JOSEPHINE "JOSIE" EARP - AUTOGRAPH LETTER SIGNED 09/25/1929 - HFSID 290444

JOSEPHINE "JOSIE" EARP
Handwritten letter to friend and would-be biographer John Flood, only months after Wyatt Earp's death. "I am still worrying for my dear husband. I miss him so much."
Autograph Letter signed: "Josephine Earp", 3 pages, 6x8 folded, otherwise 12x8. Oakland (California), 1929 September 25. To "Dear Mr. Flood", in full: "I did not mean to be slow to respond to your nice letter. I wanted to wait and see if I could be in Los Angeles in the next ten days but it seems now like I will not be able to get away until about the fifth, or six of Oct. and I know you cannot wait until then. I thank you very much for offering to wait a few days until I could get there. I will see you when I come to Vidal. I have many things that I must attend to before I go to the desert. I hope you are right to the gross or net but different attorneys have told me that you are wrong - we will have to wait and see. That is all that can be done. I am glad you have had a nice vacation and also to know Jarvis is going to make a sale. And I hope you will too. I am feeling much better but I still have a cold. My folks are living on Alexandria Street, but I don't know the number. I think I have the name spelled wrong. There may be such a thing as my leaving here by next Tuesday - but I am not sure. I have not heard from Mr. Lake for some time. I can't understand why he did not write to me for so long. I hear he is still in the research [?]. I am still worrying for my dear husband. I miss him so much. That is all I can write for now. Perhaps after while my mind will be more calm. I send kindest regards to Mr. and Mrs. Miller. And very best wishes to you in which all join in sending. Sincerely". Accompanied by autograph envelope addressed in her hand to John H. Flood, Jr., in Los Angeles, postmarked September 25, 1929, and signed in return address on verso: "J. Earp".  Josephine Marcus (1861-1944), who became JOSIE EARP was a dancer and actress who moved to Tombstone, Arizona in 1879. At first she was mistress of Sheriff Johnny Behan, an enemy of Wyatt Earp, and was also a prostitute. (Her license for that trade survives.) In 1881, she became enamored with Wyatt Earp, and the following year began calling herself Josephine Earp. (Wyatt and Josie were together until his death, in what was probably a common law marriage. Wyatt abandoned his law enforcement career, traveling around the West with Josie, often gambling and sometimes operating a saloon.) In their senior years, the Earps became quite concerned about their image/reputation, and chose his personal Secretary, John H. Flood, Jr. to write his biography. Flood's manuscript, factually accurate but sadly lacking in literary polish, was rejected by all publishers . Though never published, Flood's text survives, and might have enriched public understanding of Wyatt Earp if a good editor had been found to revise it. Flood remained a family friend, despite failure of  the literary venture. Wyatt Earp had died on January 13, 1929, 8 months before this letter was written. Josey survived 15 more years, devoting much time to keeping alive Wyatt's memory and defending his reputation. Vidal, California, mentioned in this letter, had been the Earp's home while Wyatt was earning a living by prospecting in his later years. One horizontal fold at center. Lightly creased. Lightly soiled on verso of last page. Otherwise, fine condition.