A few years back, I acquired a very large “collection” of story papers. I make mention of this purchase because it became the catalyst of the story I now tell. Now that I had all those a story papers I wished to find out more about the writer of a particular story, “The Man in the Black Cloak,” Francis W. Doughty.

Mr. Ross Craufurd had done an article (1979) for the DNRU (Dime Novel Round Up) and was known to have Mr. Doughty’s notes as well as having a collection of dime novels of his own. Since they were last known to be in Mr. Ross Craufurd collection, it was obvious that the answer to all questions was in finding that collection.

I had hoped that the current editor of the DNRU, Mr. J. “Randy” Cox would have the answer.
Randy confirmed that Ross had died many years ago, a mystery in itself. There was no family, and no known provision for the collection that he knew of. There was a rumor that the University of Rochester (UR) may have been the recipient. UR knew nothing. Well; I guess I was sending out some kind of “vibes” because what transpired next, and in record time, is almost “eerie.”

One day on ebay, I purchased a few dime novels. I asked the seller if he had any more. He said he had and we agreed to get together at his house.
His house turned out to be about a 2 hour drive from me, a long way from Brooklyn where Mr. Craufurd last resided. On the bed there was laid out about 100 or so dime novels. Also on the bed were 3 custom slip case boxes stacked one on the other.

I went on talking about me, my collection and the items I was still searching for. I even told him about my search for Craufurd etc. He told me about himself and his collection. He then tells me that he has an additional surprise for me. Huh? Well he certainly did! He turned to the shelf behind him and pulled out one of many binders, he opened it up and there it was the name “ROSS CRAUFURD!”

It seems like Ross’s died in late ’79. On that fateful day, (actually about 3 months after) he was discovered in his house along with his pet dead cats. He had no remaining family. At least in the end he was surrounded by the things he loved in life.

On a day that would prove to be one of providence, a cleaning crew and dumpster arrived. As “fate” would have it, the man who interceded that day turned out to be a neighbor of Ross just one house removed!

For a paltry price he was allowed to go into the dumpster and pull out what he wanted. Numerous paintings, lithos, books, and bindings were taken. We have all heard that Fate works in strange ways. Such was the case here.

I looked for a resolution to the Doughty/Craufurd mystery and found answers almost too quickly with some very poignant and unexpected answers!!

Oh, the 3 gray archival slip case boxes!?


When they were released from their slip cases, there stacked one on top of the other, still bold and bright was a complete set, all 139 Issues, MINT of………….
-The James B