The Alyeska Collection of Pony Express continued...

Introduction to Pilsbury "Chips" Hodgkins: http://www.siegelauctions.com/2013/1038/PCH.pdf (Image)

Introduction to Pilsbury "Chips" Hodgkins: http://www.siegelauctions.com/2013/1038/PCH.pdf (Image)

A FINE AND ATTRACTIVE VIRGINIA CITY PONY EXPRESS COVER WITH THE 25-CENT BLUE HORSE & RIDER ISSUE.

The addressee is James Feeney, one of several men by that name listed in the 1863 San Francisco city directory. This person is not (as sometimes reported) James Old Virginny” Finney, a colorful character in the history and folklore of the Nevada mining region who died two years before this cover was sent.

Gamett Census 69. (Image)

Gamett Census 50. (Image)

VERY FINE. A CHOICE STAMP AND BEAUTIFUL VIRGINIA CITY PONY COVER FROM THE FAMOUS CRITTENDEN CORRESPONDENCE. THE RED 25-CENT VIRGINIA PONY STAMP IS MUCH SCARCER ON COVER THAN THE BLUE.

This letter was sent to Clara C. Crittenden by her husband, Alexander Parker Crittenden, a prominent West Coast attorney, while he was residing in Virginia City. The move to Nevada became necessary after California passed a law prohibiting the practice of law by anyone who would not take the loyalty oath. Parker” Crittenden was a pro-Southerner who chose to relocate to Virginia City, rather than swear allegiance to the Federal government. His wife stayed in San Francisco for some time, and the two corresponded frequently while he was away.

Parker wrote this letter to his wife around the time he became romantically involved with a young woman named Laura Fair. After a short-lived acting career and three failed marriages, Laura had travelled to Virginia City and used a small inheritance to acquire the 37-room Tahoe House. With her mother and daughter in residence, Laura made the hotel the social center of silver-rich Virginia City. One can imagine her Pavlovian response when the distinguished and successful Parker Crittenden decided to make the Tahoe House his residence. Likewise, the older gentleman--separated from his wife and family, and living in proximity to a young and eager lady friend--must have thanked the gods for the circumstances that sent him to Nevada.

The affair between Parker and Laura went on for years. Laura would demand that Parker divorce his wife and marry her. Parker would assure her that it was going to happen soon. And, of course, when nothing happened, Laura would fly into a rage. After she moved to San Francisco and married another man, Parker professed his undying love and demanded that she divorce her new husband, and, he promised to finally divorce Clara. Laura complied, and then she discovered that Parker had ordered new furniture for a home in San Francisco where he was planning to live with Clara and the kids. So, Laura boarded the same ferry boat that Parker, Clara and their young son were on, walked up to Parker, aimed her Colt revolver and fired one bullet into his chest. He died two days later.

The trial of Laura Fair in the murder of Alexander P. Crittenden was the O. J. Simpson trial of 1871. Fair’s defense was the classic driven to insanity by emotional abuse.” It worked. The jury acquitted her.

Gamett Census 7. Ex Haas. With 1981 P.F. certificate. (Image)