3045

Wanted Poster: San Quentin Dorsey c1888 [182525]

Currency:USD Category:Western Americana Start Price:150.00 USD Estimated At:300.00 - 700.00 USD
Wanted Poster:  San Quentin Dorsey c1888  [182525]
SOLD
225.00USD+ (56.25) buyer's premium + applicable fees & taxes.
This item SOLD at 2024 Jun 08 @ 08:55UTC-7 : PDT/MST
UNCLAIMED MERCHANDISE: In the event that a successful bidder has paid in full for their merchandise but fails to settle outstanding shipping invoices or make arrangements for merchandise pickup within 60 days, HWAC reserves the right to declare the merchandise forfeited. This forfeiture will result in the merchandise becoming the property of HWAC and the successful bidder shall have no claim to or rights over the forfeited merchandise.
A $400 Reward wanted poster for capturing Charles H. Thorn, Alias Dorsey, who escaped San Quentin Prison on Dec. 1, 1887, after being sentenced to life, for the murder of a banker named Cummings during a stage robbery in Nevada County. Thorn's sketch is printed in the upper right corner. Issued by John McComb, Warden California State Prison, San Quentin, whose name is printed in the lower right corner. The poster is about 8.25" x 11", with very slight fading, about 1" left upper corner ripped off in blank area, small pen marking upper right. Black ink printed on white paper. The reverse is postmarked San Quentin, Cal., June 20, 1888, addressed to O. J. Meade, Sheriff, Fresno County, Ca., with additional San Francisco, June 20, 1888, and Fresno, June 21, 1888 postmarks and a one-cent stamp. According to a July 27, 1888, article from the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, entitled, "Caught At Last," Thorn had been caught after allegedly committing another murder. "He is charged with robbing a train near Muskogee, a few days ago, at which time a Texas cattleman was killed. Thorn has confessed that he assisted in the robbery," the article stated. An Oct. 27, 1890 article in The Sacramento Union, stated, "Charles H. Thorn, alias Dorsey, and George H. Shinn, two of the most daring desperadoes known to the history of the Pacific coast, had been captured at Chicago by J. B. Hume, Wells Fargo & Company's chief detective. Mention was also made at the time of the departure of Captains E. A. Reddy and C. N. Fish, of the San Quentin State Prison, armed with requisitions to bring the desperadoes back to the prison, whence they escaped on the 1st of December, 1887."