Outlaws and Peace Officers of Indian Territory (SIGNED FIRST EDITION)

Muskogee, OK: Muscogee Publishing Company, 1987. 1st Edition 1st Printing. Soft cover. Very Good. 8vo - over 7¾ - 9¾" tall. Minor edge and corner wear; lightly scuffed and scratched; spine is gently creased; some light shelf wear; overall a very crisp and clean SIGNED FIRST EDITION! Flatsigned by the author on the title page! Very rare and hard-to-find title! Brown and white illustrated wrapper with brown lettering. Very scarce and out-of-print SIGNED FIRST EDITION! 176 very clean unmarked and uncreased informative and historical pages nicely enhanced by black and white photographs and illustrations! "Outlaws, bank robbers, highwaymen, horse and cattle thieves, rapists and petty robbers flooded Indian Territory out of the reach of the law in previously established states. The Indian Light-Horse and Indian Police had jurisdiction over Indians but not over white and black persons. Eventually, the Federal Court came to fill the void, but the vast distances involved presented problems. Banks in small towns were especially vulnerable, as the bank robbers could get out of town and into the hills before they were apprehended. Trains often carried large sums of gold and silver and were targets for the outlaws. Stagecoaches were often waylaid and the mail and express confiscated along with the cash, jewels and watches of the passengers. There were not many banks in the early days, and many persons did not trust them, hiding money and other valuables on their property, making easy pickings for the greedy. Women and girls were often left alone when the men went to town or were working in the field, providing an opportunity for rapists to violate their sanctity. Payments were made to individual members of the Five Civilized Tribes from time to time, providing additional opportunity for outlaws to rob the wagon trains transportating the payments and the individuals receiving the money....." --- from the Preface. (SIGNED FIRST EDITION).