Autograph letter signed (¾n') to his wife, written from Gallatin jail whilst James was awaiting trial for the murder of Frank McMillanto at the Winston train robbery, one page, fold creases with splitting, ink bleeding (he mentions heavy rainfall in his letter), 8vo , Gallatin, MO [Missouri], July 7, [1883]. "Ben" was a protective alias used by James when writing letters. Frank James was the elder brother of Jesse James. They are known as the most notorious outlaws of the American West, engaging in bank and train robberies from 1866 through to 1881. After Jesse was murdered in 1882, Frank James handed himself into the authorities as he felt his own capture and potential murder was inevitable. He was subsequently tried for several murders. Before their 16 year crime spree, the Frank brothers were involved in the American Civil War as guerilla Confederate soldiers, capturing and punishing Union soldiers. James was eventually acquitted of the murder, largely due to the testimony of Confederate General Joseph Shelby. After his acquittal, James turned his back on crime and died in 1915 at the family farm.