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THOMAS, Henry Andrew 'Heck' (1850-1912).
U.S. Marshal, one of the 'Three Guardsmen'.
Document Signed ("Heck Thomas"), four additional times in third person in the text, partly printed and accomplished in autograph, Western District of Arkansas, March 25, 1890. Comprising 3 pages folio and 1 page, 7 x 3 in., each separate page bearing a signature. The documents are Indian Territory Arrest Expense Sheets for the arrests of Martha Taylor -- Assault, Bobby Newman -- Larceny, Charles Emmonson -- Larceny, all of whom were arrested by the legendary Heck Thomas at Fort Gibson Indian Territory. Thomas was paid $2 per day and 10 cents a mile for pursuing, capturing, and returning the prisoners to 'Hanging Judge' Isaac Parker's court at Fort Smith. A superb item demonstrating how U.S. Marshals risked their lives for $2 a day in the Indian Territory, reining in the anarchy on the Western frontier.
The great Marshal began his career well enough. His parents intended he become a Methodist Minister. Instead he ran away as a boy and served in Thomas 'Stonewall' Jackson's Brigade as a special courier. After the war he entered law enforcement, and was perhaps one of the few if not the only peace officer who was not up to moonlighting outside of the law. After his stint capturing criminals for Parker's court, he moved on to Oklahoma where he spent long days trailing the Dalton and Doolin gangs. In 1893 he was assigned to help Bill Tilghman tame 'Hell's Half Acre', the tempestuous boom town of Perry, which had 110 saloons and 25,000 rowdy citizens. During a three-year period the U.S. Marshal arrested more than 300 wanted men and became one of the 'Three Guardsmen' along with Bill Tilghman and Chris Madsen. Extremely rare.
Provenance: Ronald J. Atlas Collection.
U.S. Marshal, one of the 'Three Guardsmen'.
Document Signed ("Heck Thomas"), four additional times in third person in the text, partly printed and accomplished in autograph, Western District of Arkansas, March 25, 1890. Comprising 3 pages folio and 1 page, 7 x 3 in., each separate page bearing a signature. The documents are Indian Territory Arrest Expense Sheets for the arrests of Martha Taylor -- Assault, Bobby Newman -- Larceny, Charles Emmonson -- Larceny, all of whom were arrested by the legendary Heck Thomas at Fort Gibson Indian Territory. Thomas was paid $2 per day and 10 cents a mile for pursuing, capturing, and returning the prisoners to 'Hanging Judge' Isaac Parker's court at Fort Smith. A superb item demonstrating how U.S. Marshals risked their lives for $2 a day in the Indian Territory, reining in the anarchy on the Western frontier.
The great Marshal began his career well enough. His parents intended he become a Methodist Minister. Instead he ran away as a boy and served in Thomas 'Stonewall' Jackson's Brigade as a special courier. After the war he entered law enforcement, and was perhaps one of the few if not the only peace officer who was not up to moonlighting outside of the law. After his stint capturing criminals for Parker's court, he moved on to Oklahoma where he spent long days trailing the Dalton and Doolin gangs. In 1893 he was assigned to help Bill Tilghman tame 'Hell's Half Acre', the tempestuous boom town of Perry, which had 110 saloons and 25,000 rowdy citizens. During a three-year period the U.S. Marshal arrested more than 300 wanted men and became one of the 'Three Guardsmen' along with Bill Tilghman and Chris Madsen. Extremely rare.
Provenance: Ronald J. Atlas Collection.