed quite convincing to the intrigued investigator. Still, Brushy asked Young to look up an old friend of his, Jimmy McDaniels (a former member of the Jessie Evans Gang and veteran of the Lincoln County War), who also lived in Round Rock. agreement for a pardon back in 1879? This isnt a Hollywood Western where men walk around with half their In the building, Brushy described how the building looked during the Kid's incarceration there to a T. Every little detail of how the building looked in 1881, Brushy knew. Brushy Bill Roberts (August 26, 1879 [1] - December 27, 1950; claimed date of birth December 31, 1859) also known as William Henry Roberts, [2] Ollie Partridge William Roberts, Ollie N. Roberts, or Ollie L. Roberts, was an American man who attracted attention in the late 1940s and the 1950s by claiming to be Western outlaw William H. Bonney, also Throughout this early correspondence, Morrison was careful not to reveal what exactly Hines had told him about his true identity. Brushy went on to tell Young that when he found McDaniels, to simply tell him the Kid says hello. When Young returned to Round Rock, he met with McDaniels and delivered Brushys message. Not one person who was at the meeting ever mentioned this happening. the same man, but yet his name is not listed in the cemetery records. think he would've left and stay gone? On July 14, 1881 Hines then told Morrison of his experiences in the Lincoln County War and with Billy the Kid. Their mission to gain the pardon proved to be unsuccessful, and additionally, it was treated as a joke. And, finally, to end on the same note that C. L. Sonnichsen did in Alias Billy the Kid, if Brushy Bill was not Billy the Kid, who was he? He laughed in the face of Some were too ridiculous to take notice and some convinced a few people, but were forgotten through the passage of time. They say its because Brushy wifes name was Louticia, - December 27, 1950 It is worthy of note that if Brushy Bill had been born in 1859, he would have been ninety at the time of his death from a massive heart attack in Hico, Texas. friends pitched in and bought a headstone for his unmarked grave in the Signs in downtown Hico, Texas, proclaim the history of Billy the Kid who some local residents say was really "Brushy Bill" Roberts, a former Hico. William Brady were in attendance. According to people who knew them, both Brushy and the Kid could write and shoot just as well with either hand. This research is ground breaking and adds significantly more light to the subject of Brushy Bill Roberts. He believes that 1990 photo recognition study proves Brushy is Billy. Billy the Kid he most certainly would not have forgotten something like From time to time, he would share with some that he "had a secret", but he never revealed to anyone that he was the notorious outlaw Billy the Kid until he was discovered by researcher William V. Morrison in 1949. certainly would have brought that up. In the meantime, Morrison was to continue working on his case. Brushy Bill Roberts on the other hand DIDN'T BRUSHY BILL'S OWN FAMILY DENY THAT HE WAS BILLY THE KID? Bill Roberts as Billy the Kid, where not really friends of the Kids Brushy's niece Geneva Pittman mentioned that Brushys birth is recorded in Collections; . losing his trust for the governor and fearing conviction, the Kid escaped Morrison immediately telephoned Mabry, who apologized for making the announcement, but reassured him that the meeting would still be kept private. Im a Billy the The Kids fame definitely did not end in July 1881 and he fascinates the public up to this day. so Brushy was said to be left-handed too. Do you think Brushy Bill Roberts was Billy the Kid? I added a - Reddit Are you going to On the way out the door, Brushy stopped Morrison and told him to come back in the afternoon of the next day, when his wife would be out visiting a friend and they would have the house to themselves. Brushy Bill Roberts' claim that he was Billy the Kid was depicted in the 1990 movie Young Guns II. Severo Gallegos, Jose Montoya, and Martile Able, all surviving friends of Billy the Kid, met with Brushy Bill separately. However, although documentation of Billy the Kids life during this period is sparse, the documentation that. Besides Garrett killing of Sheriff Brady, Brushy said that Fred Waite and he jumped over the to dignify this claim any more than I have and I wash my hands of it. Mary Roberts died in 1862 while James was off fighting with Quantrill in the Civil War. from the Billy the Kid Outlaw Gang's web site (or even met him) but locals who had heard the stories of the famous outlaw Scholars hypothesize that his given name was either William Bonney or Henry McCarty. Was Brushy Bill Roberts Billy the Kid? In 1988, physicist and amateur photo expert Thomas Kyle underwent a photo comparison study between the tintype photo of Billy and a photo of Brushy taken at his meeting with Gov. so. Mary Roberts died in 1862 while James was off fighting with Quantrill in the Civil War. Top $76,000-a-year New Jersey boarding school admits 'more should have been done' to stop bullying of boy, 17, who took his own life after being falsely accused of rape In 1990, a study utilizing photo comparison equipment in the Advanced Graphic Laboratory in the University of Texas was conducted by image-experts Scott Acton and Alan Bovik. Click here, Metz, Leon Pat Garrett University On Dec. 27, 1950, Brushy left his bed and told his wife he was feeling better. Brushy Bill Roberts and Billy the Kid---The Complete Facts - Angelfire After fleeing Sumner, his story went, he lived in Mexico with a tribe of Yaqui Indians for two years; returned to the U.S. and worked in Carlton, Texas; was arrested in Kansas City because he recognized as the Kid, but was released; worked for Buffalo Bill Cody in his Wild West Show; worked for the Anti-Horse Thief Association from 1885-1889; worked for Judge Isaac Parker in Fort Smith, Arkansas; joined the Pinkerton Detective Agency; worked as a U.S. Sumner or New Mexico for that manner. Till her Several of the things he knew were known to only a few people at the time, including historians. It seems unlikely that he came forward in order to achieve fame, as other claimants had in the past, due to the way he and Morrison insisted upon secrecy in their dealings with Gov. how many girlfriends he had, did he enjoy stealing livestock, etc.). After Brushy realized his name wasn't being called, he hurried away. Mary Roberts died in 1862 while James was off fighting with Quantrill in the Civil War. No. Morrison set up a meeting with Governor Mabry, who was not convinced that Brushy Bill was indeed Billy the Kid. He also reported that Pat Garrett had actually shot and killed another gunslinger named Billy Barlow, passing his body off as the Kid, allowing him to vanish for Mexico. Also during Yes, that was their goal, but here's some food for Although I prefer not to give any attention to this controversial topic, I'm forced to discuss Brushy Bill Roberts who keeps earlier and was still going strong. But one had caused quite a stir and gained nation wide attention and even to this day his claim is being talked that Brushy was ambidextrous too. No matter Oliver P. Roberts and Brushy just happen to marry women with similar to Brushy Bill had a well-known association with J. Frank Dalton, a proven false Jesse James claimant. Dolan and Campbell killed her attorney, Huston Chapman and the most absurd is some simple proof that Brushy Bill Roberts was NOT Billy the Kid. And, finally, if Brushy was really Oliver P., then what happened to the real William Henry Roberts? Mabry, to which Brushy couldn't respond. Brushy Bill Roberts simply assumed Oliver's identity. Morrison said he would help the old man in his case, but only if he could be shown proof that Brushy was who he claimed to be. Did Billy the Kid Cheat Death and Live on as 'Brushy Bill'? Source: Fair use. Bill Roberts from Lucas Speers Billy the Kid Web Site. Hines went on to say that besides himself and Billy, there was only one other surviving veteran of the Lincoln County War, namely Jim McDaniels, a member of the Jessie Evans Gang. simply following the historical trend at that time and claimed that 1859 was his Just got on his horse and Aboutfour weeks later, Brushy Billsuffered a heart attackwhile walking to the post office and died on December 27, 1950. identical names -I dont thinks so. Five years later, in 1955, noted historian C. L. Sonnichsen, with information supplied by Morrison, wrote a book entitled Alias Billy the Kid, which fully detailed the case of Brushy Bill Roberts. Billy The Kid - General Message Board - The Sign Syndicate If not, then when exactly did Brushy step into the life of Oliver and begin using his name (it would have had to have been sometime between the census reports)? According to Brushy Bill Roberts, in Ft. Sumner Garrett shot a third man from ambush without warning, only this time it was an innocent Mexican, a fact corroborated by the Las Cruces Sun Times and other local newspapers just five days after the shooting. French that accompanied Billy to Brady's body so the Kid could reclaim his nowhasnt anyone else had their name spelled incorrectly? The story of Brushy Bill Roberts begins in 1948 when an attorney named William Morrison heard that Sheriff Pat Garrett never actually managed to gun down Billy the Kid, who was safe and sound and living in the town of Hico, Texas, under his latest alias of Ollie Roberts, but most folks in the town knew him simply as Brushy Bill. Brushy Bill Roberts: The man who claimed to be Billy the Kid, he had I On another point to ponder, let's not forget that the birth date November Kid buffs The 2014 book, "Billy the Kid: An Autobiography" by Daniel A. Edwards, tells the story of how former Hico resident William H. "Brushy Bill" Roberts came to have his picture taken. In a nutshell, Brushy's story went like this: he was born William Henry Roberts on December 31, 1859 in an area of Texas known as Buffalo Gap. Most were not taken seriously and just a few of them managed to convince anyone else that they were Billy the Kid. Brushy Bill lived out a peaceful life in the central Texas. 1930s. few letters to The photo at the top of this page is of Brushy Bill Roberts, taken in 1949 or 1950 by William V. Morrison. Texas. Sheriff Pat Garrett is a legendary lawman who served his community well. This relative is Geneva Pittmon, who claims that Brushy was really named Oliver Pleasant Roberts, and that he was born on Aug. 26, 1879 in eastern Texas. those that believe he is, so I'm going to be blunt and shoot from the hip. Regardless, when Brushy came out as Billy the Kid in 1950, no close family members came forward to contradict his claim. think that Billy the Kid enthusiasts that share the same admiration for this Young Brushy Bill Roberts Again according to Brushy, this photo was taken in Butte, Montana in the late 1880s, when he was twenty-seven or twenty-nine. Now heres where Brushy He meant to say he was not a. He said how when he killed Bell, one of his guards, the bullet first hit the wall and then ricocheted into Bell's side, which is true. dead and buried. Earlier, Morrison had been given the names Billys remaining acquaintances by other respected historians such as Maurice Fulton and William Keleher. By the time he came to Hico, Brushy Bill was more than seventy years old. All in all, County War and Billy the Kid and since he couldnt read about it, therefore dying day she was extremely bitter towards Garrett for killing Billy the Kid and When the boy ran into the street and was almost hit by a car, the mother yelled out her son's name, Billy, loudly. alias Billy the Kid for his past crimes, not only to clear the reputation of Brushy Bill stated that Jesse James was in Lincoln county and for years and years historians claimed bullshit but it was until fairly recently that they have found documents proving Jesse James was in Lincoln County and had been operating a counterfeit money system there with Billy. He gave Billys current name as Ollie L. Brushy Bill Roberts and his address as Hamilton, Texas. the Kid could be unchained from Rudabaugh to go in the next room with a girl when Garrett was passing Billy Barlows body off as the Kidright? Supporters will center punch one sparse example such as the Brushy Bill Roberts: Alias Billy the Kid - The Notorious Outlaw of the West Location: Hico, Texas. Find Brushy Bill Roberts stock photos and editorial news pictures from Getty Images. Brushy Bill Roberts didn't have any immediate family that was living at the time he came forward as Billy the Kid other than his wife, Melinda Allison Roberts, and she believed he was Billy the Kid. and became nervous when he learned the sons of Pat Garrett, Kip McKinney and Badly frightened, Brushy apparently suffered a small stroke, and when the questioning began, he failed miserably. The theory that he was illiterate sprang from a quote C. L. Sonnichsen wrote in his book, that Roberts was "not a literate man." Look above at the photosBrushy doesn't look anything at all like Billy the Lets look at this in another view: If the real Billy When Morrison first met Brushy, he was going by the name of Oliver L. Roberts. Tri- Star-Boze Productions, Inc. 1996. Hundreds of studies conducted by the FBI, CIA, Interpol and Scotland Yard employing these techniques have yielded significant level of statistical validity. The study compared the Dedrick-Upham tintype, the only authenticated image of Billy the Kid with a photograph of William Henry Roberts taken when Roberts was in his late eighties. In 1882 a notorious outlaw by the name of 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. it was thought for years that he was left-handed, The Roberts family has denied there is any possibility that 'Brushy Bill' could have been Billy the Kid. Billy the Kid fever had broken out 25 years In reality, the Kid gunned down both his guards, used a pick axe to free It was Jim He concluded, however, that the man in front of him, just as his contemporaries claimed, was actually Billy the Kid. Brushy supporters also say the Oliver this little scheme, someone would surely have blab. Jim Tully, a good friend of Brushy's, signed an affidavit that Brushy was completely literate. I'm sure they feel the same way about me, but come onthe The Illustrated Life and Times of Billy the Kid Second Corroborations, for example, that the person Pat Garrett killed from ambush was a Mexican with a beard, and not Billy the Kid. If his testimony was correct then Olinger and Bell were never To find them, search the collection on Billy the Kid. Barlow to fetch some meat at Maxwells house. Author Jim Johnson has been intrigued with the Old West, its lore, and its legends all of his life. Henry McCarty (September 17 or November 23, 1859 - July 14, 1881), alias William H. Bonney, better known as Billy the Kid, was an American outlaw and gunfighter of the Old West who is alleged to have killed 21 men before he was shot and killed at the age of 21. misfortunate accident during the line of duty; after all, if some police officers Billy the Kid: Beyond the Gravetraces the life of this famous desperado through his role in the Lincoln County War, the alleged killing by Sheriff Pat Garrett, Billy's escape, and his life for the next sixty-nine years. In truth, Brushy was completely literate. Author: Caknuck. where Brushy recalled how Mrs. Maxwell asked if he could be unchained from Was Brushy Bill really Oliver P. Roberts? Morrison did indeed return the following day and Brushy admitted to him that he truly was Billy the Kid, only he didnt want to say so in front of his wife.