EXTRAORDINARY DOCUMENTED COLT MODEL 1860 ARMY PERCUSSION REVOLVER, BELT & HOLSTER RIG THAT BELONGED TO FAMOUS BANK & TRAIN ROBBER JESSE JAMES.

Revised: 10/5/2009

Additional Information:

1. Please note, in our description we state that “Nannie” was the wife of Frank James. That’s not correct, she was Babe Hudspeth’s wife. She was Nannie Ragland Hudspeth and thus it makes perfect sense that her name would appear on the top of the belt keeper since Babe owned this rig for approximately 30 years.

2. It was noted in our description that Babe Hudspeth was born on May 15th, that is incorrect; he was born on January 15th.

3. It is noted in the catalog description that the consignor (Mr. James Elsea) was a direct descendant of Jesse James. This is not correct. He was a direct descendent of Babe Hudspeth, who originally owned the gun rig and family lineage to Hudspeth is clearly documented in the provenance.

4. Some documentation provided to us states Jesse was a cousin of the Hudspeth’s. We have been told by one source there is no family link. Thus at this time, we only guarantee that the consignor is a descendant of Babe Hudspeth, who received the gun rig from Jesse’s wife.

EXTRAORDINARY DOCUMENTED COLT MODEL 1860 ARMY PERCUSSION REVOLVER, BELT & HOLSTER RIG THAT BELONGED TO FAMOUS BANK & TRAIN ROBBER JESSE JAMES. SN 13725. Cal. 44. Revolver is a standard early Colt Model 1860 Army (produced in 1861) with 8″ rnd bbl, German silver front sight and 1-line New-York U.S. America address. Left side of frame has “COLTS PATENT”. Frame is 4-screw type cut for shoulder stock with flat head hammer screw and the heel of the backstrap milled for the stock attachment. Extended stock screws were replaced during period of use. It has a brass trigger guard and steel backstrap containing a 1-pc walnut grip. Trigger guard has scratched initials “G” in front of trigger bow, “M” inside trigger bow and “F” behind trigger bow. Buttstrap is inscribed the same way. The belt is about 39″ long x 1-5/8″ from of a sgl layer of leather that is very highly tooled in 19th century designs. It has a very distinctive silver tip with a lightly engraved edge with a dbl hook on the opposite end which corresponds to a bar in the buckle. The hook end of the belt has a 3/4″ wide silver band to which the hooks are attached through the belt with both hooks being very old repairs. Back side of this silver band is hand-scratched “–SSE –AMES” showing heavy wear and damage from the repairs having obliterated the missing letters. The belt buckle, as previously mentioned, is very distinctive, 3″ long x 2-3/4″ high with engraved edges and a fine border pattern around the opening. The buckle material is a thin silver sheet, slightly curved, over an iron frame with two prongs used to engage the corresponding holes in the belt. The belt keeper is of the same weight silver material 1-13/16″ long x 11/16″ at the widest point and 3/4″ wide over the back. It has engraved edges on the face with scalloped file work. The rear of the belt keeper is hand-scratched, signature-style “Jess- W James”. Some of the letters are very faint and all shows moderate to heavy wear. Front of the keeper is hand-scratched “NANNIE”. The “N”s in “NANNIE” are all backwards. It is known that a paramour of William Quantill was named “Nannie” and that she was not adverse to also consorting with the troops. Another “Nannie” became Frank James’ wife in later years. Holster is early dbl loop-style and fits this revolver very well. It is made of one piece of belting weight leather about 11″ long from top fold of skirt to tip of holster with a 9-1/4″ skirt that has a pointed end and has two narrow loops. The rear edge and toe of the holster are sewn. Over the many years the James Julia Auction Company has been selling firearms we have been offered firearms and accessories that were alleged or partially documented to numerous famous, near famous and some not so famous personalities from history. It is extremely rare when an item is offered with as nearly rock solid provenance as is this lot. This revolver, belt & holster rig has remained with the descendants of the Jesse James family since he was assassinated in 1882. Jesse Woodson James was born Sept. 5, 1847 in Clay County, Missouri. He had an older brother, Frank and a sister. His father, a minister, left soon after Jesse was born to go to California to “minister” to the 49er miners. He died in California when Jesse was three. His mother, Zerelda, remarried to Ruben Samuel with whom she had four more children. At the outbreak of the Civil War the James/Samuel family sided with the Confederacy with Frank soon joining on the Confederate side. Frank became ill early on and returned to Missouri where, after he recovered, he joined a small guerrilla band operating in their neighborhood. Sometime in about 1863/64 the Union Army sent a force to try to capture Frank’s group and came to the Samuel farm searching for them. They briefly hanged Mr. Samuel and allegedly whipped Jesse, to no avail. Frank escaped and in 1864 he and 16 year old Jesse joined the notorious Confederate raider and guerrilla fighter Bloody Bill Anderson. Apparently they didn’t stay with Anderson very long before joining the more notorious William Quantrill. The James Boys, along with three of their cousins, Robert Hudspeth, Rufus Hudspeth & William Napoleon “Babe” Hudspeth all rode with Quantrill until at least January 1865. It is unclear when the James Boys returned home but it is known that at that date January 1865 that the three Hudspeth boys left Quantrill and returned to Missouri. Another cousin, Lamartine Hudspeth maintained a farm in the area of the James/Samuel place and was later to play a role in supplying them with horses and sanctuary. Frank & Jesse James and Babe & Rufus Hudspeth were with Bloody Bill Anderson at the battle & massacre at Centralia, Missouri on Sept. 27, 1864. That morning Anderson led about 80 guerrillas, some dressed in stolen Union Army uniforms, into Centralia to cut off the North Missouri Railroad. The guerrillas looted the town, blocked the rail line, stopped an approaching train and overran it. There were about 125 passengers on board which were separated into civilian and soldier groups. The soldiers were stripped of their uniforms and when Anderson called for an officer, Sgt. Thomas Goodman bravely stepped forward, expecting to be shot. Instead, Anderson’s men ignored Goodman and shot the others, then mutilated and scalped the bodies. The guerrillas then set fire to the train and sent it down the tracks after which they torched the depot and rode out of town. About 3 p.m. that same afternoon, 155 men of the newly formed 39th Missouri Infantry Regiment (mounted), rode into Centralia in pursuit. This force soon encountered the guerrillas and decided to dismount and fight on foot. The Federal recruits with single-shot muzzle loaders were no match for the guerrillas with their revolvers. Of the 155 Union soldiers in this regiment, 123 were killed that afternoon. According to well-known history, in addition to carbines & shotguns, the guerrillas usually had at least two revolvers and some with as many as four or five on or about their persons most of the time and would have been able to present a formidable wall of lead. When the Confederacy surrendered Jesse was still riding as a guerrilla under the command of Archie Clement, one of Quantill’s lieutenants, while Frank had ridden to Kentucky with Quantrill. Clement’s group was apparently trying to decide their next course of action when they encountered a Union patrol and Jesse was severely wounded with two bullets in the chest. Jesse was returned to his uncle’s boarding house where he was attended by his cousin, Zerelda Mimms, who was named after Jesse’s mother. Jesse & Zerelda were later to marry. Jesse recovered from his wounds and, as the saying goes, the rest is history. Jesse & Frank and the Younger Boys with various other occasional members formed a gang and robbed trains & banks over the next sixteen or so years. After the fiasco at Northfield, Minnesota where the gang was badly shot up with three being killed and the others wounded, only Frank & Jesse escaped the law and the gang was never the same afterward, with the new members they recruited. During the course of the criminal career of Frank & Jesse and various members of their gang, they would frequently stop by various family members’ homes for food, rest or horses. Family history relates that Lamartine Hudspeth, cousin to Jesse & Frank, who owned a farm in the area, always kept fresh horses in the stable should they be needed. Frequently he would come out in the morning to feed the animals and find the fresh horses gone and hard ridden, tired horses in their places. Other members of the James/Hudspeth/Samuel extended family were also frequently called on for food, shelter or horses for members of the gang. As in all things there is an end and so it is with Jesse & Frank James. Jesse was assassinated by Bob Ford on April 3, 1882 in his own home which leads us to the family history, most of it well-documented, regarding the Colt Model 1860 revolver, belt & holster rig being sold here. When Jesse was killed his wife Zerelda notified his cousins Rufus, Babe & Lamartine Hudspeth who were living near Lake City, Missouri, of Jesse’s death and asked them to come assist with the funeral. They immediately drove to St. Joseph, Missouri to help Zerelda and were called on to identify the body. After the funeral Zerelda told the Hudspeth Boys that “Jesse’s trunk was hid in the attic and that Jesse would want them to have it”, that there were some of Jesse’s things in it. When they returned to Lake City they looked into the trunk (which is being sold immediately following this lot) and discovered this Colt revolver, belt & holster rig. Consignor states that he recalls that he was told that Jesse’s old Confederate uniform was also in the trunk but that it was moth-eaten and unusable so it was thrown away. Babe Hudspeth took possession of the Colt, belt & holster rig with Rufus taking the trunk. Rufus died in 1895 and the trunk was passed down through his family eventually to consignor’s niece who has consigned it to be sold following the Colt. Before Babe Hudspeth died he gave the Colt, belt & holster rig to consignor’s grandfather, Robert R. Elsea, who passed away in 1924. In about 1938 consignor’s father asked consignor’s grandmother if he could have Jesse’s gun to which she agreed. Consignor states that he remembers as a child, often seeing “the gun” in a bedroom dresser drawer was told “don’t you boys touch Jesse James’ gun”. In 1938 when consignor’s father took possession of the Colt he was living in Wetumka, Oklahoma and removed the Colt to that town with him. In about 1940 consignor’s father moved to Henderson, Nevada where he lived for the next thirty years or so working at a defense plant during the war and later as a deputy sheriff. He also owned “The Victory Club” in Henderson, NV which he sold in 1969. Consignor states that Jesse’s gun & rig were displayed in the club until too many customers insisted on buying it, so his father removed it and put it into a lockbox in the Bank of Nevada. In 1969 consignor’s father moved to Independence, Missouri and left Jesse’s gun & rig in the bank vault in Nevada. In 1973 he moved back to Wetumka, OK and in 1974 asked his stepdaughter and her husband to bring Jesse’s gun to him. They complied, which is attested to by sworn affidavit, and he put the gun & rig into the vault in Holdenville, OK. Consignor’s father passed away in March 2002 with the gun & rig still in the vault in Holdenville. In 2005 consignor’s stepmother Rozelle Elsea, after serious illness had given power of attorney to her eldest daughter, Jodell Kilcrease. While visiting his stepmother in a nursing home in 2005, Jodell said “Jesse’s gun was still in the vault and that it rightfully belonged to me”. She said the next time I was back there I could pick it up from the bank vault. Consignor states he took possession of the Colt & rig in November 2006 and that it has remained in his possession until being consigned to this auction. Also accompanying this lot is a signed notarized statement from Jodell Kilcrease identifying herself as the stepdaughter of Robert R. Elsea (and therefore the stepsister of consignor) and states that on Nov. 8, 2006 she and consignor went to the bank vault in Holdenville, Oklahoma and she relinquished possession of this Colt revolver, belt & holster rig, which she identified by serial number. She also gave a brief statement regarding the history of the items which coincides with the history above. Another notarized affidavit is from Roberta Ruth Elsea of Lee’s Summit, Missouri, wherein she states that she owns a Hudspeth family Bible dated 1868 which was given to her by Frances Miller Elsea, consignor’s mother on Dec. 25, 1984 and that the orig picture of Babe Hudspeth and his cousin, Oscar Thompson was in the Bible when she received it and that on Aug. 20, 2007 she gave this picture to consignor. Additionally accompanying this lot is a 3-ring binder containing a large volume of historic and family genealogical information proving beyond any reasonable doubt that the consignor is a direct descendant from the Hudspeth family and is directly related to Jesse James through his mother, Mary Frances Miller, through the Massie Woodson and Mims (or Mimms) line and through his father, Robert R. Elsea, who was the son of Robert R. Elsea & Mary Amanda Hudspeth who helped to raise consignor. Consignor states in part of his family narrative that there is a family photo that he currently cannot locate, which shows consignor’s father as a baby sitting on Frank James lap. Consignor states that the photograph was taken in the house where he was born and that the house still stands. This lot, most importantly is accompanied by the orig CDV-sized photograph of two men in period clothing with one having a beard and wearing a frock, coat who can clearly be seen wearing this exact belt, with holster mounted backwards. The reverse of the photo is inscribed “Cousin Oscar Thompson” on one side behind the gentleman on the right in the photo and the other side is inscribed “Uncle Babe Hudspeth”. The photograph was taken at Winans’ Photography Rooms, Independence, Missouri and is so printed on the back. Given the absolute historical family connection to the James family with this set never having left possession of the Hudspeth descendants, there can be no doubt whatsoever that this is an authentic Jesse James owned and used Colt, belt & holster rig and the following facts combine, clearly, to prove this: 1) The order of descendancy from Jesse James to the consignor: 2) There is an extraordinary photograph (or CDV) from approximately 1886 of Babe Hudspeth wearing this exact belt & gun, identifiable in the photograph. A) Jesse James’ widow Zerelda, gave Jesse’s trunk containing this Colt, belt & holster to Rufus & Babe Hudspeth, Jesse’s cousins, immediately after Jesse’s funeral. Rufus kept the trunk and Babe took the Colt, belt & holster rig. B) Before Babe’s death in 1907 he gave the Colt, belt & holster rig to consignor’s grandfather, Robert R. Elsea who was married to Mary Amanda Hudspeth, Babe’s favorite niece. C) Consignor’s father, also named Robert R. Elsea, received the Colt, belt & holster rig in 1938 from his mother after consignor’s grandfather had died in 1924. D) The Colt, belt & holster rig were stored by consignor’s father, first displayed in his father’s “The Victory Club” in Henderson, NV, then in the Bank of Nevada. E) Consignor’s father’s step-daughter, Connie J. Morris, and her husband, Delmer Morris, In June 1974 removed the Colt, belt & holster rig and transported it to consignor’s father in Wetumka, Oklahoma as is attested to by a notarized statement from Connie J. Morris. Colt, belt & holter rig were then placed into the bank vault in Holdenville, Oklahoma. F) Consignor took possession of the Colt, belt & holster rig on Nov. 8, 2006, as is attested to by a notarized affadavit of Jodell Kilcrease, who is the stepdaughter of consignor’s father, dated April 17, 2008. 3) Jesse James’ full signature which is scratched on belt tab and belt keeper. 4) A signed & notarized statement from current owner and direct descendant of Babe Hudspeth dated May 8, 2009. PROVENANCE: Jesse James; Babe Hudspeth down through the Hudspeth Family; Robert R. Elsea to Robert R. Elsea to consignor. CONDITION: Revolver is fair condition. No orig finish remains being an overall gray/brown patina with scattered surface rust. Trigger guard is a light mustard patina having been cleaned a long time ago, now beginning to repatinate. Grip has chipped toes and shows hard wear with a hand worn, oil stained patina. Left side of frame below stock screw has a crack with a small piece broken out. Mechanics are fine, strong bore with some shine and moderate to heavy pitting. Cyl has matching patina, also with scattered light pitting and retains traces of cyl scene. Wedge screw is a replacement and wedge spring has the tip broken. Belt is very dry and deteriorated with a couple of small tears and one larger one and retains about 40% of its orig finish. Belt tab and hook end show heavy wear with several small dents. Buckle & keeper show moderate wear. Holster shows heavy wear and deterioration with a break in rear edge of skirt. 4-38311 JR379 (200,000-300,000)

Auction: Firearms - Fall 2009

Please Note: All prices include the hammer price plus the buyer’s premium, which is paid by the buyer as part of the purchase price. The prices noted here after the auction are considered unofficial and do not become official until after the 46th day.

Image	Lot	Price	Description
	2438	$230,000.00	Revised: 10/5/2009 Additional Information: 1. Please note, in our description we state that “Nannie” was the wife of Frank James. That’s not correct, she was Babe Hudspeth’s wife. She was Nannie Ragland Hudspeth and thus it makes perfect sense that her name would appear on the top of the belt keeper since Babe owned this rig for approximately 30 years. 2. It was noted in our description that Babe Hudspeth was born on May 15th, that is incorrect; he was born on January 15th. 3. It is noted in the catalog description that the consignor (Mr. James Elsea) was a direct descendant of Jesse James. This is not correct. He was a direct descendent of Babe Hudspeth, who originally owned the gun rig and family lineage to Hudspeth is clearly documented in the provenance. 4. Some documentation provided to us states Jesse was a cousin of the Hudspeth’s. We have been told by one source there is no family link. Thus at this time, we only guarantee that the consignor is a descendant of Babe Hudspeth, who received the gun rig from Jesse’s wife. EXTRAORDINARY DOCUMENTED COLT MODEL 1860 ARMY PERCUSSION REVOLVER, BELT & HOLSTER RIG THAT BELONGED TO FAMOUS BANK & TRAIN ROBBER JESSE JAMES. SN 13725. Cal. 44. Revolver is a standard early Colt Model 1860 Army (produced in 1861) with 8″ rnd bbl, German silver front sight and 1-line New-York U.S. America address. Left side of frame has “COLTS PATENT”. Frame is 4-screw type cut for shoulder stock with flat head hammer screw and the heel of the backstrap milled for the stock attachment. Extended stock screws were replaced during period of use. It has a brass trigger guard and steel backstrap containing a 1-pc walnut grip. Trigger guard has scratched initials “G” in front of trigger bow, “M” inside trigger bow and “F” behind trigger bow. Buttstrap is inscribed the same way. The belt is about 39″ long x 1-5/8″ from of a sgl layer of leather that is very highly tooled in 19th century designs. It has a very distinctive silver tip with a lightly engraved edge with a dbl hook on the opposite end which corresponds to a bar in the buckle. The hook end of the belt has a 3/4″ wide silver band to which the hooks are attached through the belt with both hooks being very old repairs. Back side of this silver band is hand-scratched “–SSE –AMES” showing heavy wear and damage from the repairs having obliterated the missing letters. The belt buckle, as previously mentioned, is very distinctive, 3″ long x 2-3/4″ high with engraved edges and a fine border pattern around the opening. The buckle material is a thin silver sheet, slightly curved, over an iron frame with two prongs used to engage the corresponding holes in the belt. The belt keeper is of the same weight silver material 1-13/16″ long x 11/16″ at the widest point and 3/4″ wide over the back. It has engraved edges on the face with scalloped file work. The rear of the belt keeper is hand-scratched, signature-style “Jess- W James”. Some of the letters are very faint and all shows moderate to heavy wear. Front of the keeper is hand-scratched “NANNIE”. The “N”s in “NANNIE” are all backwards. It is known that a paramour of William Quantill was named “Nannie” and that she was not adverse to also consorting with the troops. Another “Nannie” became Frank James’ wife in later years. Holster is early dbl loop-style and fits this revolver very well. It is made of one piece of belting weight leather about 11″ long from top fold of skirt to tip of holster with a 9-1/4″ skirt that has a pointed end and has two narrow loops. The rear edge and toe of the holster are sewn. Over the many years the James Julia Auction Company has been selling firearms we have been offered firearms and accessories that were alleged or partially documented to numerous famous, near famous and some not so famous personalities from history. It is extremely rare when an item is offered with as nearly rock solid provenance as is this lot. This revolver, belt & holster rig has remained with the descendants of the Jesse James family since he was assassinated in 1882. Jesse Woodson James was born Sept. 5, 1847 in Clay County, Missouri. He had an older brother, Frank and a sister. His father, a minister, left soon after Jesse was born to go to California to “minister” to the 49er miners. He died in California when Jesse was three. His mother, Zerelda, remarried to Ruben Samuel with whom she had four more children. At the outbreak of the Civil War the James/Samuel family sided with the Confederacy with Frank soon joining on the Confederate side. Frank became ill early on and returned to Missouri where, after he recovered, he joined a small guerrilla band operating in their neighborhood. Sometime in about 1863/64 the Union Army sent a force to try to capture Frank’s group and came to the Samuel farm searching for them. They briefly hanged Mr. Samuel and allegedly whipped Jesse, to no avail. Frank escaped and in 1864 he and 16 year old Jesse joined the notorious Confederate raider and guerrilla fighter Bloody Bill Anderson. Apparently they didn’t stay with Anderson very long before joining the more notorious William Quantrill. The James Boys, along with three of their cousins, Robert Hudspeth, Rufus Hudspeth & William Napoleon “Babe” Hudspeth all rode with Quantrill until at least January 1865. It is unclear when the James Boys returned home but it is known that at that date January 1865 that the three Hudspeth boys left Quantrill and returned to Missouri. Another cousin, Lamartine Hudspeth maintained a farm in the area of the James/Samuel place and was later to play a role in supplying them with horses and sanctuary. Frank & Jesse James and Babe & Rufus Hudspeth were with Bloody Bill Anderson at the battle & massacre at Centralia, Missouri on Sept. 27, 1864. That morning Anderson led about 80 guerrillas, some dressed in stolen Union Army uniforms, into Centralia to cut off the North Missouri Railroad. The guerrillas looted the town, blocked the rail line, stopped an approaching train and overran it. There were about 125 passengers on board which were separated into civilian and soldier groups. The soldiers were stripped of their uniforms and when Anderson called for an officer, Sgt. Thomas Goodman bravely stepped forward, expecting to be shot. Instead, Anderson’s men ignored Goodman and shot the others, then mutilated and scalped the bodies. The guerrillas then set fire to the train and sent it down the tracks after which they torched the depot and rode out of town. About 3 p.m. that same afternoon, 155 men of the newly formed 39th Missouri Infantry Regiment (mounted), rode into Centralia in pursuit. This force soon encountered the guerrillas and decided to dismount and fight on foot. The Federal recruits with single-shot muzzle loaders were no match for the guerrillas with their revolvers. Of the 155 Union soldiers in this regiment, 123 were killed that afternoon. According to well-known history, in addition to carbines & shotguns, the guerrillas usually had at least two revolvers and some with as many as four or five on or about their persons most of the time and would have been able to present a formidable wall of lead. When the Confederacy surrendered Jesse was still riding as a guerrilla under the command of Archie Clement, one of Quantill’s lieutenants, while Frank had ridden to Kentucky with Quantrill. Clement’s group was apparently trying to decide their next course of action when they encountered a Union patrol and Jesse was severely wounded with two bullets in the chest. Jesse was returned to his uncle’s boarding house where he was attended by his cousin, Zerelda Mimms, who was named after Jesse’s mother. Jesse & Zerelda were later to marry. Jesse recovered from his wounds and, as the saying goes, the rest is history. Jesse & Frank and the Younger Boys with various other occasional members formed a gang and robbed trains & banks over the next sixteen or so years. After the fiasco at Northfield, Minnesota where the gang was badly shot up with three being killed and the others wounded, only Frank & Jesse escaped the law and the gang was never the same afterward, with the new members they recruited. During the course of the criminal career of Frank & Jesse and various members of their gang, they would frequently stop by various family members’ homes for food, rest or horses. Family history relates that Lamartine Hudspeth, cousin to Jesse & Frank, who owned a farm in the area, always kept fresh horses in the stable should they be needed. Frequently he would come out in the morning to feed the animals and find the fresh horses gone and hard ridden, tired horses in their places. Other members of the James/Hudspeth/Samuel extended family were also frequently called on for food, shelter or horses for members of the gang. As in all things there is an end and so it is with Jesse & Frank James. Jesse was assassinated by Bob Ford on April 3, 1882 in his own home which leads us to the family history, most of it well-documented, regarding the Colt Model 1860 revolver, belt & holster rig being sold here. When Jesse was killed his wife Zerelda notified his cousins Rufus, Babe & Lamartine Hudspeth who were living near Lake City, Missouri, of Jesse’s death and asked them to come assist with the funeral. They immediately drove to St. Joseph, Missouri to help Zerelda and were called on to identify the body. After the funeral Zerelda told the Hudspeth Boys that “Jesse’s trunk was hid in the attic and that Jesse would want them to have it”, that there were some of Jesse’s things in it. When they returned to Lake City they looked into the trunk (which is being sold immediately following this lot) and discovered this Colt revolver, belt & holster rig. Consignor states that he recalls that he was told that Jesse’s old Confederate uniform was also in the trunk but that it was moth-eaten and unusable so it was thrown away. Babe Hudspeth took possession of the Colt, belt & holster rig with Rufus taking the trunk. Rufus died in 1895 and the trunk was passed down through his family eventually to consignor’s niece who has consigned it to be sold following the Colt. Before Babe Hudspeth died he gave the Colt, belt & holster rig to consignor’s grandfather, Robert R. Elsea, who passed away in 1924. In about 1938 consignor’s father asked consignor’s grandmother if he could have Jesse’s gun to which she agreed. Consignor states that he remembers as a child, often seeing “the gun” in a bedroom dresser drawer was told “don’t you boys touch Jesse James’ gun”. In 1938 when consignor’s father took possession of the Colt he was living in Wetumka, Oklahoma and removed the Colt to that town with him. In about 1940 consignor’s father moved to Henderson, Nevada where he lived for the next thirty years or so working at a defense plant during the war and later as a deputy sheriff. He also owned “The Victory Club” in Henderson, NV which he sold in 1969. Consignor states that Jesse’s gun & rig were displayed in the club until too many customers insisted on buying it, so his father removed it and put it into a lockbox in the Bank of Nevada. In 1969 consignor’s father moved to Independence, Missouri and left Jesse’s gun & rig in the bank vault in Nevada. In 1973 he moved back to Wetumka, OK and in 1974 asked his stepdaughter and her husband to bring Jesse’s gun to him. They complied, which is attested to by sworn affidavit, and he put the gun & rig into the vault in Holdenville, OK. Consignor’s father passed away in March 2002 with the gun & rig still in the vault in Holdenville. In 2005 consignor’s stepmother Rozelle Elsea, after serious illness had given power of attorney to her eldest daughter, Jodell Kilcrease. While visiting his stepmother in a nursing home in 2005, Jodell said “Jesse’s gun was still in the vault and that it rightfully belonged to me”. She said the next time I was back there I could pick it up from the bank vault. Consignor states he took possession of the Colt & rig in November 2006 and that it has remained in his possession until being consigned to this auction. Also accompanying this lot is a signed notarized statement from Jodell Kilcrease identifying herself as the stepdaughter of Robert R. Elsea (and therefore the stepsister of consignor) and states that on Nov. 8, 2006 she and consignor went to the bank vault in Holdenville, Oklahoma and she relinquished possession of this Colt revolver, belt & holster rig, which she identified by serial number. She also gave a brief statement regarding the history of the items which coincides with the history above. Another notarized affidavit is from Roberta Ruth Elsea of Lee’s Summit, Missouri, wherein she states that she owns a Hudspeth family Bible dated 1868 which was given to her by Frances Miller Elsea, consignor’s mother on Dec. 25, 1984 and that the orig picture of Babe Hudspeth and his cousin, Oscar Thompson was in the Bible when she received it and that on Aug. 20, 2007 she gave this picture to consignor. Additionally accompanying this lot is a 3-ring binder containing a large volume of historic and family genealogical information proving beyond any reasonable doubt that the consignor is a direct descendant from the Hudspeth family and is directly related to Jesse James through his mother, Mary Frances Miller, through the Massie Woodson and Mims (or Mimms) line and through his father, Robert R. Elsea, who was the son of Robert R. Elsea & Mary Amanda Hudspeth who helped to raise consignor. Consignor states in part of his family narrative that there is a family photo that he currently cannot locate, which shows consignor’s father as a baby sitting on Frank James lap. Consignor states that the photograph was taken in the house where he was born and that the house still stands. This lot, most importantly is accompanied by the orig CDV-sized photograph of two men in period clothing with one having a beard and wearing a frock, coat who can clearly be seen wearing this exact belt, with holster mounted backwards. The reverse of the photo is inscribed “Cousin Oscar Thompson” on one side behind the gentleman on the right in the photo and the other side is inscribed “Uncle Babe Hudspeth”. The photograph was taken at Winans’ Photography Rooms, Independence, Missouri and is so printed on the back. Given the absolute historical family connection to the James family with this set never having left possession of the Hudspeth descendants, there can be no doubt whatsoever that this is an authentic Jesse James owned and used Colt, belt & holster rig and the following facts combine, clearly, to prove this: 1) The order of descendancy from Jesse James to the consignor: 2) There is an extraordinary photograph (or CDV) from approximately 1886 of Babe Hudspeth wearing this exact belt & gun, identifiable in the photograph. A) Jesse James’ widow Zerelda, gave Jesse’s trunk containing this Colt, belt & holster to Rufus & Babe Hudspeth, Jesse’s cousins, immediately after Jesse’s funeral. Rufus kept the trunk and Babe took the Colt, belt & holster rig. B) Before Babe’s death in 1907 he gave the Colt, belt & holster rig to consignor’s grandfather, Robert R. Elsea who was married to Mary Amanda Hudspeth, Babe’s favorite niece. C) Consignor’s father, also named Robert R. Elsea, received the Colt, belt & holster rig in 1938 from his mother after consignor’s grandfather had died in 1924. D) The Colt, belt & holster rig were stored by consignor’s father, first displayed in his father’s “The Victory Club” in Henderson, NV, then in the Bank of Nevada. E) Consignor’s father’s step-daughter, Connie J. Morris, and her husband, Delmer Morris, In June 1974 removed the Colt, belt & holster rig and transported it to consignor’s father in Wetumka, Oklahoma as is attested to by a notarized statement from Connie J. Morris. Colt, belt & holter rig were then placed into the bank vault in Holdenville, Oklahoma. F) Consignor took possession of the Colt, belt & holster rig on Nov. 8, 2006, as is attested to by a notarized affadavit of Jodell Kilcrease, who is the stepdaughter of consignor’s father, dated April 17, 2008. 3) Jesse James’ full signature which is scratched on belt tab and belt keeper. 4) A signed & notarized statement from current owner and direct descendant of Babe Hudspeth dated May 8, 2009. PROVENANCE: Jesse James; Babe Hudspeth down through the Hudspeth Family; Robert R. Elsea to Robert R. Elsea to consignor. CONDITION: Revolver is fair condition. No orig finish remains being an overall gray/brown patina with scattered surface rust. Trigger guard is a light mustard patina having been cleaned a long time ago, now beginning to repatinate. Grip has chipped toes and shows hard wear with a hand worn, oil stained patina. Left side of frame below stock screw has a crack with a small piece broken out. Mechanics are fine, strong bore with some shine and moderate to heavy pitting. Cyl has matching patina, also with scattered light pitting and retains traces of cyl scene. Wedge screw is a replacement and wedge spring has the tip broken. Belt is very dry and deteriorated with a couple of small tears and one larger one and retains about 40% of its orig finish. Belt tab and hook end show heavy wear with several small dents. Buckle & keeper show moderate wear. Holster shows heavy wear and deterioration with a break in rear edge of skirt. 4-38311 JR379 (200,000-300,000) Auction: Firearms - Fall 2009 Please Note: All prices include the hammer price plus the buyer’s premium, which is paid by the buyer as part of the purchase price. The prices noted here after the auction are considered unofficial and do not become official until after the 46th day.

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