2008-09
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 8/31/2008
CROCKETT, David (1786-1836) American frontiersman who served under Andrew Jackson in the Creek War, later served in the House of Representatives. Crockett, an expert marksman, met his end at the fabled Alamo. Autograph letter signed "David Crocket," (with flourish) to Mr. Jacob Dixon, "House of Representatives, 11 April 1834. 1-1/2 pages, to “Mr. Jacob Dixon,” 4to, small ink-stamp of Dr. Max Thorek in blank corner of page 1, minor repairs along some folds, small hole affecting two words text. A letter penned in obvious haste vividly expressing Crockett's wrath over a financial matter involving a game of faro, a game, very popular with gamblers. In full, “Sir, You asked me to assign my name on a note for two hundred dollars. I then thought you to be good and I put my name on the note and you afterwards told me that you had destroyed the note and made no use of it and I never knew any better until I received a notice from the bank that the note was protested. I then went to you and you told me that you had seen Mr. Kerworth and settled it. I tell you that I will be damned if you do not settle it immediately if I dont go right strait to Court and informe against you for dealing farrow. You know that I saw you deal farrow your self one night when the Cardes did not slip well in the Box your son and Mr. Brown was dealing and you took the Box and delt. I can prove this by other witnesses. Now I tell you to go and settle this as you know you have got a great deal of money from me for nothing and I will not be imposed on in this way. I have written plain and I will act as plain with you if you do not settle this note I will be damned if I dont give you the bennefit of the law. Yours in hast, David Crockett." It is important to note that faro was dealt from a manufactured card shoe to asure the players that the game was “honest.” In this letter Crockett clearly states that the cards “did not slip well in the Box” a not so subltle accusation of cheating. The letter was written during Crockett's last term in Congress (1833-1835). Later in April he began an extensive tour through the North, visiting Baltimore, Philadelphia, New York and Boston. When he failed to win re-election to another term in Congress he made the fateful decision to leave Tennessee for Texas. And ironically, Dixon was the author of “The Poetical Works of Jacob Dixon; Containing Divination Overruled, and the True God Exalted: An Epic Poem in Four Parts: Also Miscellaneous Pieces, Moral and Religious.”
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