ls1

Comment by Phillip Gessert on April 10, 2009 at 12:12pm

I have a couple of reasons why I think it is Luke Short over and above that the seller was a reputable collector of photographs and autographs. In my youth I was 5'6" and 145. As I got older and well enough off to eat at least once a day I expanded. This photograph reminds me of me. Luke was living in such luxury in Fort Worth, eating rich food from the White Elephant. Drinking a lot and smoking heavy. Next I have an old chair exactly like this chair and when I stand next to it as he is my hand goes to the edge in the same exact manner. Next the tin type is reversed so it is actually his left hand that is holding the hat. Look at that hand carefully. It looks very damaged, as if perhaps he was shot in the hand at close range from a shot gun (which he was) and lost perhaps most of his little finger part of his ring finger and thumb. Not to mention the swelling still evident on the rest of the hand. Next look at the photograph of him around the same age in the big white bow tie... there his swollen face seems to fit the body perfectly. Nest the white had and tie... looks like the kind of outfit Luke the king of Fort Worth Gambling would have walked around in. So look hard again....

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