December 2, 1930
Dear Charles
Will drop you a few lines hoping you are well and getting along all right as this leaves me at preasent writing thair is nice weather hear only for a little rain i see by the paper thair is Bad weather Back thair Well Charles our friend Mr. Haven can not be found as yet the atorities of Cluchmes Co. has looked the country over looking for then they can not find any track of a family of thet name ever came hear I have Ben up to Colten and inquired all around the contry But no one ever herd of sutch a name thair is 101 inquires for havens when I got to Colten thay got it whair you brought then to Willeston in thair car and that is the last track that got of them how are you getting along with the stock are you going to have plenty of feed Chales I got that slip that was in the paper that your mother sent to Elmer if havens relations have taking over thair property see that thay pay for all feed But they probily have made som arrangement with you and look out and see that you get Paid for what you do thair was a letter in the postoffice at Colten from you to havens Mailed in Montana it will be returned well i will close for this time i remain
as ever
Father
goodby excuse poor ritting for I cant see very well
On a separate sheet in the same handwriting, but unsigned, was the following:
now Charles watch your Sep and see that every thing is right and do what is right and then thair will be no com Back you no your Bisnes Better then any one els write and let me now how every thing is i will be looking for a letter from you every day it took me a weak to make the trip had very good look good cows are selling from $ 35 to 50 i will tell you more next time good By address your letters General Delivery Portlen Oregon and then I will get them
P.S. write at once for I may leav hear in a few days.
The text above is from State v. Bannon, 62 N.D. 517, 533-534, 244 N.W.1 (1932). The text is in the same form as written by James Bannon and quoted by the Court.
January 29, 2003