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...

WILLIAM F. 'BUFFALO BILL' CODY The man known for his showmanship and scouting skills signed this handwritten letter concerning his financial issues. Various close associates liquidate Cody's assets so that he can pay his creditors. Autograph Letter Signed: "W. C. Cody" one page both sides, 8.5 x 11, Chicago Shan-Kive and Round-Up letterhead. Dated September 18, 1916. Letter to his attorney Henry Hersey regarding his grim financial situation. In Part: “They can explain this situation to you better than I care for they have not kept me well footed. But if you do not hear from them, I'll write you all I know. First Link got judgement for about $11,800. And sold the Irma hotel and four lots and bid it in him self. I have until Jan. 15th 1917. In which to reclaim the property. There separately he sold the fixtures, paintings, etc - I furnished the money and had W.L. Walls bid them in for me. Then Link advertised and sold a hotel of mine called Pahaska Tepee. I furnished the money and had Walls bid that in for me.” read more...

JOSIE EARP ALS to husband Wyatt's personal secretary, John Flood, who was trying unsuccessfully to write an authorized biography of the famous lawman. Frequent mention of actor William S. Hart ("Bill"), a close friend of Wyatt Earp. Autograph Letter signed: "E", 3 pages (front and verso), 6½x10½. Vidal (California), 1927 March 15. To "Dear Mr. [John] Flood". In full: "Very glad to get your nice letter and clippings. I was just thinking what had happened to you. Well Mr. E. is at camp doing some assessment work, so I am here with my two nieces. Weather windy not very nice for the last two weeks. Lots of surveyors here for the L.A. water. Fill a barn just now. I have never seen so many people here at one time before. Brunnels are very busy. Well, now about our little affair. Will you please call up or write to Bill. Yes I think it is better to write to him. Tell him what I think - what I mean by I, all of us think it just the right thing to do to hold it back until we can get together and talk it over. I am enclosing all letters from the first on Bill wrote us. I wrote and told you I had put them away for safe keeping, but luckily I have found them and am sending them to you. [Items not included. read more...

WILLIAM BARCLAY "BAT" MASTERSON He pens a letter in correspondence to an individual stating they are relatives in which Masterson quickly replies with otherwise! Autograph Letter Signed: "W.B. Masterson". 2 pages, 8x10, loosely placed in 9½x11½ folio. Accompanied by original mailing envelope; heavily toned, soiled and worn. December 31, 1905, New York City, written to "Mr. Watson F. Masterson" of Ramsey, West Virginia. In full: "Dear Sir. Without going into details can assure you that we are not related; even remotely. My father was born in this state eighty years ago and moved to Illinois where I was born fifty one years ago. There are a great many families of Mastersons in Missouri and Iowa none of whom are related to mine. My father had but one brother and he was several years the eldest and has been dead about forty years and died without issue. Very respectfully." Masterson (1853-1921) was an American frontier gambler and buffalo hunter and a scout for the United States Army. read more...

JOSIE EARP Writing to authorized biographer John Flood, Wyatt Earp's wife insists that "Mr. E. life story is not supposed to be like Billy the Kid or Wild Bill Hickock as he was an officer." Unfortunately, Flood's account, which Wyatt Earp considered the true story of his life, would never get published. Autograph Letter signed: "Mrs. Earp", 2 pages (front and verso), 8x10. Vidal. California, 1927 March 1. To "Dear Mr. Flood", in full: "I wrote to you several days ago. I hope you got my letter, and in the letter I tell you that we had a letter from Mr.[actor and friend William S.] Hart, but I cannot find it. But yesterday I looked for it - again. And I was lucky to find it. I had it put away in a dress pocket. So I am sending it to you today with another one we received yesterday. So you can see just how things stand. I fully intended to write to you and have you write to Wm. if it came back again not to try it again as I am afraid we will not be able to do anything with it. I can't understand why they will not except [sic] it. Of course, as you have said, you are not expert at story writing. And I am no critic. So we know now that there is a mistake somewhere But you can see for yourself what they all think of it. read more...

ANNIE OAKLEY Check signed with her married name, Annie Butler, filled out by her to her grand-daughter (by adoption), with an additional note in Annie's hand on verso. Check signed: "Annie Butler", 6½x2¾. Newark, New Jersey, 1923 June 15. Check #135, drawn on the Newark & Essex Banking Co. payable to Elizabeth Hall for $50. Endorsed ""Elizabeth Hall". Handwritten note in Oakley's hand on verso: "Board to F. E. Butlers Grand Daughter. 22 Weikel Ave. Merchantville, N. J. Known as Niece". Annie Oakley (1860-1926, born Phoebe Anne Moses in Darke County, Ohio), was born to a Quaker family and began to shoot rabbits and quail at age nine. Within five years, she was a breadwinner for her family as a markswoman, and, at age 15, she saved her family's farm with income she had earned from shooting game. On August 23, 1876, at age 16, Annie married Frank Butler, a vaudeville performer who became her partner. Annie's self-effacing personality (on and off stage) made her a popular performer. In 1885, the Butlers joined Buffalo Bill Cody's Wild West Show, where Annie was a star for 17 years. 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...

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...

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...