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ALS signed “Your true Husband, Ben,” one page both sides, 5 x 10.75, October 22, 1883. Handwritten letter to his wife while jailed in Gallatin, Missouri, awaiting trial for murder during a train robbery; as usual, he signs using an alias to ensure their privacy should his letter fall into the hands of reporters. In full: "Can't stand any longer to be seperated from you. I want you to get ready just as soon as you can and come. I am now waiting to get an answer from Mrs. Osborne to know if you can board there. It is about the only private place I know of but I want you to come any[way] and if I can't get you a private place you can board a the Hotel or Mrs. Emmons. She is now living where Maj. Cox did, I am satisfyed if you were here you could find a place. I want you to be with some one who is friendly with us. Mrs. Rush might board you. I am not going to ask for I don't know whether you would like to board there on account of the children and Rob not getting along. This is why I would love for you to stay with Mrs Osborne. I don't think she has any small children. Mrs. Emmons has none either, I will say nothing to her though about it until you come. I want you to bring my clothes and remember it will now soon be cold weather and you must come prepared. I will not wait and see if I can hear from Mrs. Osborne. I wrote Saturday requesting her to give me an answer by noon to day. Miss Mary Lee has just this moment come to tell me that her Ma can not board you. You must come any way and stay a week or two if you have to stay at hotel. I just can't live away from you any longer." In fine condition. Accompanied by the original mailing envelope, addressed by Frank James to "Mrs. Annie James, Independence, Mo."
In September of 1882—five months after his brother Jesse was gunned down by fellow gang member Robert Ford—James turned himself in to Missouri governor Thomas Crittenden in Jefferson City, tired of running and hoping to avoid the same gruesome fate. He was held and put on trial in Gallatin, Missouri, for participating in two murders during a train robbery. However, having reached folk-hero status within the general population, he was acquitted by the jury.
The Western Americana auction of Jochen Zeitz.
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