^Lot 243 Wanted Poster, “The Black Kid”

Madera County, California. June 25, 1900, for the hold up of 2 stages between Chinese and Yosemite Valley. This wanted poster searches for the identity of the man in the stamp photo. “Passengers state he spoke with a Swedish accent.” “A private stage and two regular stages were held up below Grub Gulch.” “His face masked with a blue bandana and his hands blackened.” “He joked with the passengers.” “He gave the driver a slip of paper on which was printed in lead pencil, “The Black Kid.” “The robber demanded his lunch and an ax with which to break open Wells Fargo & Co.’s treasure box.” “They found near the scene of the robbery a barley sack evidently the property of the robber, containing among other things a compass, pair of field glasses and twenty-four stamp photos.” “The compass, field glasses and a 38-55 Winchester rifle were purchased in a second hand store in Fresno” “The foregoing is a brief history of two of the most daring crimes in the annals of stage robbery in California” “Do not post.” W.B. Thurman, Sheriff of Madera County. 11” x 8 3/4” original photo 7/8” x 1” applied to top left. Very good with some water damage to the top 2” of paper.