Bill was most likely never killed. It was very likely that it was a staged murder just like Jesse James' murder was faked to give these war heroes peace and allow them to live out what was left of their lives. Research the Knights of the Golden Circle KGC. You should find your answers there. Look at the signed meeting attendance records and you will see that Jesse was in attendance many years after his supposed murder. Bill may have signed under an alias but I would say the apple story is a cover up.