The Hartford herald. [volume] (Hartford, Ky.) 1875-1926, 1875-05-19
THE IAMES BOYS.
They Have Entered Kentucky. and
Are Located in Webster County
Their FIRST " OTI1 at Arson and


are Located aEa ~ cDSsCfS OtfaeS
Their First Work at Arson and
Murder.
We have it from the most reliable au-
thority that the notorious Missouri br'>
cands, the James boys, have entered this
State, and are at present sojournIng IN
Webster county They can be seen at
Sebree City, on the st. Louis and South"
eastern road almost any day. Indeed,
prominent citizen Of that place Informed
a gentleman of Shawneetown, Ill last
W Wednesday, that he could put his hand
on the Jameses at any time, day or night
When asked why the people did not
turn out q, maSs5 and capture them, he
replied that they were afraid to attempt
it. as the outlaws were always heavily
armed and known to be desperate men,
who would never he taken alive, and
who would make it unhealthy for any
arresting party.
Until last Thursday night Sebree City
boosted as fine a Touring mill as could be
found anywhere in the State. 1t was
owned 10y Mr. Chas. Singer, and was val
ued at.SlS,OO0 On the night mentioned,
the torch was applied to this mill, and 1t
was consumed TO ashes. The citizens
of Sebree believe and assert that the
James boys are guilty Of the arson. But
the burning of the mill was not the worst
of it. The down freight train from Hen
uerson, which passes Sebree City between
and , o'clock a. m, ran over the body of
a lad lying across the track near the
burnt mill. The train was stopped, and
it was discovered that the boy was dead
and cold. Although terrible mangled by
the wheels of the train, not a drop OF
blood exuded from the severed and lacer>
ated veins. An examination showed that
the corpse was that OF Samuel Scott, who
lived in the vicinity Of Singers mill,
and that he had been murdered and
placed upon the track. 1t is believed
there that this murder was also accom-
plished by the James boys; that Scott
came upon them while firing the mill,
and that, acting upon the axiom that
dead men tell no tales" they made sure OF
h is silence by numbering him, and then
placed the body of their victim upon the
&c ha trnI N
order to produce the impression that he
came to his death from being run over by
the cars. Our informant, who is gen.
tleman of veracity, and who came up on
the passenger train Saturday, from Sc
bree City, firmly believes that the James
bows are in that neighborhood, and that
the arson and murder Of Thursday and
Friday night were their work. Webster
county, and the adjacent portion Of Hen-
derson county, were their old stamping
ground" before the family removed to
Missouri, the "boys" having been born
and raised in Henderson county, and
there are hundreds of citizens of both
counties who know them well. We hope
the authorities will look into the matter
and ascertain ifthe desperadoes are among
us sure enough, and, if they are. take
measures to promptly and effectually ex
terminate them before they can accom-
plish any further devilment.
Since the above was put in type, we
have learned some additional particulars
about them Ad. Young, the Deputy
Sheriff of Henderson county, recently
came out to Robards' Station with a
posse after the Jameses. Young saw
them-and he knew them well-and
didn't attempt to take them, for obvious
reasons A few days before the burning
of Singers mill, a constable and posse
went out from Sebree City to capture
them, it being understood that rewards
aggregating 5000 are offered for them
in Missouri. They came in sight ofthem
in an open field. The Jameses sent one
of their number IN speaking distance oil
the posse, who warned them not to inter.
fere with them (the Jameses). "You
are armed with shotguns," said the
spokesman; 1--WE have Henry rifles. We
don't want to hurt you; we can and will
kill the last one Of you before you could
get close enough to use your guns, for we
don't propose to be taken. Now. you 60
back and let us alone, and we will not in
terfere with you" And the constable
and his men, thinking discretion the bet
ter part of yalor, did return to Sebree
City without effecting the capture, having
taken the outlaws at their word.
DIR. w. j. Berry.