217 p. Illustrated with photographs. Uncut and partially unopened. 8vo. Original cloth spine over yellow paper covered boards. Lightly rubbed at extremities. Original priced dust jacket, lightly rubbed at extremities. Insert card with compliments of the publisher. Ben Thompson (1843-1884) was a gunman, gambler, and sometime lawman of the Old West. He was a contemporary of Wyatt Earp, Buffalo Bill Cody, Doc Holliday, John Wesley Hardin and James Butler "Wild Bill" Hickock. Thompson had a colorful career, fighting with the Confederates during the Civil War, and in Mexico under the Emperor, before being imprisoned at the age of 25 for severely injuring his brother-in-law, who had physically abused Thompson's wife. After his release, Thompson made his name as a gunman and a gambler in Texas and Kansas. After he was hired in 1881 as Marshal in Austin, Texas, the crime rate dropped sharply during his term. He was murdered at the age of 40 in San Antonio on March 11, 1884 during the Vaudeville Theater Ambush. Adams. Six Guns #2154. Hardbound. Very good. Scarce original edition. W8RtFront
