The Real Billy Wilson Story

by Jim Wilson

After the furor of the Lincoln County War died down, Billy the Kid and some friends formed an import/export company. That is, they would export New Mexico cattle and horses to Texas and Colorado where they were sold without the benefit of a legitimate bill of sale. Then this enterprising group would gather up some loose Texas and Colorado livestock, and take them back to New Mexico. One of the stalwarts of this gang was a former Texas cowboy going by the name of Billy Wilson.

Billy had been born in one of the northern states but, as a child, moved with his family to southwest Texas. He learned the cowboy trade and soon ended up in New Mexico and running with Billy the Kid. Sometime during the livestock transfers, Wilson sold a herd of cattle in Colorado and the buyers paid off with counterfeit money. At this late date, we don’t know if Wilson was wise to this or not, but he was soon being sought on federal charges of passing phony money.

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