It took me years to get an original image of Thompson. This is the Most Famous of them all. There are several early post card copies of this photograph but virtually none of this one. It was not made to be sold to the public. It is one of the most desirable western images. Ben Thompson was in his life many things: he was a gambler, a shootist of well known ability, a sometime lawman, a friend of famous westerners of the time, and an enemy of others. He fought for the Confederacy in the Civil War and for Maximillian in the Mexico war. He was hired as City Marshal of Austin, Texas in 1881 (when this albumen photograph was taken). In this same year, Thompson killed theater owner of the Vaudeville Variety Theater, Jack Harris in San Antonio, Texas. Thompson was indicted for murder, resigned as City Marshal and beat the wrap. While visiting San Antonio in 1884, with rancher King Fisher, Thompson was ambushed by a local lawman named Jacob Coy and a former friend of Harris's by the name of Joe Foster. Thompson was killed and Fisher was shot 13 times. Coy was crippled for life and Fisher lost a leg and died of infection shortly after. I have had this image since the 1970s. It is 100% authentic! The photographer was S.B. Hill, 818 Congress Avenue, Austin, Texas.
