Helena weekly herald. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1867-1900, 1874-05-14
From the St. Louis Democrat of April Il.


In after years the history of outlawry and
diabolism IN Missouri will he read with horror
if not with distrust. People will hardly credit
the stories that q band OF five men could ride
into the very center of pOpulous town in
broad daylight, overcome the officers in
charge of u bank, rifle the vaults of the insti-
tuition and quietly depart, eluding justice for
ever after; that like number of men, alsO
in the light of day, could capture a settlement
at Gad's Hill station, on the Iron Mountain
Railroad, stop passenger train, muster the
passengers and rob them seriatim; that de-
tectiye, III pursuit of them, should receive his
quietus without leaving sign; that three
other detectives, in a hunt after. should en-
counter two outlaw brothers-Or rather be
surprised by them-and in the fight which
e1lsued be wOrsted, with one of the officers
killed, one outlaw meeting the same fate, and
another officer almost mOrtally wounded.
These are but few of the acts of the Young
er brothers, the four James boys and their
associates, among whom the name of Arthur
Mccoy is prominent. Very many of our
citizens knew Arthur, aud liked him in the
old time for his frankness, his pluck and his
genial disposition. AS long back as 1852, when
he was, perhaps. nineteen or twenty years of
age, he was = member of the Mound City
Guard, Captain J. Richard Bsrret, a COM
pany which, although composed of tirst-class
material and we'll organized and oficered,
never cut much of q figure in st. Louis, be-
cause the military fever died out about that
time, on account of the small thanks the
members received for suppressing riot orig
mating at an election. All who knew Arthur
Mccoy, in the military company and out Of
it, took to him. Sometime before and dur
ing the late wsr he was pretty much lost sight
of by his old friends in st. Louis, although it
was known that he was on the Confederate
side and making it warm for his enemies in
every way possible. Five or six years ago
his name became mixed up with the devil
mcnt within the borders of the State, and
latterly charges against him hayc as
sumed shape, it being believed that he was
engaged in all the Outrages named and others
not here mentioned.
This brings us to the close of Arthur Nc
COy's earthly career, the facts in regard to
which, received from q gentleman residing
near the Arkansas border, who impaired
them with marked reticence, are, so far as
they go, wholly reliable. 1t is little singu-
lar that they have not before been made pub
lie; but, while the news sometimes travels
with the speed of lightning, at other times it
moves like unto the Ox-team of the emigrant.
ADOut SIX weeks ago, Artnur MCCOy, FRANK
James and one or more others of the maraud-
ing gang, passed from Missouri into Arkan-
sas, pursuing band following them. A des-
perate fight ensued. Arthur Mccoy was
killed, left on the field, near where he was
afterwards buried, and Frank James was shot
in the shoulder, but, with others escaped, re-
turning to Missouri, where he is to-day, in all
probability, Notwithstanding the big reward
which is placed upon his capture. An up
country letter, also wholly reliable, states that
Frank and Jesse James were in Kansas
City on Sunday last" Where are Pinker-
tons detectives? Where are the men the
Governor is authorized to employ-$10,O 900
appropriated-to catch these outlaws? Where
are the Metropolitans-made such by law
just passed by the Twenty-seventh General
Assembly-of Kansas City?
While We abhOr the crimes of the James
boys, we cannot but admire their bravery-it
may, perhaps. more properly be designated
ardihood-displayed by them in thus beard
ing the lion CD in his den.
In recording the death of Arthur Mccoy,
it is proper to say that his widow and chill
dren, who are said to be of excellent charac-
ter and disposition, should not share in the
obloquy which attaches to the name Of the
deceased husband and father.