Life And Adventures Of Ben Thompson, The Famous Texan. Including A Detailed And Authentic Statement Of His Birth, History, And Adventures, By One Who Has Known Him Since A Child

WILLIAM M. WALTON

Other works by WILLIAM M. WALTON

Publication: Published by the Author, 1884, Austin

First Edition. Original Wrappers missing. 229pp. Fourteen plates including Frontispiece. The "Exceedingly Rare" first edition of one of the classic western outlaw and gunmen books. "This is the life story, taken from his own lips, of one of the most notorious lawmen and gunmen who ever lived...Floyd Streeter, mentioning Hickok, Earp, Masterson, Hardin, and Billy the Kid, stated: 'While every one of these men was brave beyond question and made an excellent record, Ben Thompson was the most dangerous in deadly combat with a pistol...He engaged in more deadly encounters with a pistol than any other gunmen then living and won every battle but the last. This record made him the most feared fighter of his day'...In 1882, while Thompson was city marshal of Austin and Walton a leading criminal lawyer, the two men began working on the story of Thompson's life. When Thompson was gunned down in San Antonio two years later, Walton finished the text and had it printed...Very few copies were printed and fewer sold...Walton's narrative, which in effect is Thompson's autobiography, is therefore the most important record of this contradictory man. It is naturally sympathetic, but it presents the case for Thompson with factual accuracy even though its conclusions are biased in his favor. It is perhaps the most important contemporary account of any Western gunman."--John H. Jenkins, Basic Texas Books 210. Six-Guns 2302: "exceedingly rare and exceedingly high in price when one is fortunate enough to locate a copy."(1954). This is the only copy that we have ever seen! The original wrappers are missing. The frontispiece is detached but present. The text block is lightly tanned, but clean and tight. Protected in a custom quarter-leather slipcase with title, author, place and year of publication in gilt on spine.

Inventory Number: 53872