Comments on: Billy the Kid’s Grave http://cemeteries.wordpress.com/2007/10/30/billy-the-kids-grave/ Exploring the meaning of cemetery symbols and other graveyard mysteries. For genealogy sleuths, taphophiles and goth kids. Tue, 02 Apr 2013 21:25:27 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.com/ By: K. Steven Monk http://cemeteries.wordpress.com/2007/10/30/billy-the-kids-grave/#comment-8771 Fri, 28 Sep 2012 00:06:35 +0000 http://cemeteries.wordpress.com/2007/10/30/billy-the-kids-grave/#comment-8771 In order to do DNA testing of any sort, you need some kind of tissue sample from the remains of the person being tested. There is a big problem with that in Billy’s case. No one living today knows the exact location of where the Kid was buried, and even if they did, there is no certainty that his remains would still be there today.

Not many years after Billy the Kid was supposedly laid to rest in the cemetery at old Fort Sumner, a big flood raged down the nearby Pecos River and unearthed many of the bodies buried there, scattering their remains all over the cemetery. Even if, through some tremendous effort, a body was recovered that was reasonably believed to be that of the Kid’s, and then DNA testing showed that the sample did not belong to the Kid, would this prove that the Kid was not buried there? Would investigators then proceed to dig up the rest of the cemetery in a continuing effort to find Billy? Could they even procure all the permits that would be necessary for them to do that?

This is a mystery that may never be solved. Argue though we may, to this day we have only the world of Pat Garret and his two deputies, Tip Kinney and John Poe, that Garrett was the one who shot Billy the Kid dead that summer night so many years ago in Fort Sumner, New Mexico. In the many years since the supposed death of the Kid, there have been many reliable witnesses who knew him quite well who have sworn that they have seen Billy since that fateful night. Are we to simply take Garrett’s word for it against all those reliable sources?

I don’t know about you, but as a searcher for the truth, my conscience won’t let me do that.

]]> By: Terry http://cemeteries.wordpress.com/2007/10/30/billy-the-kids-grave/#comment-8770 Thu, 27 Sep 2012 05:22:04 +0000 http://cemeteries.wordpress.com/2007/10/30/billy-the-kids-grave/#comment-8770 They should do the dna tests to prove its really him and make everything right by the proof of it and get the right name on the right head stone !! hes my favorite outlaw !

]]> By: K. Steven Monk http://cemeteries.wordpress.com/2007/10/30/billy-the-kids-grave/#comment-8746 Sat, 18 Aug 2012 05:32:37 +0000 http://cemeteries.wordpress.com/2007/10/30/billy-the-kids-grave/#comment-8746 What irony!

]]> By: Teresa http://cemeteries.wordpress.com/2007/10/30/billy-the-kids-grave/#comment-8611 Thu, 24 May 2012 20:14:50 +0000 http://cemeteries.wordpress.com/2007/10/30/billy-the-kids-grave/#comment-8611 yeah, like that!!

]]> By: The Joe http://cemeteries.wordpress.com/2007/10/30/billy-the-kids-grave/#comment-8421 Sat, 07 Apr 2012 01:48:29 +0000 http://cemeteries.wordpress.com/2007/10/30/billy-the-kids-grave/#comment-8421 It’s obvious, the officials don’t want a DNA test conducted because they have everything to lose and nothing more to gain. If the body in Ft Sumner is proven NOT to be the Kid then that site loses its value as a tourist destination.

]]> By: Hllchick http://cemeteries.wordpress.com/2007/10/30/billy-the-kids-grave/#comment-8392 Fri, 09 Mar 2012 08:31:06 +0000 http://cemeteries.wordpress.com/2007/10/30/billy-the-kids-grave/#comment-8392 some things are best left unanswered

]]> By: Thomas http://cemeteries.wordpress.com/2007/10/30/billy-the-kids-grave/#comment-8221 Sun, 11 Dec 2011 16:33:53 +0000 http://cemeteries.wordpress.com/2007/10/30/billy-the-kids-grave/#comment-8221 They need to get a court order to find out who is the real billy the kid

]]> By: Sue Marie Bowdre-Tennell http://cemeteries.wordpress.com/2007/10/30/billy-the-kids-grave/#comment-8093 Sat, 30 Jul 2011 02:02:04 +0000 http://cemeteries.wordpress.com/2007/10/30/billy-the-kids-grave/#comment-8093 I’m a decendant of Charlie Bowdre. My father was instrumental at the trial in the early 60′s to stop the disturbing of the graves. Without knowing exactly which grave is which, how would they know which one to open….don’t open my relatives. The whole story of Billy the Kid and his ‘Pals’ is great history…no matter which of the stories one believes. Bottom line…that’s where the story happened. Leave it there.
I love seeing so much interest in this story. It was important to my dad.

]]> By: kevin http://cemeteries.wordpress.com/2007/10/30/billy-the-kids-grave/#comment-8083 Sat, 16 Jul 2011 02:21:20 +0000 http://cemeteries.wordpress.com/2007/10/30/billy-the-kids-grave/#comment-8083 The inscription was the word ” PALS “. The story is that The Kid returned to the grave site of his fallen brothers and inscribed it.

]]> By: Paul http://cemeteries.wordpress.com/2007/10/30/billy-the-kids-grave/#comment-8062 Mon, 20 Jun 2011 18:34:00 +0000 http://cemeteries.wordpress.com/2007/10/30/billy-the-kids-grave/#comment-8062 i have a question, maybe i missed it but, i heard there was an unknown person who carved an inscription on billy the kids grave stone shortly after his death, i dont know what it said but i believe it was one word, would any of you know if it is true and what it said??

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