Billy the Kid envy in Texas

When enough time passes, criminals--even mass murderers-- often achieve an air of respectability.

Such is the case of William H. Bonney, better known as Billy the Kid.

Or was he someone else?

A New Mexico police officer thinks that a body buried in Texas might the the "real" Billy.

From the Fort-Worth Star-Telegram:

For now, the remains of Ollie "Brushy Bill" Roberts can rest in peace.

An effort to exhume the remains of Roberts, who claimed to be the legendary outlaw Billy the Kid, was voted down Thursday by the Hamilton City Council.

The effort was led by Steve Sederwall, a reserve deputy with the Lincoln County, N.M., Sheriff's Department, who wanted to conduct DNA tests on the remains.

But Hamilton City Administrator Bill Funderburk said city officials had received several phone calls during the past month from people claiming to be Brushy Bill's descendants who opposed the exhumation. He said the most prudent action was for Sederwall to petition a district court for permission to exhume the body.

Technorati tags: Billy The Kid history Texas New Mexico Americana