Narrative Of Edward Mcgowan Including A Full Account Of The Author's Adventures And Perils While Persecuted By The San Francisco Vigilance Committee Of 1856

EDWARD MCGOWAN

Publication: Published by the author, 1857, San Francisco

First edition. 12mo. Original pictorial wrappers, viii, [9] - 240 pp., introduction, eight full-page illustrations [rather than the normally collated seven] and one text illustration. The 1857 edition is "exceedingly rare" according to Six Guns 1408. A gripping account of Edward McGowan's adventures and perils while persecuted Sby the San Francisco Vigilance Committee by who he was indicted for his involvement in the killing of James King in 1856. This account also has a report of his trial which resulted in his acquittal. Ned McGowan was one of the truly colorful characters of early California. Six Guns 1408 says "Scarce." "Contains some material on Jack Powers, with whom the author hid out when the vigilance committee was after him." Wheat Gold Rush 132 says, "The 'other side' of the San Francisco Vigilance Committee of 1856. Ned McGowan escaped from the Committee amid many exciting and astonishing adventures. The reprint published by Thomas C. Russell [San Francisco, 1917] is now almost as hard to come by as the original." Graff 2611 says, "Ned McGowan, as his Narrative proves, and as Carl I. Wheat indicates in his continuation of the work, was a prime rascal, one of the truly colorful characters in California during the middle of the last century." Eberstadt 106: 109a says: "The story, by one of the chief figures of the San Francisco feuds and violence in which Casey, the Kings, Lewis, District Attorney Byrne and other noted men were involved, it is written with the utmost frankness and fearlessness. It is one of the few original prime sources on this important chapter of early California history." Spine panel professionally reinforced, else a solid and tight very good copy housed in a cloth chemise and placed into a quarter leather and cloth clamshell case with raised bands and titles stamped in gilt on the spine.

Inventory Number: 50630