October 22-23, 2019 Extraordinary, Sporting & Collector Firearms
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 10/23/2019
John Wesley Hardin, known for his hair trigger temper, claimed to have killed 42 men when he was finally convicted of murder in Texas in 1878 and was sentenced to twenty-five years in prison. Records confirmed only 27. On one famous occasion in 1871, he killed a man for disturbing his sleep. When pounding on his hotel room wall failed to silence the offender, Hardin fired three bullets through the wall, killing the man instantly. While in prison, he studied law and after being pardoned in 1894, passed the Texas bar examination to practice law. After practicing law for short period in El Paso, Hardin was shot and killed in the Acme Saloon on the evening of August 19, 1895 by the father of El Paso lawman John Selman, Jr. because Harding had physically beaten his son. This lot consists of: (A) A nine of clovers playing card with multiple bullet holes, autographed in black ink "J.W. Hardin" and dated "July 4. 95". Although details of the event are unknown, Hardin apparently put on a display of his shooting prowess on the 4th of July, 1895. Reportedly 6 such examples dated July 4 are known. Included is a photo copy letter dated August 6, 1984, picturing the card and attesting to the source of the card. (B) Original tin-type image of Hardin contained in a paper holder/matte that is also autographed. Comes with letter from Southwest University, that in their opinion, photograph is Hardin. We have included two photocopies of Hardin that are nearly the exact same image. The autograph is in pencil on the matte. (C) "John W. Hardin Esq", business card. Accompanying the card is an undated, signed letter from Robert E. McNellis relating that he received the business card from Joe Hardin Clements, a distant cousin of John Wesley Hardin. Countersigned by a Texas Justice of the Peace. (D) Two poker chips from the Acme Saloon. The white chips are stamped in gold "Acme" on the fronts, and "R.B. Stevens Prop." on back. (E) Inked hotel receipt reading "Room & Board for John W. Hardin $8.50 at the Branbilt". (F) Pulp book dated 1896 " The Life of John Wesley Hardin". This autobiography was written by Hardin while in prison. Very few copies were printed with soft cover. (G) Newspaper "The Hondo Herald" dated August 22, 1895, reporting the Hardin's death three days earlier. The Hondo Anvil-Herald was a weekly newspaper with roots starting as early as 1886. Hondo Texas is in area of San Antonio. CONDITION: The playing card, business card and chips are in excellent condition, the paper mat on the photograph is soiled, receipt has been torn in half, newspaper is fragmented and book shows moderate cover wear. This is an incredible lot of Hardin related material with two autographs and an original tin-type of one of the most famous of all the old West desperadoes. Included is a plethora of photo copies of information and history of collection.