The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1877-01-17
THE MISSOURI OUTLAWS.


An Intellectual Dash after the James Broth
crs---Systematic Operations.
The ubiquitous James boys, whose ex-
ploits have given the Missouri border
such an unenviable notoriety during the
last two or three years, have again turn
ell up on their native heath in Clay
county, Mo, and after a lively skirmish
with the sheriff and his posse have, as
usual, disappeared. This vas their first
dress parade OF their stamping
ground since the Mortified raid, which
terminated so disastrously to the three
despcradocs known as the Younger
brothers, who were lately retired to the
Minnesota penitentiary for life, and to
two other robbers, Charley Pitts and
Clel. Miller, who were picked off during
the skirnish in front of the Mortified
bank. Tic James and Younger boys
originated and executed all the bold,
open, daylight bank and day and night
train robberics not only in Missouri, but
in Illinois, Kentucky, West Virginia,
Iowa and Kansas. One of their former
comrades paid the penalty of his crimes
in Kentucky, being hunted down and
shot as Il fugitive after the bank raid i'll
West Virginia; and another, who had
been arrested and imprisoned at Law
renee, Kansas, for participation in the
train robbery at Munsie, was also shot,
after breaking from Jail, while endeavor-
ing to flee from the State. Now, add to
this count Hobbs Kerry, who is still held
aprisoner at Jefferson City, and we have
the sum total of nine, who q year ago
comprised the :vincible banditti known
as the James-Younger gang.
Their exploits always partook of a
semi-military character, were planned
upon the same model. were all executed
in the same way, and with q cool and des-
perate courage of which but few men are
capable. They were no common rob-
bers, but had an ambition to make them
selves famous, and few such characters
have appeared in modern history. Even
John 4. ATurrell, celebrated as he was in
his day, was no such character as these
Missouri. outlaws. They had the genius
to adapt themselves to the conditions OF
their age. The money for which they
venturcd was not in the pockets of trav-
elcrs, OF to be made by capture and ran
som Of rich mobiles, as in Italy, nor in
the pockets of lords, squires and stage
coach passengers, as in the days OF Dick
Turpin and Claude Duval. 1t WAS kept
in the strong vaults of banks i'll populous
towns, or carried in iron safes in railway
trains, surrounded by scores of people.
Banks were never molestcd ut night
that was the business of burglars-but in
broad day, during a panic induced by the
sudden appearance of armed men among
an unarmcd people, who were threatened
with death if they crossed certain limits.
And it WAS only when the country select
cd for retreat made it necessary that rail-
way trains were stopped at night.
Then, again, they always had q base
of operations-in general, in Clay, Jack
son, and st. Clair counties, Missouri-a
refuge in the Indian Territory, and an
other in Texas. It has been ascertained
that the latter was generally used after a
robbery, the former before. That they
had confederates in these places does not
admit of doubt. The booty resulting
from their enterprises during the last
two years is estimated at nearly $3.50 900,
in some instances amounting to $40, 600
or $50, 900 at a single robbery. A consid-
cradle portion of these ill-gotten gains is
supposed TO have been distributed among
their sympathizcrs and paid to friendly
officials, who permitted them at intervals
to roam through the country unmolested.
1t is true n price was placed upon their
heads by various State officials, but they
cluded arrest and virtually detied the all
thorities in Missouri, thwarting every
expedition sent against them by the most
experienced detectives.
But with the capture Of three Of the
most noted members Of the gang, the
killing of two, and the flight of the james
brothers, it may be questioned whether
such another gang of %plunderers can ever
again be organized or maintained in
western Missouri. The mother of the
James boys has sold her farm in Clay
county and changed her abode for south
ern Texas.