AL JENNINGS GANG ROBS A TRAIN
Pair of 1897-98 letters pertaining to a train robbery committed by the Al Jennings Gang, includes: an A.L.S. 2pp. 4to., Shawnee, Ok., Nov. 15, 1897 in which Dep. U.S. Marshal N. M. Douglass writes U.S. Marshal C. H. Thompson. In part: "...I have served warrants in my possession for the train robbers. I suppose they will be all right if I can execute them...I heard today that they were in the neighborhood of Keokuk Falls Saturday...". In his postscript, Douglass asks for blankets and a sum in order to post a bond. C. H. "Canada" Thompson was a well-known marshal and agent for the Rock Island Railroad. The second letter is a T.L.S. on Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railway Co. letterhead, 1p. 4to., Apr. 16, 1898 also to Thompson: "...please send me a list showing the amounts collected from the government by employees sent to Guthrie to identify ("Dynamite") Dick West, in order that we may audit their claims...". On Oct. 1, 1897 the Jennings Gang attempted a bold robbery of the railroad's station at Purcell, Ok. Twice they attempted to blow the safe in an express car, and having failed, they robbed passengers. The gang was captured a month later, with "Dynamite" Dick West killed in a different shoot-out. First letter bears a small hole in text and tiny chips at margins, else both are very good.