Sold For $1,378
*Includes Buyers Premium
New Mexico lawman (1850–1908) who killed his former gambling partner, the fabled outlaw Billy the Kid, in 1881. Remarkable archive of four documents pertaining to a legal case in which F. H. Mendenhall was charged with forging a check in Pat Garrett's name, highlighted by a witness bond signed by Garrett and the spurious check itself. Includes:
- State of Texas witness bail bond signed "Pat F. Garrett," one page, 8.25 x 6.75, February 5, 1891, in part: "Know all Men by these Presents: That We, Pat F. Garrett, as principal, and J. L. Johnson and Jno. O. Ford as sureties, acknowledge ourselves to be indebted unto the State of Texas in the sum of One Hundred and Fifty dollars, to be void, however, on condition that the above bound witness Pat F. Garrett shall make his personal appearance at the next term of the Honorable District Court…then and there to testify in behalf of the State of Texas in a certain cause…wherein the State of Texas is plaintiff and F. H. Mendenhall is defendant." Signed at the conclusion by Garrett, Johnson, and Ford, as well as a sheriff and deputy.
- State of Texas witness attachment signed by clerk J. B. Gibson, one page, 8.5 x 7, March 2, 1891, in part: "You are commanded to take the body of Pat F. Garrett and bring him before the District Court of Reeves County, to be held at the Court House in Pecos City on the 2nd day of March 1891, then and there to testify as a Witness in behalf of the State of Texas in the case of The State of Texas vs. F. H. Mendenhall."
- Grand Jury indictment in the case of the State of Texas vs. F. H. Mendenhall, finding that Mendenhall, "without lawful authority, and with intent to injure and defraud, did willfully and fraudulently make a false instrument in writing purporting to be the act of another, to wit: P. F. Garrett, which said false instrument is to the tenor following: $50.00, El Paso, Texas, Mch 27th, 1890, The First National Bank of El Paso, Pay to F. H. Mendenhall, or bearer, Fifty Dollars, P. F. Garrett"…F. H. Mendenhall, on or about the 27th day of March A.D. 1890…did willfully, knowingly and fraudulently pass as true…a forged instrument." Signed at the conclusion in ink by W. D. McWhorter, foreman of the grand jury.
- First National Bank of El Paso check, as described in the indictment and presumably used as evidence in the case, fraudulently made out to Mendenhall and bearing Garrett's forged signature, March 27, 1890.
In overall very good to fine condition, with a complete horizontal separation to the grand jury document. Accompanied by a full letter of authenticity from JSA for Pat Garrett's autograph.
This item is Pre-Certified by PSA/DNA
Buy a third-party letter of authenticity for
(inquire for price)
*This item has been pre-certified by a trusted third-party authentication service, and by placing a bid on this item, you agree to accept the opinion of this authentication service. If you wish to have an opinion rendered by a different authenticator of your choosing, you must do so prior to your placing of any bid. RR Auction is not responsible for differing opinions submitted 30 days after the date of the sale.
