The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-10-22
THE ROBBERS FORTRESS.
THE HOUSE or THE JAMES BOYs IN
BLAIR COUNTY, MO.
An Iupressabic Cabin In the Midst Of Woods
The Midnight Assault bv Detcctivee-Wby
the Bandits Went 10 NerthaeId.


An Iu,presrab,c Cabin In the Midst Of Woods
| TIE Midnight Assault bv Detcctives-Wby
the Bandits Went 10 Nerthacid.
sSo,s ~ oh,cdoo Tme.
kASaAe CITY, Mo-, Dot Efficiently I
visited the home Of the james boys, farm
house In Blair county, about three miles from
Kearnev, an obscure station on the lioe OF the
| Hannibal and 81. Joseph Railroad, situated In n
| omen lot OF q few acres. around which the forest
trees grow In abundance. Butt OF logs, the
| house Ia impreGnable N an attack " made upon
| II. Mrs. Samuels, mother of the boys. with
son and her husband, Dr. samuels, reside here.
| They minele httle with tho outside world, and
dislike to make acquaintauces Knowing the
desperate character OF the "boys"-as they are
| famili 'rly known-the neighbour prefer TO leave
these people alone, and so the farm Ia seldom
Waited by anv butthe family.
| when | entered the house. IN COMPANY with
an old gentleman well-knowD to the fimily,
frat met the wife Of Jesse James, who had come
over from Kansas City that day. OF course
waa curious to see young woman who could
delioeratsl, join nor fortunes through life with
desperate, who - charged with more crimes,
and greater ones, than any criminal Of the pres
| ent day.
| She 10 not handsome. OK rather graceful ng-
ure, her features are Irregular, her mouth large,
and her general appearance that OF woman
troduced as Mrs. James Her connection with
Jesse she endeavors TO keep secret, but was
informed OF her MARI 'ge when " occurred.
| She had little to say In the cOnversatian that
| ensued between Mrs. samuels and her visitors,
and after few moments withdrew from the
| room.
| MTs. samuels, the mother Of the high waymen
proved to be an exceedingly intelligent old
| lady who talked freely un every subject but her
sons, and where they were, and insists that they
were Innocent Of crime, and that the persecu-
| ton they and the family suffered during the war
lie the cause OF their being outlaws. she de-
| clared that II they could have fair and impar-
and let the. law take its course moving their
innocence. Exposing the stump OF her arm,
and With blazing eyes, she went on To tell me
how her little son was murdered IN cowardlv
attempt To capture Jesse, when he was not In
the house at all. The detectives threw hand
grenade into the house that awful night when
We were all aseeO, and II exploded. killing my
darling, and shattering my arm. The towards
fired upon US. and then fed, escaping under
| cover OF darkness. Inc murder Of that bow
and the loss Of my arm, will he avenged some
OF those days, as certain ~ my boys are living"
| could get her to talk Of nothing else and she
| grew very violent a. abe thought OF her little
boy who was Killed, as she said.
| The house is constructed ike an old-fashioned
block mouse, small holes being left through the
logs, out OF which guns can be fired at an attack
ing party; II would be dangerous to tackle the
| boys inside this dwelling and some bloody work
| would be sure to follow.
many through this section-are delighted at
their escape from Minnesota. They repeat, with
evident pride, That the Jameses can never be
| caught like the YounHers were-alive. They
| will light IA long as life lasts. they say.
have described the home Of the James boys.
| now let me tell you something aoout the
| Younger.
There are hundreds OF people in this county
| who remember these boys hs peaceHble, indus
| tious farmer lads. The war came and they were
turned into ncncs by CARNAGE and hloodshed.
| Their home was broken up, father killed, and
maN OF their relatives sent over the river, never
60 return. Those were terrible times. and for
what the Younger boys did during the war they
have good excuse. But their record since the
advent Of peace has been so black as to place
| every mans hand az inst them.
| The home oil Cole Younger, after the war. was
with his widowed mother on farm, near Lec's
summit, 10 this county. lie was quiet fellow,
aAf fn na I'm lrn ha
| ed to De straightforward man from that time
on. In tue same town Carpenter by TRACE, and
war, was JOHN Jarrett, one Of the three mem
bers OF the gang stil at large, VINO was consid-
| cred a bad man. Wherever he went in those
days. even though the war and Its troubles were
over, he carried u pair OF navy revolvers. and he
| reputation was that Of q desperate, without the
generous nature OF those dsshing knights OF the
drink.
In 1898. a bank In Russellyille, XIV, was robbed
In daylight of $4,000. The news spread like
wildnre over the entire country. II came to
Lees summit. and created considerable com
ment. vigilance committee took the matter
under consideration, and, without suspecting
either jarrett or Cole Younger, wrote the oanK
authorities for a description OF the men. II re-
suited in estAblishng the fact thatthree OF their
own citizens were concerned In the robbery
BENG no 2'eess iaa" Se onTsI John jar
ard ever came tack, but Cole Younger appeared
and admitted that tie was guilty. his outlawed
hun from society, and after visit OF two he,
| too, dis appeared, HIS crimes since that time
are familiar to every ono. Hut this was his nrst
bnnk robbery, his fret delib 70 crime. aud his
relatives lay IL at IN door OF this man Jarrett.
The Jameses have teen bv far the worst OF the
| gang, never caring whether they murdered or
not. But their time has come. Frank n IN the
hands OF the law, aud II will not be long before
Jesse Will be taken.
Thor career has been q successful one, and
| they had become terror In this ~ tie. The
real cause of the robbers gong To Minnesota has
never been told When tie detectives made
| the raid on Mrs. Samuels's house tney consulted
an attorney In l.berty.a town near hy-and he
| furnished them assistance. The James boys
| found this out, ana for fear Of his life he re-
| moved to -. Paul. To kill Nun, and avenRe their
| brothers death they followed him. Getting out
| OF money they decided to rob the Northneld
| bank, and thus were captured.
| KANSAS CITY, Oct. H.-Ail parties who know
| the James boys IN this vicinity declare thi
| the prisoner at IT. Louis Ia not Frank James.
| Mrs Samues, mother OF the James boys, told
| relative here not TO be alarmed that Frank End
Jesse were safe. telegram mas just been re-
| ceivsd from st. Louis from n party who Is well
| acdu tinted with the boys. which saws that the
| prisoner IL not Prank James, but PROBABLY the
party he claims TO be-Goodwin, Of Louisiana.