Billy The Kid Research Paper

English 103
The Good, the Bad, and Billy Legendary individuals are rare in our history, but if they succeed their name become immortalized within certain objects or actions. William H. Bonney was a man who did what he thought was just, but he is not remembered by any means. There is no familiarity besides misconception the he was one of the famous robber couple Bonny and Clyde, but his nickname Billy the kid is a name synonymous with such harsh descriptions as cowboy, gunslinger, rebel, and outlaw.(Billy3) No facts are famous about Billy; not even stories of his adventures. He isn’t famous for being a hero, nor a villain. Billy’s fame derives from pop culture references synonymous with the Old west only. His name and reputation have lived
on for hundreds of years, but what really makes any man a legend? Who lived on and told his story? Where is this switch that turned a “john doe” western man into, Billy the kid, legendary outlaw of the west? According to Record since William (referring to him as William so we can see when the change occurred) was 14 he was parentless and on his own. He was known to be no more trouble than the other children. In April 1875, William was arrested by Grant County Sheriff Harvey Whitehill for stealing cheese. On September 24, 1875, William was arrested again when found in possession of clothing and firearms that a fellow boarder had stolen from a Chinese laundry owner. Two days after William was placed in jail, the teenager escaped up the jailhouse chimney. From that point on William was more or less a fugitive. Here starts the beginning transformation from average William to outlaw Billy. (Wikipedia) Billy joins the Jesse Evans gang, which he stays with for many years. They get into a horse thieving operation, by stealing horses from troops. This is the first criminal act he is participating in. After this they started referring to him as Kid Antrim, because he was a skinnier kid, he had no beard and an appealing personality and his stepfathers last my name was Antrim.(Wiki)
His more notorious actions happened later in his life while he was on the run. One day in a saloon a man named Joe Grant was saying that if he ever encountered the kid he would shoot him dead. Not knowing what Billy looked like or even that Billy was in the same saloon as him, and in those days people loaded their revolvers with only five rounds, with the hammer down on an empty chamber. This was done to prevent an accidental discharge should the hammer be struck. The Kid asked Grant if he could see his ivory-handled revolver and, while looking at the weapon, rotated the cylinder so the hammer would fall on the empty chamber when the trigger was pulled. He told Grant his identity. When Grant fired, nothing happened, and McCarty shot him. When asked about the incident later, he remarked, "It was a game for two, and I got there first." It shows that Billy was a strategic guy, but also very cocky. He could have just shot him without giving his identity away. I believe he is a legend because he chose to shoot a man only after they had the chance to kill him.(Wikipedia)
Billy was a legend of his time in all aspects. At this time he gained much notoriety by having a bounty of 500$ put on his head by Governor Wallace. Didn’t take long for Sheriff Pat Garett to gather a posse and pursue Billy. They surround Billy and his gang in a house with one exit, which was covered by one of their horses who was killed. The sheriff’s posse began cooking breakfast and starves out the criminals. A “friendly” exchange began between Billy and Sheriff Garrett. Sheriff invites Billy “Come outside and eat”; Billy responds by inviting him to “Go to hell!” Knowing there was no way out Billy surrendered and was allowed to join the meal.(2)About)
Billy is becoming a legend, but I still don’t feel he hasn’t lived up to his outlaw description.
Until April 9, 1881 it is decided that Billy is being sentenced to hang for his crimes. Knowing that he is sentenced to hang Billy somehow escapes from the Lincoln prison and kills both of his gaurds. The escape details are unclear but the fact is that after they heard a gunshot it took one hour for billy to get rid of his leg shakels with a pick-axe. He then took a horse and escaped singing all the way out of town.(2)about)
In pop culture today they see Billy only for a few major features. All pictures have the same similarities: the hat, the vest, the boots, and the revolvers on his side. Even the attitude in all the pictures costume this is the first result besides the real photograph of him. You see how pop culture has given him a sheriff’s badge. Billy was an outlaw. He was running away or shooting anyone who had a badge. They are twisting the image so you cannot tell if he is good or
bad.
When I conducted my interviews I knew that people would not know any facts about Billy. In turn he is the perfect subject to see what pop culture has made him. I needed to get a different view other than my own. I interviewed three different individuals, my father, john (45), my co-worker, Edgar (22), and my grandfather Hester (80). From my interviews I’m under the impression that people were not convinced that Billy was a criminal at all. 2 out of 3 Interviewees thought Billy was a deputy at certain times in his life. They had been raised to believe that by many old westerns that Billy gained his fame from being an amazing gunslinger. Also that Billy had pride in all battles and courage to boot. All had learned from the movie “Young Guns” that Billy was a little crazy at times, but never backed out of a battle. It was all synonymous that Billy had the average western outfit, and was an excellent quick shooter\marksman. They all had an idea of who he was but no solid facts. They had nothing they could guarantee was true.
I believe Billy the kid is a character whose reputation surpasses his own actions.
He became a legend by his attitude alone, the cockiness, the fighting spirit, the confidence, and even the mild insanity at times. He became a legendary outlaw by having a code that he lived by to only kill people after he gave them a chance to kill him. He was not the man to throw a sucker punch, but the man to give you the first opportunity. That is what separates him from all the other ruthless gunslingers that have been forgotten through time. He did not kill for the sake of killing, but to defend his life or the rest of his gang beside him. This is why people don’t know if he was a hero or a villain, good or bad; instead we all unanimously brand him
Outlaw.

Work Cited
Amburgey, John. CEO Construction company. Personal Interview. 08 Sep.2013
Amburgey, Hester. Retired. Personal Interview. 18 Sep.2013
Ceja, Edgar. Manager G-Scotts Pizza. Personal interview. 18 Sep.2013

1) Wikipedia. Billy the Kid last edited 16 Sep.2013. Web. 20 September 2013
2) Webmistress/Historian Marcelle Brothers. About Billy the Kid. ©2000.last edit 7/28/13.Web. 21 Sep 2013
3) Biography. Billy the Kid. Web. 22 September 2013