PATRICK GARRETT The legendary sheriff who gunned down Billy the Kid signed this typed letter regarding a transfer of money Typed Letter Signed: "P. F. Garrett, Sheriff". 8½x6¼. Dated August 16, 1900. One page. In Full: "For value received, I hereby transfer…to Mr. S. Spitz of Santa Fe New Mexico, my account against the Territory of New Mexico for Fifty Dollars…for Requisition issued by the Governor of the Territory of New Mexico."  Accompanied by a mailing envelope addressed to Garrett. Patrick Garrett (1850-1908) lived a fairly long life despite his proclivity for gunfights and maintaining the law. After being elected to Sheriff in Lincoln County, New Mexico in November of 1880, Garrett engaged in a nine-month chase to hunt down Billy the Kid, even crossing county lines. He shot and killed the criminal on July 15, 1881. Garrett published a book about Billy the Kid and his unlawful lifestyle, making him out to be a ruffian. Other sources mythicized Billy the Kid, and this latter point-of-view generally won the day despite Garrett's best efforts. read more...

FRANK JAMES The brother of Jesse James pens this letter to this wife while awaiting trial for murder and armed robbery, signing with his outlaw alias, "Ben". Very rare! Autograph Letter Signed: "Ben" in black ink, 1p, 5x8. Castle St. James in Gallatin, Missouri, 1883 July 13. To "My dear Wife". In full: "I just this moment received your letter as I have also one from Allen which explains itself. Write them as I have just done. May God watch over and protect you and our dear little boy are my earnest prayers. I will write Monday again./ Your true husband". Frank James (1843-1915) and his brother Jesse James fought as Confederate guerrillas in Missouri ("Quantrill's Raiders"), and in the pro-Southern state militia during the Civil War. They joined Cole Younger and others in 1866 to form a gang led by Jesse, robbing banks and trains. Frank and Jesse survived and escaped the failed Northfield, Minnesota bank heist of 1876, forming a new gang. Several months after the murder of his brother Jesse on April 3, 1882, Frank James traveled to Jefferson City and surrendered to Missouri Governor Thomas Crittenden. read more...

CHARLES A. LINDBERGH Lindbergh's driver's license application signed by him twice and notarized, only three months before the kidnapping of his infant son. In the year after the kidnapping, with the baby found dead but no suspect yet apprehended, the New Jersey Motor Vehicles Commissioner (and future Governor) Harold Hoffman sent this application to a radio station which was closely following the case. Hoffman, later unmasked as a criminal himself, meddled extensively in the kidnapping case. Document signed twice: "C. A. Lindbergh", 2 pages (front and verso), 3¾x5. Mercer County, New Jersey, 1931 December 29. New Jersey Automobile Driver's Renewal Application, filled out by Lindbergh himself, giving his address (Hopewell, New Jersey) and physical description. He gives New York City as his place of (self) employment, and attests that he has never had his license revoked or suspended, nor had he been refused a license. Signed and attested as truthful by Lindbergh on verso and notarized by "Edward R. Whitehead". Light vertical crease at center (not affecting signatures). Signatures slightly smudged (still legible). Lightly worn at edges. Otherwise, fine condition. read more...

JAMES J. DOLAN and LAWRENCE G. MURPHY Signed by the leaders of the Murphy-Dolan faction in the Lincoln County War. Promissory Note Signed: "Jas. J. Dolan", 1p, 8x3¼. Santa Fe, N.M., 1874 April 1. In full: "Six months after date, (without grace,) I Promise to Pay to the Order of The First National Bank of Santa Fe, at the office of said Bank in Santa Fe, ten Thousand Dollars, with interest at the rate of eighteen per cent, per annum from date until paid. Value received." Endorsed on verso: "Lawce G. Murphy & Co." beneath, in manuscript: "For value received we guarrantee (sic) the payment of the within note." Interest computation also penned on verso. In his teens, the Irish-born JAMES J. DOLAN (1848-1898) had served in the U.S. Army in the Civil War. After the war, he accepted a position as clerk for merchant LAWRENCE G. MURPHY (1831-1878) and within three years was taken in as a partner in a store at Lincoln, New Mexico. Billy the Kid had arrived in Lincoln while the gang known as "The House" or the read more...

JOSEPHINE "JOSIE" EARP Very content-rich ALS to the man writing the manuscript of Wyatt Earp's autobiography, and mentioning help they are getting from Western actor William S. Hart. While urging author Flood to keep the story clean and to finish it soon, she reminds him of several more events in Wyatt's life he must include. Autograph Letter signed: "Your friends/Earps", 3 pages (12x8 integral leaf and 8x6 unattached page). Vidal, California, 1925 November 9. To John H. Flood, Jr., Los Angeles. In full: "Your letter came Monday. And I was glad to hear from you also good news. Although I am sure disappointed. And yet I still feel grateful to have them find the oil. I was in hope they would bring in a two or three hundred barrel well. But - as I said I must be satisfied as it could have been a bust too. I have been watching the oil news very closely but saw no account of it. I hope it will not be a mistake. Now when we get the story also picture we will then be ready to settle down. We had a very fine letter from Bill [friend and actor William S. Hart] and he is very anxious to read more...

MOSES AUSTIN and MOSES BATES Austin posts bond for his brother-in-law, Moses Bates with Sheriff (later US Senator) Henry Dodge Manuscript Document signed: "Moses Bates", "Moses Austin", 1 page, 7½x12½. Each has hand-drawn his seal to the right of his signature. Ste Genevieve, Missouri, 1812 April 5. Docketed on verso. In full: "Know all Men by these present that we Moses Bates and Moses Austin are held and formerly bound to H. Dodge Sheriff of the District of St. Genevieve in the kind sum of Eight hundred and forty Dollars lawful money of the United States to be paid to the said Dodge or his successor..The condition of the above obligation is such that a capias ad respondendum has Issued from the Court of Common Pleas for the District cop[ie]d at the suit of William C. Carr and Henry Elliott administrator of Earon Elliott deceased on which said suit bail is required for the sum of four hundred and Twenty Dollars and the said Dodge has arrested the said Moses Bates in his capacity as sheriff of the said Bates should be cast in the said suit he will pay read more...

COLE YOUNGER Writing from prison in Stillwater, Minnesota, the outlaw thanks a state senator for a speech advocating his release. Autograph Letter signed twice: "Cole Younger", 2 pages, 7½x12¼. Stillwater, Minnesota, 1899 March 26. Signed on both pages. To "Hon. M. G. Daly, Senate Chambers, St Paul, Minnesota". In full (spelling errors in original): "Mrs. McNeil, Mrs. Greene and Hon. G. H. Schurmer was here to day. Wish I could repeat all they said in regard to the speech you made in the Senate in favor of the Wilson Bill. I had read what little the papers give and felt very grateful. But if posable I would feel still more after hearing them speak so highly. They were wishing I could have herd you. I told them I would feel very happy as it was if you could only here them praising you. They said everone said it was one of the best speeches made in the Senate during the session. Let me assure you there will never be any act of ours in or out of prison that will caus you to regret having extended a helping hand to us in this our hour of distress and our heart felt gratitude is yours in read more...

ANNIE OAKLEY Recovering slowly from an auto accident late in her life, she writes a 4-page letter to a female journalist, enthusiastically describing her move to North Carolina. Autograph Letter signed: "Annie Oakley Butler", 4 pages (integral leaf), 5½x6¾. Greensboro, North Carolina, October 10 (Pencil note in unknown hand dates it 1923.) Oakley has struck through the original letterhead of the O'Henry and written her new address in Greensboro. To "Dear Miss Tildesley", in full: "I was pleased to see the sweet letter. We left Cambridge just two weeks ago. And stopped off in Balto. to see Dr. Baer. He said there was an improvement in my foot though it had been very slow. But for me to fight on and he was sure I would win out in time. So we both feel incouraged. I can walk much better than when you seen me. We have just left the Hotel and taken A suite here. We have A pretty living room, furnished in wicker with pretty colors. A wicker table with plate glass top so we can make coffee. Tea. Toast. and even boil eggs if we like. A french door opens on A private varanda with pretty flowers. It faces the East. read more...

MOSES AUSTIN He signs a demand promissory note arranging for payment in 142½ pounds of lead. Framed to 10½x8½. Promissory Note signed: "M. Austin", 1 page, 7¼x5¼, affixed to a larger off-white sheet and framed to an overall size of 10½x8½.  Mine A Burton, 1802 February 11. In full: "Please pay Mr. Jos. Pratt One Hundred & forty two pounds & half of lead out of the Lead in your hands of mine and this order shall be your Discharge for the same."  Moses Austin (1761-1821), the father of Texas pioneer Stephen F. Austin, was known as "the Lead King" of southwestern Virginia, where he owned mines and production facilities to make buckshot and other lead products. His business failed, and in 1798 Austin and his family moved to what is now Missouri, then Spanish territory. (Austin had purchased the land from Spain, but when he signed this note it was actually in French territory under a secret Franco-Spanish treaty, soon to be acquired by the United States in the Louisiana Purchase of 1803). Mine a read more...