Description:

Good pair of original printed "Wanted" broadsides, both seeking information related to Jake Fleagle, a member of the "Fleagle Gang" of bank robbers and murderers. The larger poster, 25 1/2" x 8", Presents a large, chest-up b/w portrait of Fleagle, offering a $4,000 reward for information leading to his arrest. Below appears an unusual full-frontal and profile illustration of Fleagle, with numerous defining physical characteristics labeled and described. The poster goes on to give a very detailed description of his appearance and demeanor: "...General appearance of face rather sad. Has excellent control of expression typical of a professional gambler... Knows how to dummy up and is con-wise having done a stretch in the Oklahoma pen... Fleagle is a professional gambler. He is also an easy mark for women and is known to HIT THE PIPE - smokes opium... Fleagle is a wanton killer and if cornered will be a dangerous and vicious man to handle. He is known to have committed a number of bank an payroll stick ups and now that he has been listed as wanted will be more dangerous than ever in his operations..." The notice is signed in type at the bottom by Lamar, Colorado sheriff L.E. Alderman. Also present is a second broadside, 8" square, presenting a full set of Fleagle's fingerprints and a mugshot photo, giving an abridged description of his appearance and personal information. Perforations at the bottom edge of this example, and at the top edge of the larger poster described above, indicate that they were likely distributed as one piece and separated for display. Both show folds and minute chips to the edges, else very good. The "Fleagle Gang", headed by Jake and his brother Ralph, perpetrated a series of bank robberies over a ten year period, culminating in a particularly vicious heist at the First National Bank in Lamar, Colorado on May 23, 1928. During the robbery, a member of their crew was shot and wounded by the bank manager, who was in turn killed by the gang, along with his son. The gang escaped with cash, bonds and two hostages, one of whom was released and the other later killed. The gang deceived a doctor into treating their wounded compatriot, and subsequently shot him and disposed of his body and car in a ravine. A single fingerprint belonging to Jake Fleagle was later recovered from the doctor's car, and the gang's trial became the first in which a lone fingerprint was used to secure a conviction. Jake Fleagle was killed in a shootout with police aboard a train in Branson, Missouri, during a manhunt following the hanging of his brother Ralph.

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February 19, 2019 10:00 AM EST
Elkton, MD, US

Alexander Historical Auctions LLC

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Bid Increments
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$100 $499 $20
$500 $999 $50
$1,000 $1,999 $100
$2,000 $4,999 $250
$5,000 $9,999 $500
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$20,000 $49,999 $2,500
$50,000 $99,999 $5,000
$100,000 + $10,000