Three-Page Hand-Written Letter Dated September 14, 1867 - An Account Of A Shootout By One Of The Participants

RANSONE, JULIAN [LETTER WRITER]

Publication: Letter written by Julian Ransone, 1867, Blakely, Georgia

This three-page handwritten letter dated September 14, 1867, from Julian Ransone of Blakely, Georgia to James K. Markey, Plantersville, Texas. Ransone starts by expressing concerns for Markey's safety in Texas. It states: “We are in fear for you. Such lamentable accounts of Galveston and the whole Texas coast…” It then delves into a rather convoluted account of a land swap gone bad which was the genesis of the subsequent events. This resulted in a shootout between himself and a Dr. Christian. Ransone describes the gunfight in vivid detail stating: “…. I went into Blakely about 11 o’clock at night. I was standing with Dr. Ewell on the porch of his drug store when Christian came up….He said (having his pistol in his hand drawn) ‘is the Capt. Ransone?’ and fired immediately the ball struck me in the right hip….I walked down the steps towards him; he fired again shooting me through the leg just above the left ankle. When I stepped on the ground, I drew my pistol….at the same instant Christian jumped behind a tree. I said to him ‘come out from behind there you d----d cowardly scoundrel and let us square this matter up’; he poked his pistol around the side of the tree and fired the third shot [flashing] by my cheek and neck. I bent my arm around the tree and fired; he shuffled away to another tree about 20 feet off; as he went around it I fired at him and as he peeped from the opposite side I fired again; he ran from this tree home and as he ran I fired three more shots after him….it was found that I had shot Christian through the right chest twice which astonished me greatly for the scoundrel ran so I did not think that I had touched him….” A civil case was filed against Ransone for libel and the “intelligent jury promptly returned a verdict for $6,000. Fortunately, they cannot find my money as easily as they do a verdict. Next April I am to be tried on the criminal side of the Court for libel and for ‘shooting at another!’ At the same time Christian will be tried for ‘attempt at murder’.” A rare first-person account of a shootout by one of the participants. The handwriting is legible and except for the creases the letter is in very good condition. Also present is the original addressed and stamped envelope.

Inventory Number: 52793