Care of T.M. Heston's Express, Visalia, manuscript endorsement (HES-101) on 1853, 3¢ Nesbitt entire to Keysville, uprated with 1851, 3¢ dull red (11) and tied by "San Francisco, Cal., Oct 13, 1857" cds, postal carried from San Francisco to Visalia and then by express to Keysville; some corner wear, otherwise Very Fine, the only manuscript known from this express. Estimate  $500 - 750. Early in 1863 Thomas Heston was involved in a gun fight with a doctor from Visalia over a "family matter". Many shots were exchanged by the two men on the main street of Visalia. Two bullets struck the doctor mortify wounding him. He died later in the day. The last bullet fired by the doctor struck the gun that Heston was using blowing it out of his hand. Later, in June of the same year, Thomas Heston disappeared after leaving Camp Independence bound for Visalia with express material. At first it was thought that he had run afoul of the Indians that were uprising in the area at this time. The following year, after the melting of the winter snows, his bones were found on the eastern slope of the Sierra Mountains in Nine Mile Canyon most likely murdered by family or friends of the Doctor. $0 (Image)