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Fugitives from Justice
The Notebook of Texas Ranger Sergeant
James B. Gillett
James B. Gillett
Here reproduced in authentic facsimile is the now very rare List of
Fugitives from Justice, the 227-page booklet which the Texas
Adjutant General published in 1878 for distribution to the Texas
Rangers. Known by the Rangers as "The Book," the list provided a
quick reference by county of persons wanted, their crimes, and
often a brief physical description of the fugitive. Ranger Sergeant
James Buchanan Gillett, who had joined the Rangers in 1876 and
quickly distinguished himself before leaving the Rangers in 1882 to
become City Marshal of El Paso and later sheriff of Brewster and
Presidio counties, had his copy of "The Book" bound along with
blank notebook paper into a buckled leather case to carry with him
in his saddlebags for quick reference while on the move. Gillett
made penciled entries whenever a fugitive was killed or captured;
in the index by the entry for John Wesley Hardin, for example, he
wrote "in the pen." On the blank notebook pages Gillett listed and
described numerous other fugitives from justice, including Sam Bass
and his gang. Now proudly owned by the Texas Ranger Hall of Fame
in Waco, Gillett's personal copy of "The Book" and his handwritten
notebook annotations provide a fascinating glimpse into the life of a
Texas Ranger and the state of "law & order" in Texas in the 19th
century.
A foreword by Michael D. Morrison, Mayor of the City of Waco,
places The List and James B. Gillett into historical perspective.
Accurately reproduced along with the illustrations of reward posters,
Gillett's calling cards, and other ephemera found tucked into his
personal copy of "The Book," Fugitives from Justice is an important
contribution to the history of the Texas Rangers and of Texas.
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What people are saying about this book
"An invaluable contribution to any western studies reading list or
Texas history reference collection."—The Midwest Book Review
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Fugitives from Justice
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