Talk:Billy the Kid#rfc 70F0247

hasn't changed as far as i'm aware, updating it to '24 confirms to the reader that the information is still correct and not outdated. 62.6.174.29 (talk) 13:21, 12 December 2024 (UTC)

Billy the Kid is one of the most enduring legends of the American West. Known for his daring escapes, outlaw lifestyle, and quick draw, he left a lasting legacy that continues to capture imaginations. While much has been written about his gunfights, outlaw exploits, and role in the Lincoln County War, his involvement in gambling is a fascinating aspect of his life that highlights the culture of the Old West. Gambling, an integral part of frontier life, served as both entertainment and a means of survival, and Billy the Kid was no stranger to its allure.

During the late 19th century, gambling halls were as ubiquitous in the West as saloons and general stores. These establishments weren’t merely places to wager—they were social hubs where fortunes could be won and lost, reputations made or shattered. Faro, poker, monte, and various dice games dominated the tables, with gamblers betting on their skill or sheer luck. For Billy the Kid, gambling wasn’t just a pastime; it was woven into the fabric of his outlaw existence. The card table was often where he mingled with other notorious figures, tested his wits, and cultivated his reputation.

Accounts from those who encountered Billy depict him as a charismatic young man who exuded confidence at the card table. Like many gamblers of the era, [https://news.e-vegas.com/gambling-history/billy-the-kid-gambling-history-and-the-wild-wests-most-notorious-outlaw/ he relied on his charm, sharp instincts, and occasional sleight of hand to stay ahead]. Whether in the dusty gambling halls of New Mexico or around campfires, Billy’s gambling skills reflected the same boldness that defined his outlaw lifestyle. He was known for taking risks, which endeared him to some and made him feared by others. John Richard James (talk) 17:34, 31 January 2025 (UTC)

:Do you have any independent, reliable sources? A website about gambling is not really a reliable source for this claim. The Banner talk 12:55, 1 February 2025 (UTC)

:Definitely not a reliable source and the text is almost certainly AI-generated. Unusable. Carlstak (talk) 13:24, 1 February 2025 (UTC)

While countless books have dissected the violent arc of Billy the Kid’s short life, two lesser-known accounts from the family of Dr. Taylor Fillmore Ealy, a frontier physician and Presbyterian missionary in Lincoln, offer rare personal glimpses into Billy’s interactions with local citizens—one in blood, the other in song.

1. A Gunshot Wound Treated by Dr. Ealy

On April 1, 1878, during the ambush that killed Sheriff William Brady, a young Regulator was wounded in the left thigh. Dr. Ealy, newly arrived in Lincoln, recorded in his journal:

“The ball passed through his left thigh. I drew a silk handkerchief through the wound, bound it up ....”

The wounded man was not named, but historian Norman Bender, writing in Missionaries, Outlaws, and Indians (1984), concluded that the patient was almost certainly Billy the Kid, based on the wound’s timing, location, and the surrounding context. This may be the only recorded instance of Billy receiving medical attention.

2. Sunday School and a Tenor Voice

Mary Ramsey Ealy, Dr. Ealy’s wife, taught Sunday School in Lincoln during the same year. In a letter written by their grandson, Lawrence O. Ealy, Billy the Kid is remembered as a regular and memorable attendee. Mary described him as “very handsome, very intelligent, very courteous—especially to women,” and recalled how he would stand beside her at the piano to help lead hymns, singing in a “clear, beautiful tenor voice.”

These family memories are preserved in Water on a Thirsty Land by Ruth R. Ealy, the couple’s daughter—originally distributed privately and later republished in an edited edition by David G. Thomas. A copy of the Lawrence Ealy letter is also publicly available, here.

https://palsofbillythekidhistoricalsociety.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Mary-Ealy.jpg 71.236.114.233 (talk) 02:52, 3 July 2025 (UTC)