Lot 4493
James, Frank (1843-1915) With his brother, Jesse James, and the Younger Brothers, he robbed a series of banks, stagecoaches, and trains from 1866 to 1879, killing and wounding many innocent people. He surrendered to Missouri governor Thomas Crittendon Oct. 4, 1882; he was released from prison in 1885. An unusually long and informative Autograph Letter Signed ("Ben" for his pseudonym Ben Chapman), Oct. 4, 1883, with the original envelope postmarked "Gallatin, MO", where he was in prison, and addressed in his hand to "Mrs. A[lexander] F[ranklin] James/ Independence/ Mo.," 7 full pages, octavo. A revealing, intimate letter to his wife (Annie Ralston, whom he married in 1876), whom he addresses as "My Dear Little Wife," on the one-year anniversary of his imprisonment.
In part: "I am still in trim. Don't you think I am a dandy? Ain't you glad your old 'hubby' thinks he has the best and truest 'little woman' in America!…but must you love he when he comes to you. I am not going to have any foolishness…I am going to have my way for the same length of time that you have had yours, that will be five years….If you don't write me word that I can do as I please, I am going to take a bee line for 'Salt Lake' when I get out….I had a letter from Marth and she tell me she and Buck was going out calling the other evening and a big black negro…snatched her pocket off her arm and made way with all her valuables….if that had been Mage and she had that little pistol Mr. Negro would of got a leaden missile in his back side when he went off….What would you of done Ma under those circumstances?…I had a letter from Allen…he told me he gave Col Philips $100.00 for me…kind of him…He also wrote me that he had heard John Kritzer had raised $700.00 for me….he also told me he was just ready to start with 3000 head of cattle for the Cimarone River…and that he couldn't possibly get back before the first of Nov. and told me I must have the case continued….Say nothing to no one of what I have told you about the expect money….I only caution in order you may not let anything escape your lips around home. You are the only confidant I have or ever expect to have. How is Mage getting on at school? And whats my little presious man doing every day? Does he ever talk about his old father ? I would like for him to learn his book a little bit so he can read to me when I get old and blind. And I would like to know what mamma is doing all the time too. I tell you when a poor fellow is locked up and his wife is sailing around it keeps him right uneasy….But I must try and not think about it for I don't want to loose my mind. I have to live to do some good in this world if only to raise boys. I want just about six darling shrewd ones when I get old….for heavens sakes, don't forget you poor old hen pecked husband…. All the good there is in me - if any - it has been brought by you. It is all with you so far as my future goodness is concerned.…"
Estimated Value $10,000 - 12,500.
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