Original Photograph Of Crawford "Cherokee Bill" Goldsby

E. D. MACFEE-PHOTOGRAPHER

Publication: E D Macfee, 1895, Wagoner, Indian Territory

Original Photograph of "Cherokee Bill" and the Posse that captured him. Cabinet Card. Image: 5.375"x3.875". Mount: 6.5"x4.25". Mount has scalloped edges. This photograph was taken in Wagoner, Indian Territory on January 29, 1895. There are townsfolk at the edges and background of the image, but the focal point is "Cherokee Bill" Crawford Goldsby, surrounded by 5 Marshals, Deputies, and posse members. On the verso of this Cabinet Card is a lengthy, detailed account of "Cherokee Bill's" capture and the specific roles of each of the 5 captors that appear in the image, entitled: "Betrayal and Capture of Cherokee Bill". U.S.Marshal Ike Rogers, an acquaintance of Cherokee Bill lured Bill and his girlfriend to Roger's home for dinner and to spend the night. The next day Rogers hit Bill with a fireplace iron, then Rogers, Clint Scales, and Rogers wife jumped on Bill and were able to temporarily get him in handcuffs, and ultimately under guard of their Winchesters. They took Bill to 5 miles by wagon to Nowata, where he was taken under the control of U.S. Marshal Bill Smith. They went by train to Wagoner, where this photograph was taken by a local photographer, before moving on to Fort Smith. To "Cherokee Bill's" right stands Marshal Dick Crittendon, flanked by his brother and posse member, Zeke Crittendon. To Bill's left stands posse member Clint Scales, Marshal Ike Rogers (who Bill refused to allow to stand next to him), and U.S. Marshal Bill Smith. After much more trouble from "Cherokee Bill" in jail in Fort Smith, Bill was ultimately hung on March 17, 1896. Feeling that Bill had been betrayed by acquaintance/friend Marshal Ike Rogers, Bill's brother Clarence Goldsby shot and killed Ike Rogers on April 20, 1897. The account printed on the back of the mount is interesting and entertaining. Printed at end of the account is "Copyrighted by E. D. Macfee,...", with the ed in copyrighted crossed out and "applied for" handwritten in ink...indicative of an early imprint of this image. Image shows some minor fading, else in near fine condition. Provenance: From the Collection of Robert G. McCubbin.

Inventory Number: 53277