Raynors HCA 2017-02
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 2/23/2017
Heck Thomas, (January 3, 1850-August 14, 1912) was a lawman on the American frontier, most notably in Oklahoma. In August 1896, Thomas led a posse that tracked down and killed outlaw Bill Doolin, who had previously been captured by Tilghman, only to escape from prison, on July 5, 1896. Important partially printed document signed by U. S. Marshall “P.S. Nagle” July 14, 1896 being a voucher for payment to Bert Cunningham of Gutherie Oklahoma Territory for “7 days services as posse comitatus from July 5 to July 11, 1896 at $8 per day.” Cunningham swears that he “employed ... by Heck Thomas ... as one of his posse comitatus to assist in executing the following Capias Writs, to-wit Bill Doolin, Dynamite Dick and others ...” U.S. Commissioner George W. Buckner swears to the statement. Marshall P.S. Nagle also signs certifying the affidavits. The 8-1/4” x 14-1/2” document is VG. In January 1896, the famous lawman Bill Tilghman single-handedly captured Doolin at Eureka Springs, Arkansas. The outlaw, who was at the springs to take in the medicinal waters, was caught by surprise, and Tilghman arrested him peacefully. Jailed at Guthrie, Oklahoma, while awaiting trial, Doolin escaped on July 5, 1896. Doolin was chased down by the Heck Thomas posse and killed Auguct 24, 1896. Likely that this Bert Cunningham was part of that posse. As an interesting fact, At the beginning of the American Civil War, Thomas, at the age of twelve, accompanied as a courier his uncle, Edward Lloyd Thomas, and his father, who were officers in the 35th Georgia Infantry, to the battlefields in Virginia. On September 1, 1862, Union General Philip Kearny was killed at the Battle of Chantilly, Young "Heck" was entrusted with the general's horse and equipment and was ordered by Confederate General Robert E. Lee to take them through the lines to General Kearny's widow.
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