ALBUQUERQUE, New Mexico - A new book by noted Old West writer Paxton P. Portmeister has revealed an interesting fact regarding one of the Wild West's most notorious outlaws William S. Bonney, alias Billy The Kid.
It seems that Billy The Kid hated his nickname with a vengeance and actually preferred to be known as Billy The Dude.
Portmeister points out that the newspaper writers of the time did not like the name Billy The Dude because it conjured up thoughts of English dandies who were also referred to as dudes.
There is only one known newspaper that did refer to Bonney as Billy The Dude and that was The Topeka Territory Tribune and the reason why the newspaper referred to Billy as Billy The Dude was because its publisher and editor Reginald F. Farnsworth, III, was originally from Liverpool, England.
Billy The Kid was shot by his friend Sheriff Pat Garrett on July 14, 1881, at The Okey Dokey Hokey Pokey Saloon in Fort Sumner, New Mexico.
According to Portmeister Billy's last words were "I swear Pat, I had no idea she was your cousin."
To view over 800 photographs of William S. Bonney, alias Billy The Kid go to www.billythekidgobsofphotos.pix.
