# Billy Breakenridge — Tombstone character guide

> Billy Breakenridge in Tombstone by Walter Noble Burns.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** Breakenridge, Deputy Breakenridge

**First appearance:** 0002-tombstone

## Snapshot

A neatly groomed, smiling deputy under Behan, he rides the line between lawman and outlaw country and later sets down what he saw.

## Who they are

Breakenridge appears on Allen Street as one of Tombstone's well-turned-out officials, courteous amid the saloons and six-shooters. His beat carries him among the Curly Bill outlaws, and his reminiscences become one of the book's key sources for that shadow world. He matters as a witness who moved between the badge and the brush, close enough to both to see how thin the line really was.

## Relationships

### [Curly Bill](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tombstone_se/characters/curly_bill)

_professional_

Deputy sheriff and outlaw leader who maintained a pragmatic, often corrupt working relationship.

### [Curly Bill](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tombstone_se/characters/curly_bill)

_professional_

Deputy sheriff and outlaw leader who maintained a pragmatic, often corrupt working relationship.

### [Curly Bill](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tombstone_se/characters/curly_bill)

_professional_

Deputy sheriff and outlaw leader who maintained a pragmatic, often corrupt working relationship.

## In the story

### [Billy Breakenridge Makes Good](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tombstone_se/chapters/vii-billy-breakenridge-makes-good)

Deputy sheriff who collects taxes in the San Simon with Curly Bill's help and recovers a stolen horse.

### [IX: Ringo](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tombstone_se/chapters/ix-ringo)

Deputy who arrests Ringo on a robbery warrant; later allows Ringo to retrieve his guns and trusts his word to surrender.

### [Flashes of Storm](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tombstone_se/chapters/xii-flashes-of-storm)

Deputy Sheriff and experienced man hunter who was part of the posse pursuing the stage robbers.

### [Buried Treasure](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tombstone_se/chapters/xvii-buried-treasure)

Identified Zwing Hunt's body after Hunt was killed by Apaches, confirming Hunt never returned to San Antonio.

### [Hands Up!](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tombstone_se/chapters/xxi-hands-up)

Mentioned as a deputy involved in the execution proceedings.

### [Sunshine and Peace](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tombstone_se/chapters/xxii-sunshine-and-peace)

Described as a distinguished gentleman in his eighties, still alive and full of talk of old times; gave a deposition in the Crabtree case.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tombstone_se/characters/billy_breakenridge
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tombstone_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tombstone_se/characters