ALS in pencil, written by an unknown gang member, signed on Hamilton's behalf "Raymond Hamilton and the gang,” one page both sides, lightly lined, 5 x 8, no date but postmarked November 11, 1934. Letter to Mr. J. W. Peters, in (spelling and grammar retained): I need $350 dollars I have plenty money but i cant get it now. leave me $350 at the rocky road closed to your house by that conoco oil company sign and I will give you back $700 dollars for the use of it with in 2 weeks. If you don't I will get you and the money to. So dont try any funny stuf and dont you leave home today because I have got men watching you all the time. Me and blackie and 6 more of the gang will be watching you all the time, so leave the money by the oil company sign and you won't get hurt leave the money there at 7 o'clock monday night Nov. 12. I no you got the money and I want it for a while." In very good condition, with overall rippling and chipping to bottom edge. Accompanied by the original mailing envelope, and an ANS signed by Special Agent E. J. Dowd, dated November 13th, in full: "Letter received from Denver Scale. Investigator, District Atty's Office." Hamilton proved himself as slippery as any of the Depression-era desperadoes, evading and escaping capture on numerous occasions as both a current and former member of the Barrow Gang. After months on the lam, Hamilton was finally arrested by Sheriff Smoot Schmid at a Fort Worth train yard on April 5, 1935, and executed by electric chair a month later at Huntsville's Texas State Penitentiary. A gritty letter conveying the palpable anxiety and desperation of the 21-year-old outlaw.
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