U.S. Marshal historian brings weapon to museum meeting

David Turk pulled out a gun during the quarterly meeting of the U.S. Marshals Museum board of directors held Tuesday (Mar. 9) in Fort Smith.

It wasn’t loaded. And it doesn’t fire. But it did once belong to Frank James. (Yes, THAT Frank James.) It now belongs to the U.S. Marshals Museum courtesy of Turk’s donation.

Turk, an historian for the U.S. Marshals Service and member of the museum board, bought the historic .22 caliber pistol at an auction in 2005 for his personal collection. Turk said it is considered a “draw piece” because it has the potential to draw people to a museum or other location to see it displayed.

The gun was part of a collection of items found in a wooden trunk in a barn in Scott County, Ky., on property owned by James’ ancestors.

James and his brother, Jesse, are famous for their robbing and killing sprees that ended when Jesse was killed in 1882. Frank James surrendered, and was acquitted in trials in Missouri and Alabama, according to a statement from Turk. James was guarded and transported by U.S. Marshals during the trial periods. Frank James died in February 1915 at the age of 74.

The weapon Turk presented to Museum Executive Director Jim Dunn has a notched “F” on the bottom of the handle, with 15 notches made by James presumably to keep track of felonious conduct. (See photo below.)

“My guess is that he probably did have this (gun) during his criminal career,” Turk told the museum board.

Coincidentally, Turk donated the Frank James piece following the museum board’s approval of a policy on acquiring and disposing of artifacts. The policy adopted “follows standard museum protocol” in the legal process of artifact acquisition, storage and artifact protection, said museum board member and U.S. Marshal Michael Pearson.

The 19-page policy also allows a future museum curator to buy artifacts priced below $1,000, but requires approval from a collections committee for items priced above $1,000.