Arizona State University professor Robert J. Stahl does not challenge the official story: that U.S. Deputy Marshal Pat Garrett shot the Kid to death in Fort Sumner on July 15, 1881. Garrett collected a $500 reward for it.
Stahl said he wanted to put to rest the rumors that the Kid survived until 1950, or was killed in Mexico, or married and became a rancher, or ...
His Feb. 16 petition begins: "Enough is enough about and from the supporters of the Billy the Kid imposters ..."
The petition, which Stahl has copyrighted, states: "A major reason millions have supported these imposters is their claim that no official death certificate was issued ..."
Stahl said that after doing research at the New Mexico Division of Vital Records and Health Statistics in Santa Fe, he asked to see the death certificate, and was told he would need a court order to get one. So he's asked for a court order.
