The Ouachita telegraph. [volume] (Monroe, La.) 1865-1889, 1879-12-12
JESSE JAMES HEARD FROM
A Rem arkable Letter.


Readers of the Clipper-Herald will
remember that some weeks ago our
reporter caught a nightmare and rode
through the labyrinths of Hannibal
Cave, where he encountered, as he
supposed, the James boys gang, head
ed by the redoubtable Jesse. The
canard has been laughed at time and
again in this Office, and would have
been classed with other forgotten fish
stories but for the reported murder of
Jesse James by George Shepherd, one
of his old chums. This morning we
visited the postodice as usual, and
among other letters fround one address
ed in a bold, firm hand to the "Editor
Clipper-Herald, Hannibal, No." and
bearing the postmark, stBrownwood,
Texas" We opened the letter, and
our astonishment may be imagined as
we perused the following lines:
FROM THE PEN OF JESSE JAMES.
BRowNwooD, THE HARDEST Town
IN TENAs, Nov. 7, 1S79.-Zb Editor
Of Herald Cia,per-Your reporter and
George Shepherd have the most bril-
liant imaginations in America. They
ought to pull in double harness at the
boss hypothecators. They can lie with
more appeare nee of truth than any two
men in Missouri. Mark Twain's boss
liar, who walked twenty miles to show
a man a tree 100 feet around, and when
he reached the spot where he said the
tree was found only sage-brush, and
explained by saying that the tree had
shrunk during the dry spell, was moth
ing to them.
never saw your cave, and never
expect to. The man who runs me into
a hole will do more than sPink's' de-
tectives could, as Louis j. Lull can
testify. Lull was game, though; the
gamest man that ever met, and am
glad that he pulled through. I read
your reporters yarn, and iayseif and
wife laughed heartily over it.
The description of my appearance,
rather of my features, eyes, hair and
beard, was accurate. Where did your
reporter get it?
have just read Il Geographic account
of the way George Shepherd got the
drop on me, and I'il be - if be-
lieve it. George Shepherd would never
treat me in that way. 1 shot his
nephew because 1 had to, and he
knows it. Besides George is no cow
ard and would never have shot me in
the back. i wish you newspaper men
would charge me with every train
robbery and outrage that is committed
in Missouri or the West. 1 had no
more to do with the Glendale robbery
than you had. The bungling manner
in which the robbers allowed the dust
to slip through their hands shows this.
L would have known what train the
bullion was to be forwarded on from
Kansas City, and would have stopped
that train and no other, bet your life.
But the very thoughts of the old
days and old deeds make my heart
beat fast, and long for the wild and
reckless past, and but for my wife and
boy would again take to the road. AS
it is, however, am playing square
game, and have settled down on
rancho about ten miles from this town
of Brownwood, and am no longer
known as Jesse James. I am not
ashamed of my name, but want peace
and quiet for my wife's sake. She has
saved me from killing myself, and If
I am let alone 1 will be good citizen
and grow up in a new life with this
great State of Texas.
Tell your reporter to 'set 'em up TO
the bows around and send the bill to
me. 1 enclose photo which was
taken some years ago. 1t is not a
really good picture, but will pass mug
ter. Believe me, yours In truth,
JESSE JAMES.
d., I>o,c ~v,orsf t,orrnfa ".