The Collected Library, Including Americana and Early Photography

Including:

1. (Oklahoma), ca. 1895. One sheet, 13 3/4 x 8 1/4 in. (349 x 209 mm.) Partially printed document signed by Deputy U.S. Marshal William Tilghman, being a payment receipt for $42 made out to H. Dremen, for 14 days service as posse comitatus, assisting with the pursuit of Bill Doolin of the Wild Bunch. Countersigned by U.S. Marshall Evett D. Nix and U.S. Commissioner of Oklahoma W.W. Thomas. Creasing from old folds, some tears along same repaired on verso with tape; scattered stains, paper loss to top margin.

2. Chickasha, (Oklahoma), September 26, 1905. One sheet, 8 1/2 x 8 1/4 in. (216 x 209 mm.) Typed letter, signed by Deputy U.S. Marshal Chris Madsen, addressed to Miller Shelby and Bailey, in part: "I am instructed by the Chief Marshal to notify you, to discontinue the use of any gambling devices which oy may have in your possession. This includes the slot machine and dice games for cigars or other purposes. Inspections will be made daily... and any device in use or not will be destroyed..." Creasing from old folds, scattered stains, tape repairs on verso.

3. (Arkansas), ca. 1888. One sheet, 14 x 8 1/2 in. (356 x 216 mm.) , titled Abstract of Supplementary Account Current No. 1. Fees earned by John Carroll late U.S. Marshall that Dist. Arks. For the Calendar year 1888. Listing the names of eleven U.S. Marshals such as "Charles Barnhill, Barney Connelly (deceased), B.C. Cantree, J.B. Heady, L.P. Irbill, J.B. Lee, A.J. Mattix, John Salmon, Heck Thomas, and G.G. Tyson." Creasing from old folds, small closed tears along same, light foxing. With an additional partially printed payment receipt, dated July 22, 1907. from U.S. Marshall J.W. Hubbard, for 45 cents for railroad and wagon fare in the case "U.S. vs. W.R. Vance."

Wonderful group of documents relating to "The Three Guardsmen", U.S. Marshals known for chasing many outlaws in the Wild West era, and famously the gang of Bill Doolin, also known as the Wild Bunch: Bill Tilghman (1854-1924), Chris Madsen (1851-1944), and Heck Thomas (1850-1912).

Bill Doolin (1858-1896) formed his outlaw gang known as the Wild Bunch in 1892, and the group quickly became notorious for a number of bank and train robberies, as well as shootouts with U.S. Marshalls. For a time the Wild Bunch was the most powerful and most relentlessly pursued outlaw gang in the Old West. Marshals Tilghman, Madsen, and Thomas, colloquially known as the Three Guardsmen, were at the front of the chase for the Wild Bunch, and by the end of 1894 they had captured or killed many members of the gang.

Doolin himself fled to New Mexico, and later Kansas before returning to Oklahoma, where he was captured singlehandedly by Bill Tilghman in early 1896. After a few months in jail, Doolin escaped and took refuge with his wife in Lawson, Oklahoma. It was there on August 24, 1896, where he would be killed in shootout by Marshal Heck Thomas.