ALS signed “A tired man, W. F. Cody,” one page both sides, 8.5 x 11, colorful ‘Buffalo Bill’ and the 101 Ranch Shows letterhead, subtitled “Combined With The Military Pageant ‘Preparedness, George Arlington General Manager,” October 30, 1916. Letter written to his Denver attorney Henry J. Hersey, sent just three months before his death. In full, “I wish I had a stenographer. I have so much to say to you. I am truant and I get tired sometimes. And this knock show business is a hard life. It’s either work or being talked to death. I hardly get a moment to myself. I’ve just had a talk with Edward Arlington [agent for 101 Ranch Shows]. He says he holds a contract with H. H. Tammen for my birth right at $25 a day and Nov 11th his company will have paid Tammen $4500 for my services this season. I’ll either get a copy of that contract or we can make him produce it in court. Tammen bills me with his show and rents me out personally to his show. There’s surely fraud on his part some place - and I want to see it brought before a judge - or a Jurey [sic]. I don’t care which. Tammen as you know owes me $11000. I want this tried out. Just read a letter from [Gordon] Lillie. He says you are taking a great interest in my affairs, and says he Lillie will be a witness for me and don’t see why the $20,000 note can’t be knocked out. Well here is $100 for U. S. P. account, send but one more & they must wait on me for the rest until next year.” A couple stray ink spots and stamp to top, small tear near letterhead and a bit of light toning and wrinkling, otherwise fine condition. Letter is overall clean and legible. Denver businessman Harry H. Tammen was co-owner of the Sells-Floto Circus. Knowing Buffalo Bill’s great appeal, Tammen unscrupulously used the large debt to dissolve the Cody-Lillie partnership and then hired Cody to work off his debt. Cody worked for Tammen’s circus until he repaid about $18,000. He then joined Miller and Arlington’s Military Preparedness show. During the 1916-1917 winter break, Cody returned to Denver, where he died on January 10, 1917. At the end of his life, Cody had lost his fortune and was plagued with personal problems, but the frontier hero’s transformation of the Old West endures to this day. LOA John Reznikoff/PSA/DNA and R&R COA.
