January 17 Monday – Sam wrote from Hartford to James R. Osgood. He wanted a piece of William F. Gill’s hide this time, and told Osgood to pay the lawyers and go after him in court. Sam would go it alone if he had to, and wanted from Gill at least:

“$1,000—& a written confession from Gill that he is a liar and a thief—& a promise to take my article & name out of his book at once…Sue for $1,000 to $10,000 damages, & permanent injunction” [MTLE 1: 37].

In this letter Sam refers to a book that might prove as evidence of Gill’s transgression; he directs Osgood to “Keep the book you mention & don’t mislay it.” In MTP’s “Explanatory Notes” to this letter, the unspecified book, “if not a Copy of Burlesque, has not been identified.” For the record: Burlesque (1875), along with Travesty (1875) was reissued by Gill under the title Half-Hours with the Humorists; Or, Treasure-Trove. Both books available online at Google Books. See p. 177-84 for “An Encounter with an Interviewer” by Mark Twain.

Moncure Conway wrote a postcard from NY: “Unless there should be a bluff trip slip ‘twixt the cup and the lip I shall be with you tomorrow by the train leaving here at 10 a.m.” [MTP].

Sam’s check # 21 was made payable to Mrs. Fairbanks for ten dollars, as a donation for the bazaar for the city of Cleveland, Ohio [The Twainian, July-Aug. 1949 p1].