Description:

JOSEPHINE "JOSIE" EARP
(ca. 1861 - 1944) American actress and professional dancer, best known as the wife of Western lawman and gambler Wyatt Earp. Josie's first romance in Tombstone was with Wyatt's arch enemy, Sheriff Johnny Behan, whom she left when she discovered his philandering ways. By 1882, she had adopted the name of "Josephine Earp", although no official record of their marriage exists, and she was on the scene following the gunfight at the O.K. Corral. Although their marriage was contentious, they shared a life of mining, operating saloons, and even worked as a gambling team. Fine content A.L.S. "Mrs. Earp" with holograph transmittal envelope, 4pp. 8vo., Los Angeles, Aug. 2, 1911 to John H. Flood, the Earps' private secretary, confidante, and Wyatt Earp's biographer. On July 21, 1911 the 62-year-old ex-sheriff was arrested on charges of running a crooked faro game in a hotel auditorium. The charges are dropped thanks to sloppy police work, but Josie felt disgraced. She vents her feelings in this letter to Flood, then in Golanda, Az. In part: "...I am hoping every day to hear from you. Of course you know all about the trouble Mr. E. got mixed up in. I was just frantic...I am feeling some better. And Mr. E. well it is useless to tell you how he feels over the affair. Everything was put on to him just because he was Wyatt Earp. I am happy to say that it will all be proven that he is innocent...The Examiner has already had a nice piece on it...Some man from the Alexandria Hotel [scene of the crime]...wrote the Examiner a letter saying he knew Mr. Earp and was in Arizona during all of his trouble...we both feel dreadfully over it...His friends believe him innocent and for strangers who cares...This will teach him a lesson never again to enter a gaming club - unfortunately for him he had to be there when it was raided...". Fine condition.

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October 9, 2010 11:00 AM EDT
Stamford, CT, US

Alexander Historical Auctions LLC

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