Is it really Billy ?

[John Winn]

Not precisely CW era but close. I'm not sure of the authenticity but it does look pretty convincing. Just thought folks might find this interesting:

http://petapixel.com/2015/02/24/new...ounger-years-could-fetch-a-hefty-sum-if-real/

 

[AndyHall]

It's a better match that most "long-lost" images of famous people. In this case the provenance (i.e., chain-of-custody, in CSI terms) is critical.

 

[ErnieMac]

It is quite interesting. I make no claims to any forensic ability, but IMO facial features seem to line up pretty well.

 

[Nathanb1]

It's a better match that most "long-lost" images of famous people. In this case the provenance (i.e., chain-of-custody, in CSI terms) is critical.

And that's what I'd like to know. Where was it supposedly taken? When? Which "friend" gave it away? Lotsa what ifs here....

Considering he fled Silver City after being orphaned with the clothes on his back (climbed out of a chimney in the jail, no less), I'd say the chances of his hauling this around for years would be slim.

 

[Allie]

It's certainly of a guy who looks similar, but without provenance that doesn't mean much. People do look alike.

 

[TalkingJohnMc]

The ears look a lot different to me.

 

[CheathamHill]

I personally would like to know how poor Mr. The Kid lost about 2 inches at the least in height between this long lost treasure and the renown photo.

 

[Stony]

That's him all right. Why not dream?

 

[TerryB]

I vote "real deal."

 

[Northern Light]

The shoulders look narrower and the ear looks different. Maybe, but maybe more likely not. Interesting how they did the overlays, but I think you would need to see a lot more than the few shown here to have any definitive ID.

 

[Patrick H]

I can't speculate, but, still, it's a lot of fun to ponder these images. I can certainly see why some might consider it to be Billy.

 

[lelliott19]

Interesting thread @John Winn !!!!

I agree with the forensic artist. I think there is "compelling evidence" that it is indeed Mr. The Kid!

The shape of the face, spacing of the eyes, and the upper lip/shape of the mustache area seem to match exactly. I see what others are saying about the ears, but I think the hat may be distorting the ears in the 'known' photo. If you look closely at the left ear in the unknown photo you can see that the ear protrudes from the side of the head more than the right ear especially up top. The hat in the 'known' photo seems to have slipped down and is resting atop the ear. An ear that protrudes at the angle of the one in the 'unknown' photo would surely "catch" the hat and force the ear out even more. I think the height difference that some are citing may resultant of the pose and the hat.

 

[huskerblitz]

I tend to agree with lelliot that the evidence is compelling. I won't say it's definitively him, but certainly a solid argument.

 

[DSessom]

One critical difference is that Billy's eyes were clear blue. The "new" photo's subjects eyes are dark, probably brown.

 

[Al Murray]

The headline says "In his younger days"?! The dude was only 20-21 when he died. Lucky for the people with a stake in identifying this pic they are looking at a short time span instead of one at age 19 and the other at age 50. The article says "same hair shape." How can they tell through the hat?

 

[Northern Light]

The headline says "In his younger days"?! The dude was only 20-21 when he died. Lucky for the people with a stake in identifying this pic they are looking at a short time span instead of one at age 19 and the other at age 50. The article says "same hair shape." How can they tell through the hat?

"Hair-shape"???????

 

[Mike Serpa]

Difficult to say if it is him.
I tried to cleanup the known photo of him but got tired of working on it. Here is his head.

 

[Northern Light]

Definitely pale eyes. When you blow up the other photo, the eyes are very dark.

 

[John Winn]

Glad to see that others are having a bit of fun with this. It was on a photography group site that my wife belongs to and they are having the same debate it seems.

 

[Al Murray]

"Hair-shape"???????

Yeah. Thats what I thought. Here it is from the link

"You can see that it is the same chin, cheek, lip, nose, head shape, shoulder shape, same hair shape," she tells the New York Daily News. A closer look at the photos also shows the same crooked teeth, she says."

Not a typo