Various

As a preface to “Books on Western Gunmen,” by Guy J. Giffen, in the Quarterly NEWS-LETTER of the Book Club of California, an editorial note states that not the least interesting subdivision of Americana is that relating to the bandits and gunmen of the Old West. The extensive literature on the subject offers a tempting field to collectors with a taste for the history and legend surrounding this phase of the Winning of the West. Mr. Giffen’s extensive library of books on Western outlaws is the result of a hobby of years’ standing.

Mr. Giffen’s article maintains that any well-rounded collection of Western Americana should have a division of books on gunmen, and mentions a number of men and titles that will serve as a general guide to their selection. Of particular interest are the books on Murrieta. “Joaquin Murrieta, the Brigand Chief of California” was published by the CALIFORNIA POLICE GAZETTE in 1854, and is now very rare, only two copies being known, both in private collections. According to Franklin Walker as set forth in “San Francisco’s Literary Frontier,” John Rollin Ridge, partly of Indian blood, who came to San Francisco in 1850, furnished the GAZETTE with much of its source material when he wrote “The Life and Adventures of Joaquin Murrieta, the Celebrated California Bandit.” In 1859, the GAZETTE reprinted the story with additions but also in this instance, only two copies are known to have survived. Of the many later treatments of Murrieta, one of the best is “The Life and Adventures of the Celebrated Bandit Joaquin Murrieta,” translated from the Spanish of Ireno Paz, by Frances P. Belle. (Chicago, 1925).

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This is a readable account of his exploits, but it credits him with superhuman ability, and relates incidents that could not have happened. In Mr. Giffen’s belief, Murrieta’s true history has not yet been told and at this late date, it is unlikely that it ever will be. It may be interesting to collectors of Murrietana, to note that in 1880, a play was produced at the Adelphi Variety Theatre, San Francisco, purporting to picture the life of Murrieta. It was called “The Scarlet IX.”

Stories of two California bandits of a much later date, Evans and Sontag, are related in “The 25th Man”, published in 1924. The author, Ed Morrell, gives a readable account of his experiences with these outlaws, bearing however a bit heavily on the first person. The exploits of Evans and Sontag were also offered to the public in dramatic form, at the National Theatre, San Francisco, in the early nineties, some of the bandit’s children having been engaged as a sort of “added attraction.”

C. B. Glasscock’s “Bandits and the Southern Pacific” (New York, 1929) is also an interesting narrative. “Old Waybills”, by Alvin F. Harlow (New York, 1934) while primarily concerned with the pioneer express companies, gives entertaining accounts of Black Bart, Jesse and Frank James, Sam Bass and the Daltons, and indicates a sincere effort to gather the facts. The books of Owen P. White have added much to present-day popular knowledge of the outstanding killers and peace officers of the Old West. His “Them Was the Days” (New York, 1925), “Trigger Fingers” (New York, 1926), and “Lead and Likker” (New York, 1932) make exciting reading and present a true picture so far as the truth can now be known. “Triggernometry” by Eugene Cunningham (New York, 1935) is another sincere endeavor to treat the gunmen as human beings rather than supermen.

Returning to books about individual bandits, one of the best is “Wild Bill Hickok—Prince of Pistoleers”, by Frank J. Wilstach (New York, 1928), this work also containing many illustrations of more than passing interest. “Wild Bill” (James Butler) Hickok has been much written about. Probably the best account of his connection with the famous McCanlas affair was published in the NEBRASKA HISTORY MAGAZINE for April-June, 1927. In it, the story of Colonel Nichols, published previously in HARPER’S MAGAZINE of February, 1867 (and copied practically by every biographer of Hickok) is disproved.

Of nineteen volumes dealing with the James gang, “The Rise and Fall of Jesse James,” by Robertus Love (New York, 1925) seems the most thorough and unbiased biography. An important and scarce James item is “The Trial of Frank James for Murder,” by George Miller, Jr., privately printed in Missouri in 1898. It gives in detail information not to be found elsewhere. The list could go on indefinitely, for the period of the gunmen extended from the Civil War to the middle 90’s, and the literature on the subject is limitless. Much of it, of course, is lurid, sensational material, written solely for entertainment and with no claim to historical accuracy. But there are also many more pretentious works: good, bad and indifferent. Many otherwise excellent biographies of Western gunmen are marred by the fact that the author’s treatment is colored by his admiration or contempt for his subject. But, perhaps, that is a failing of biographers in general.