l to r : billy the kid; doc holliday; jesse james; charles bowdre.
photograph from the ellison collection.†
"Jesse James, Billy the Kid and Doc Holliday were all in Las Vegas, New Mexico in 1879 which is when I believe this photo was taken. The photo depicts four deputised men, one wearing a badge and the other three wearing white bandanas hanging from their pockets representing that they are Peace Officers as the white flag is a symbol of truce. I have done an enormous amount of research on this photo and am still in the process of identifying these men but I am 99% sure they are who I have identified them as being.Thanks to the help of many viewers to this website and several historical societies I have been pointed to Doc Holliday and Charlie Bowdre whom I would have overlooked. I was unaware that Doc Holliday was in Las Vegas, NM in 1879 until I was given that information. Las Vegas was the hotbed of activity for outlaws at that time and nearly every well known outlaw went there to carous or even to be peace officers as ranchers were looking for protection for their families and land. Jesse James had a good reason for going to Las Vegas, Scott Moore and his wife Minne owned the Old Adobe Hotel in Las Vegas, New Mexico. Scott Moore was a life long friend of Jesse James having grown up in St. Joseph, Missouri. Jesse James had grown restless in Tennessee and was looking for a new gang and where better to go than were the outlaws are especially when you already have a connection in that town. Billy the Kid was said to have a son, Telesfor Jaramillo."
- Greg Ellison.
Special thanks to Brendan at The Rising Storm for turning me on to Bobby Charles in the first instance. Read his excellent review here.
Written by Bobby Charles. Produced by Bobby Charles, John Simon and Rick Danko.
On an interesting note to admirers of Greenwich Village's Left Banke, Mike Brown's father - session musician and producer, Harry Lookofsky - contributes violin to the album, as do members of The Band; Butterfield Blues Band; Full Tilt Boogie Band; and the backing band for Dr. John.
Pedal Steel on this track is by Ben Keith of Hungry Chick.
▼ BOBBY CHARLES: NEW MEXICO (BONUS TRACK) from "Bobby Charles" LP (Bearsville) 1971 (US)
† while the provenance of this photograph has been publicly contested, it has been included in the history channel's biographic, "jesse james' hidden treasure"; screening 6th and 7th December, 2009. See within the comments section below for further detail.
PURCHASE BOBBY CHARLES
