GARRETT, Patrick Floyd, Lawman. Autograph letter signed (''P.F. Garrett'') to Henry J. Bowles, El Paso, Texas, 1 March 1902. 4 pages, 4to, in ink on rectos only of four sheets of stationery of the Customs Service, Office of the Collector. Fine.

GARRETT, Patrick Floyd, Lawman. Autograph letter signed ("P.F. Garrett") to Henry J. Bowles, El Paso, Texas, 1 March 1902. 4 pages, 4to, in ink on rectos only of four sheets of stationery of the Customs Service, Office of the Collector. Fine.

"ACTRESSES" IN EL PASO, AND RANCHING PROSPECTS

A fine, rather racy letter referring to "actresses" and ranching, written 21 years after the shooting of Billy the Kid, after Garrett had been appointed Customs collector in El Paso by Theodore Roosevelt. He asks Bowles to "look over me not writing on the ground[s] that I have been very busy...Writing about being so busy causes me to think of what a friend wrote me the other day, he said that he was as busy as an actress with twins. In speaking of actresses makes me wonder if you are as good as you should be...[I] will say for myself that there are many good actresses here in El Paso, but I have experienced a change of conduct as well as of life, I hope you are not bothered with such & such affliction." Concerning the purchase of a ranch he advises that "I cant call to mind just now a place that would suit you, but will try and look up something. Write and let me know about what size ranch you would want, it will suit me a little later to go in with you but, I think we could [find] a location in New Mexico that would be better than Old Mexico. Come and see me some time and we look the ranch business over." Garrett later bought a ranch which failed. In severe financial straits he decided to sell the ranch, but was murdered when the deal went sour in 1908.