Did Pat Garrett receive the $500 bounty on Billy the Kid’s head? For years, rumors have spread that Garrett was denied payment because he failed to prove the Kid’s death. But how true are these claims?

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Bigfoot Wallace is one of those figures who looms so large in Texas

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Did Pat Garrett’s widow really claim that her husband helped to fake the demise of Billy the Kid? What about Garrett’s daughter, Elizabeth? Did she really give an interview in the 1980s saying the same thing? Endless online debates and unreliable sources have fueled questions such as these. But what does the historical evidence actually say? Today, we’ll examine the affidavit of Homer Overton, the stories about Elizabeth Garrett, the primary sources, eyewitness testimony, and the coroner’s inquest records. And hopefully, once and for all, put the rumors to rest. 

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John Tornow, also known as the Wild Man of the Wynoochee, became one of the most feared and hunted men in the Pacific Northwest during the early 1900s. Born in Iowa in 1880, he grew up in Washington’s Olympic Peninsula, where he developed an unmatched skill with a rifle and a deep love for the wilderness. What began as the life of a quiet hermit spiraled into a story of family feuds, tragic deaths, wild rumors, and a scandal so shocking it still defies belief. Branded a monster by newspapers and pursued in one of the largest manhunts in Washington history, Tornow’s legend continues to blur the line between truth and myth. Was John Tornow a cold-blooded killer or just a misunderstood loner forced into violence?

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Frank “Pistol Pete” Eaton was more than a mascot. He was a real man who claimed to have lived one of the most violent and extraordinary lives of the Old West. Born in 1860 in Hartford, Connecticut, Eaton moved with his family to Kansas, where he witnessed his father’s murder at the hands of six vigilantes. From that moment on, young Frank dedicated his life to revenge. By the time he was fifteen, he was a crack shot with a revolver and began hunting down his father’s killers one by one. He later served as a deputy under Judge Isaac Parker before settling in Oklahoma as a blacksmith. In time, his larger-than-life reputation turned him into a local hero and eventually the inspiration for Oklahoma State University’s official mascot, Pistol Pete. Today, we'll explore the facts, the myths, and the legacy of Frank Eaton. Was he really a teenage avenger turned US Marshal, or just an old cowboy spinning stories that grew taller with time?

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If you grew up watching westerns in the late 80s and early 90s, Young Guns II was probably on your list, but how much of what we saw on screen was true? Today, we dig into the real history behind Billy the Kid and Young Guns II with Dan LeFebvre, the award-winning host of the Based on a True Story Podcast. Together, we explore questions such as whether cattle baron John Chisum actually placed a bounty on Billy the Kid, if Pat Garrett really rode with Billy before becoming a lawman, and whether the legendary showdown at White Oaks actually took place. We also dive into the myths of Brushy Bill Roberts and uncover the truth about Dave Rudabaugh’s infamous nickname. Also discussed are Billy the Kid’s gang, the offer of a pardon, dime novels, vigilante justice, and other enduring legends that have kept Billy’s story alive for more than 140 years. If you’re a fan of westerns, historical movies, or the true tales behind the legends of the Old West, this is one conversation you won’t want to miss.

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Archie Clement was one of the most notorious guerrilla fighters to emerge from Missouri during the Civil War and Reconstruction era. Barely over five feet tall and weighing around 130 pounds, Clement quickly became feared across the state for his ruthlessness and intensity. Riding with William “Bloody Bill” Anderson, Jesse James, and Frank James, he participated in some of the most infamous raids of the war, including the Centralia Massacre, where unarmed Union soldiers were executed and scalped. After Anderson’s death, Clement took command and refused to surrender even after the Confederacy collapsed. Instead, he escalated his attacks, intimidating towns, influencing elections with violence, and masterminding the very first daylight bank robbery in American history. His defiance of Reconstruction authorities eventually brought him into direct conflict with Major Bacon Montgomery’s militia, leading to a violent showdown in Lexington. Reportedly carrying up to eleven revolvers, Clement fought ferociously, even after being riddled with more than thirty bullets, attempting to cock a pistol with his teeth before finally succumbing just days shy of his 21st birthday.

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Jack Hinson, known as “Old Jack,” began the Civil War as a wealthy Tennessee planter with no intentions to enlist in the Civil War. That changed in 1862 when Union troops executed his sons and displayed their heads on his plantation gateposts. At 57 years old, Hinson armed himself with a custom .50 caliber rifle and launched a one-man war of revenge. From hidden ridges above the Tennessee and Cumberland Rivers, he targeted Union officers, disrupted gunboats, and carved his legend as one of the deadliest guerrilla snipers of the Civil War. Some claim his tally reached 100 men, while his rifle bore 36 notches. Whether avenger or violent secessionist, Jack Hinson became a symbol of how personal tragedy could fuel relentless warfare.

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The Battle of White Bird Canyon was one of the most lopsided defeats the U.S. Army ever suffered in the American West. On June 17, 1877, Captain David Perry led roughly one hundred soldiers and scouts into Idaho’s White Bird Canyon, believing they could quickly subdue the Nez Perce. Instead, the Nez Perce delivered a crushing defeat. In less than an hour, 34 soldiers lay dead as dozens more were forced to flee on foot. The Nez Perce, fighting for their very survival, lost not a single warrior. This stunning victory was only the beginning. Just two weeks later, Nez Perce warriors annihilated Lieutenant Rains and his command of ten men, once again without suffering a single casualty. These early triumphs showed the tactical brilliance and determination of the Nez Perce people, who had long endured broken treaties, land seizures, and violence from settlers. Once a peaceful nation led by figures such as Chief Joseph and Looking Glass, they were pushed into war after decades of betrayal and deception. The conflict would span several states, involve thousands of soldiers and volunteers, and claim hundreds of lives. But at White Bird Canyon, the Army met a devastating and unforgettable defeat. Join us as we explore the story of the Nez Perce, the opening battles of the war, and how a peaceful people were forced into one of the most legendary struggles of the Old West.

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In October of 1884, 19-year-old Elfego Baca made history during the legendary Frisco Shootout. After pinning on a fake badge and arresting a drunken cowboy named Charlie McCarty, Baca found himself surrounded by dozens of angry ranch hands. The standoff escalated into a 33-hour siege in which as many as 80 cowboys fired more than 4,000 rounds into the adobe building where Baca took cover. Remarkably, not a single bullet struck him. Acquitted of murder on multiple occasions and later serving as sheriff, U.S. marshal, lawyer, and politician, Baca became a folk hero of the New Mexico frontier.

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