Does the Spirit of Billy the Kid still Haunt this Earth?

Does the spirit of Billy the Kid still haunt this earth? Billy the Kid is one of the famous (or infamous) cowboys in history. But no matter what people think they know about him, the truth is hard to find. And many claim he didn’t really die by the hands of Sheriff Pat Garrett. Others claim to see his ghost to this day.  What is real when it comes to Billy the Kid?

Questions Explored in this Episode

Who was Billy the Kid? Where was he born? What was his real name, William H. Bonney or Henry McCarty? How did he become a hustler and a killer? Did he kill for gain, protection, or revenge? What was his role in the Lincoln County War? How did he keep escaping custody? Was he really killed by Pat Garrett or did he escape and live to old age under a new name? Where do people claim to see Billy’s ghost? Does he haunt the Lincoln County Courthouse? Is his spirit really gone?

Lincoln County Courthouse where Billy the Kid escaped custodyVote on the Episode

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Listener Mail and Questions

This week’s listener mail is an invisible presence in mom’s bed. We also have a bonus story about Excalibur Nightclub from Eric Wong of the Totally Wong Podcast. Have a spooky story or question of your own (or someone you know)? Send your story or question to [email protected] or leave a voicemail at 630-448-2138 and we might read or share it on the podcast. You could be on a future episode of Ghostly!

Billy the Kid TinType found in 2019History of Billy the Kid

Pat explores the history of Billy the Kid. Billy’s history is full of superstitions and boastful lies, so it can be hard to know what is true. But Pat shares what we know for sure about Henry McCarty’s, aka William H. Bonney aka Billy the Kid, childhood and transformation into the legend he is today. He also gives the history of the Lincoln County War and all Billy’s trials and escapes. Listen to the rumors of what really happened after he was killed.

The Debate

Rebecca and Pat debate if Billy the Kid’s ghost still haunts this earth. One of the most popular places he supposedly still haunts is the Lincoln County Courthouse. Billy also haunts the Ellis Story County Inn and the Old Mesilla Courthouse.  

Ghostly Book Club

Interested in joining our Ghostly Book Club? If you want to read spooky books and talk about them with fellow Ghostly listeners, sign up at ghostlypodcast.com/book-club. Our next meeting will be May 6th where we’ll be talking about Billy the Kid!

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Sources for this Week’s Episode
Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Billy_the_Kid
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette: https://www.post-gazette.com/life/travel/2005/07/30/Thanks-to-spirit-of-Billy-the-Kid-it-s-not-just-another-ghost-town/stories/200507300124
Blazing Young Guns: https://blazingyoungguns.fandom.com/wiki/More_Billy_-On_The_Trail-_Ghost_Stories
YouTube: Abandoned Central: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PQWs-6sayGU
DailyMail: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-5161865/American-ghost-town-Billy-Kid-hid.html
Atlas Obscura: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/lincoln-county-courthouse-billy-the-kid
Tall Truths and Half Truths of Billy the Kid by John LeMay. Published by The History Press 2015.

Music for this episode was performed by Michael Rivers
Intro: “III. Allegro moderato from Gargoyles” by Lowell Liebermann
Outro: “Dream Images (Love-Death Music)” by George Crumb
Bumper: “Ghost Waltz” by Lowell Liebermann

“Pat Facts” and “Ghost Story” themes by Mondo
“Time for a Debate” theme by Gail Gallagher gailgallaghermusic.com