The question that often comes up when people talk about Billy the Kids is "Did Pat Garrett actually kill him, as reported by history, or did the Kid escape to go on to live to be an old man?". The facts of the incident have been lost to time; through the employment of modern technology, plans to verify the history are occurring. DNA analysis provides the means to determine the validity of the claims of Brushy Bill Roberts in fashion and too an extent that has never before been able to be achieved.
Where does the truth lie in this debate? Was Billy the Kid buried on July 15, 1881 as the history books claim or did he escape and live to a ripe old age? Is there a discernible answer to any of these questions or is the fate of Billy the Kid like that of one famous cat?.
By most accounts Billy the Kid was born Henry McCarty in New York City, New York on the date of November 23, 1859. Billy arrived in New Mexico, with his mother Catherine and his brother Joseph, on March 1, 1873 (badhombres.com). Billy eventually became a cowboy, working for cattleman J. H. Tunstall. In February 1878, a rival cattle outfit killed Tunstall, and this started Lincoln County War in which Billy played a leading role (Goldman).
After the death of Tunstall, Billy joined a group known as the "regulators" and was sworn in a deputy. The Kid had vowed to pursue those responsible for the death of John Tunstall. On April 1, 1878, the Kid and five others quietly rode into Lincoln. They hid behind an adobe wall, waiting patiently. Sheriff Brady, Matthews and Hindman came walking down the street, guns in hand. As soon as they were in firing range, the Kid and his companions opened fire, Brady was shot several times and fell dead, next to him Hindman fell, mortally wounded, Matthews was the lucky one and managed to escape (Badhombres.com).
The governor of the territory, Lew Wallace, was determined to put an end to the war in what ever way was possible.