19TH CENTURY IRON BOUND DOME TOP TRUNK THAT BELONGED TO JESSE JAMES.

Revised: 10/5/2009

Additional Information:

1. It is noted in the catalog description that the consignor was a direct descendant of Jesse James. This is not correct. She was a direct descendent of Rufus Hudspeth, who originally owned the trunk and family lineage to Hudspeth proves this.

2. 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 Rufus Hudspeth who originally acquired this from Jesse’s wife.

19TH CENTURY IRON BOUND DOME TOP TRUNK THAT BELONGED TO JESSE JAMES. Hide covered iron bound trunk with slight domed top, that measures 29-3/4″ long x 15-3/4″ wide x about 15-3/4″ high. It has four sheet metal straps over the lid and down the front that wrap around to the back on each end only. Lid has three oak strips, two on top and one on front of lid and a fourth on bottom front of the trunk. Trunk is completely covered in split cowhide with light geometric decorations centered on the lid and front. Front has a mortised iron lock with a decorative rectangular brass escutcheon. Interior is lined in wallpaper with a hinged compartment in the lid, missing the cover. Bottom has rails for a tray which is also missing. Right end has an intact leather covered cardboard handle with the left end handle broken & missing. At one time there were leather straps and buckles on each end now with only the brackets for the bottom straps and portions of the top straps remaining. When Jesse James was assassinated by Bob Ford on April 3, 1882 his wife Zerelda notified three of Jesse’s cousins, brothers Joel Rufus & William N. “Babe” Hudspeth and their half brother Joseph Lamartine Hudspeth to come from their home in Lake City, Missouri to St. Joseph to help Zerelda with identification of Jesse’s body and the funeral. They immediately left home in a wagon and drove to St. Joseph, identified Jesse’s body and assisted with the funeral. After the funeral Zerelda told the cousins that they should come by the house, that she had Jesse’s trunk hid in the attic and that Jesse would have wanted them to have it. They went to the house with Zerelda where she gave them this trunk with contents. They immediately left for their homes in Lake City and upon arriving looked inside and found among other unknown items a Colt Model 1860 percussion Army revolver, belt & holster rig that belonged to Jesse and are being sold in this auction in the lot prior to this one. Rufus kept the trunk while Babe took possession of the Colt, belt & holster rig. A picture from about 1886, being sold with the above lot, shows Babe wearing the exact belt which is identifiable in the picture. Both items have been passed down in the Hudspeth families to their current owners who are direct descendants. The above information is attested to by a notarized affidavit from consignor of Turners, Missouri, a copy of which accompanies this lot. Joel Rufus Hudspeth was consignor’s great great-grandfather. All of the above information is also detailed extensively in the previous lot. Jesse Woodson James, legendary train & bank robber, who, along with his brother Frank and the above three identified Hudspeth brothers fought in the Confederacy and rode with Bloody Bill Anderson and later with Quantrill. They were a close family and after the Civil War was over and Jesse and his gang were robbing trains & banks, they frequently called on their cousins for food, shelter & fresh horses, which was apparently freely given. Lamartine was known to have kept fresh horses in his barn for just such occasions and frequently would come out to feed in the morning and fine a tired horse in the stall in place of his fresh one. These close family ties are apparently what compelled Zerelda to call on the Hudspeth brothers for assistance when Jesse was killed and then to give them Jesse’s trunk and contents. This is an historic item that, beyond any reasonable doubt, when combined with the information in the previous lot can lead to only one conclusion that this is truly Jesse James’ personal trunk. PROVENANCE: Jesse James; Joel Rufus Hudspeth Family to consignor. CONDITION: Fair. Leather covering is dry & brittle with a couple of small separations in the lid and some minor losses. Front is mostly intact with some minor losses in lower right corner and near the left end. Left end of lid is mostly bare wood and brittle paper covering. Bottom of left end is also paper covered. Right end is also paper covered with some minor losses. The back is reasonably intact with a crack on one end in the hinge area. Interior is dried and yellowed with some bug damage and paper losses with some staining on the bottom. Bottom has a crack in the wood. 4-39074 JR387 (7,500-12,500)

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
	2439	$0.00	Revised: 10/5/2009 Additional Information: 1. It is noted in the catalog description that the consignor was a direct descendant of Jesse James. This is not correct. She was a direct descendent of Rufus Hudspeth, who originally owned the trunk and family lineage to Hudspeth proves this. 2. 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 Rufus Hudspeth who originally acquired this from Jesse’s wife. 19TH CENTURY IRON BOUND DOME TOP TRUNK THAT BELONGED TO JESSE JAMES. Hide covered iron bound trunk with slight domed top, that measures 29-3/4″ long x 15-3/4″ wide x about 15-3/4″ high. It has four sheet metal straps over the lid and down the front that wrap around to the back on each end only. Lid has three oak strips, two on top and one on front of lid and a fourth on bottom front of the trunk. Trunk is completely covered in split cowhide with light geometric decorations centered on the lid and front. Front has a mortised iron lock with a decorative rectangular brass escutcheon. Interior is lined in wallpaper with a hinged compartment in the lid, missing the cover. Bottom has rails for a tray which is also missing. Right end has an intact leather covered cardboard handle with the left end handle broken & missing. At one time there were leather straps and buckles on each end now with only the brackets for the bottom straps and portions of the top straps remaining. When Jesse James was assassinated by Bob Ford on April 3, 1882 his wife Zerelda notified three of Jesse’s cousins, brothers Joel Rufus & William N. “Babe” Hudspeth and their half brother Joseph Lamartine Hudspeth to come from their home in Lake City, Missouri to St. Joseph to help Zerelda with identification of Jesse’s body and the funeral. They immediately left home in a wagon and drove to St. Joseph, identified Jesse’s body and assisted with the funeral. After the funeral Zerelda told the cousins that they should come by the house, that she had Jesse’s trunk hid in the attic and that Jesse would have wanted them to have it. They went to the house with Zerelda where she gave them this trunk with contents. They immediately left for their homes in Lake City and upon arriving looked inside and found among other unknown items a Colt Model 1860 percussion Army revolver, belt & holster rig that belonged to Jesse and are being sold in this auction in the lot prior to this one. Rufus kept the trunk while Babe took possession of the Colt, belt & holster rig. A picture from about 1886, being sold with the above lot, shows Babe wearing the exact belt which is identifiable in the picture. Both items have been passed down in the Hudspeth families to their current owners who are direct descendants. The above information is attested to by a notarized affidavit from consignor of Turners, Missouri, a copy of which accompanies this lot. Joel Rufus Hudspeth was consignor’s great great-grandfather. All of the above information is also detailed extensively in the previous lot. Jesse Woodson James, legendary train & bank robber, who, along with his brother Frank and the above three identified Hudspeth brothers fought in the Confederacy and rode with Bloody Bill Anderson and later with Quantrill. They were a close family and after the Civil War was over and Jesse and his gang were robbing trains & banks, they frequently called on their cousins for food, shelter & fresh horses, which was apparently freely given. Lamartine was known to have kept fresh horses in his barn for just such occasions and frequently would come out to feed in the morning and fine a tired horse in the stall in place of his fresh one. These close family ties are apparently what compelled Zerelda to call on the Hudspeth brothers for assistance when Jesse was killed and then to give them Jesse’s trunk and contents. This is an historic item that, beyond any reasonable doubt, when combined with the information in the previous lot can lead to only one conclusion that this is truly Jesse James’ personal trunk. PROVENANCE: Jesse James; Joel Rufus Hudspeth Family to consignor. CONDITION: Fair. Leather covering is dry & brittle with a couple of small separations in the lid and some minor losses. Front is mostly intact with some minor losses in lower right corner and near the left end. Left end of lid is mostly bare wood and brittle paper covering. Bottom of left end is also paper covered. Right end is also paper covered with some minor losses. The back is reasonably intact with a crack on one end in the hinge area. Interior is dried and yellowed with some bug damage and paper losses with some staining on the bottom. Bottom has a crack in the wood. 4-39074 JR387 (7,500-12,500) 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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