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ALS signed “F. Yancey,” three pages on two sheets, 8 x 10, September 14, 1874. Handwritten letter to Hon. Charles P. Johnson, acting governor of Missouri, just eleven days after being hired as an agent for the Missouri secret service to track down the James-Younger Gang. In part: "On Sunday the 6 inst., when I left here I had positive information that the 'Eagles' were about thirty miles south of this place stoping in the vicinity of the residence of one Greenwood, and it being the opinion of every one that they were sheltered and fed in that vicinity, I felt very certain of finding them there, but the very morning that I left here they left that point going in the direction of Marshall…intending doubtless to rob the Lexington band on its return from that place, but passed them on the road without molesting them.
They then turned back and went directly into Clay County, in fact to their home—where they remained one night. On Tuesday evening two of them left going in the direction of Greenwood's and one (Frank)—in my opinion—took the cars for Kansas City. I am not certain of this but give as my opinion. On Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday, I could obtain no trace of them whatever. On Saturday morning I again discovered their trail…going in the direction of Greenwood. On yesterday they crossed the river by swimming their horses over and went in the direction of Clay County. I leave immediately for Richmond and will make every effort to capture them before they leave that county.
I trust that you will not think that I have been unreasonably slow in this matter from the fact of one half of the people in this country being in sympathy with these men, and the other half afraid of them…it is absolutely necessary in order to accomplish any thing, that I should move with the utmost caution…I am fully satisfied that it is the Jameses and Youngers who have perpetrated all the recent robberies…I might have followed them with a posse but from the fact of their having friends in every section of this country and being mounted on superior horses the chances would have been largely in favor of their escaping. My plan is—if possible—to get them in a position, that I can surround them and make it impossible for them to escape." In fine condition.
One week after writing this letter, Yancey unexpectedly encountered Jesse James and Jim Younger. The three men exchanged gunfire, and Yancey claimed he wounded James, but the pair escaped and once again avoided capture.
The Western Americana auction of Jochen Zeitz.
