Lexington weekly intelligencer. (Lexington, Mo.) 1871-1887, 1879-11-15
JESSE JAMES.
tFrom the Kansas Citv Times. 7

City anu Joplin papers relating to
the alleged killing of the noted out
law, Jesse James, by George Shep-
herd, all of which are more or less
erroneous, thought [ would write
Shepherds story as have repeatedly
heard it from his own lips. During
the rebellion he was captain Of
company in QuantrelPs command,
and the James and Younger boys
were members of his company. After
the war. himself and cousin, Ol.
Shepherd, frequently joined the
James and Youngers,in their robbing
expeditions. About thirteen years
ago Shepherds nephew. Ike Flan-
merry, was killed in Ray county, near
the Clay county line, and his MUIR
derers ...: t.!.-z..-.
TOOK FROM HIS BODY $4,000.
Circumstances pointed to Jim An
derson,a brother of the bushwhacker,
Bill Anderson, as the guilty party.
Shepherd resolved to avenge his |
nepbew's death, and only awaited a |
favorable opportunity. Anderson |
left Missouri, and for several years
his whereabouts were unknown.
Meanwhi Shepherd moved to Ken
tncky, and while there heard that
jim Anderson was keeping gamb-
ling house in Texas. Shepherd at
once went to Texas, met Anderson.
and killed him. He declares he ell.
tered Anderson's gambling house and
shot him while surrounded by large
number Of friends, yet be escaped,
and no one knew who did the shoot
ing. He says that just before he killed
Anderson, he (Anderson) confessed
that he helped kill Flannery, but that
Jesse James fired the first shot. in-
flicting a mortal wound, and he An
derson) then shot Fiannery, complet-
ing the work begun by jesse. Shep-
herd then says he resolved that Jesse
James should share the fate Of An
derson. He returned from Texas by
way of Kansas City, visited the
haunts frequented by the James, but
> failing to meet Jesse, he returned to
his home in Kentucky. Shortly after
ward the James and Youngers.
(probably assisted by Shepherd,
though he does not admit iD robbed
: q. Kentucky bank of q large sum of
money, and made their escape OH
horses owned by shepherd. This
latter fact being proved, Shepherd
c was sent to the penitentiarY for three
years. He claims that
THE "BoYs" DESERTED HIM.
d aud did nothing for him when they
: could have easily ssput up" enough
d to have effected his release. This and
e the killing Of his nephew, he claims
+ to be the reason why lie "gave away
i the party, and has sought the life OF
:e Jesse james. a gs,
g The manner in which Shepherd
t. sought and obtained admission to th'
c. company of the James gang, since
re the Glendale robbery, has been 2ivel
th to the public by Marshal Ligget. ant
lie is admitted by Shepherd to be sub
Up stantinlly correct, therefore, L will
omit that portion of his statemeu
g and come down to his appearance Of
Short creek, Saturday evening. Nov
1st. The party of outlaws consisted
of four beside Shepherd, namely
=, Jesse James, Ed. Miller, "a brothe
~ of s.Clem" Miller, killed at North
~. feld,) jim Cummings and ma
whom he supposed to be jim kau1
III man, but now knows to be ma
ue named Blackmore. Shepherd left tn
i. party camped In the forest, neH
IN. Smithfield, about six miles north {
Ir. this town, with the understandin
,ho that he should join them again ne1
of morning (Sunday,) at a point sout
k. of Shoal creek, about seven mile
southeast Of this town. Shepher
came here ostensibiy to arrange plar
to rob the Galena bank, but realI
to communicate with Marshal Ligg'
ou and prepare for the attempted cal
he ture Of the robbers. On srrivin
wv here Shepherd sought out Tom Clar
te whose wife is Shepherds niece, all
,.t he and Tom stopped over night I
l'' the Willard Hotel. Shepherd says |
me would have telegraphed to Marsh
,ed Ligget, but could not find the ope
of ator. Now right here is where She
-. herds story assumes
SLIGHTLY TRANSPARENT CHAl
and becomes more and more gauzy
or 1T proceeds. The question sugges
are itself: Why did he not go to Baxt
are Springs or Joplin and telegraph Lii
not get? A lively team would ha,
10 taken him to either Of those towns
SUI one hour. He made known his plal
oll- to no one except Tom Clary aud b
es, brother, Mike Clary.
xe- Immediately after breakfast, Su
lge day morning, Shepherd mounted Il
ne. horse and rode away i'll the directit
=, of the robbers camp, Oh Shoal cree
The The Clary brothers were to folio
ors in buggy about noon. and, ARM
nts with shot-guns, were to lay i'll al
al bush at a point near where it W
AXE supposed Shepherd would begin t
leh fight and when he retreat ed past the
and they were to save the pursued al
kill the pursuers. Shepherd foul
'ra- no difficulty i'll overtaking the re
ent bers, as their trail was marked
low green boughs thrown IN the roa
ent and two crossed where they left t
ing road. When he arrived at the pls
aW. they were to await him, they h
taken their departure, but he SO
ita- overlook them. He says he travel
tor by the side of Jesse James and "
AXE engaged in conversation with hi
all Cummings was about forty yards
per their right and Miller and BlackmC
lun- about the same distance to their lie
the Shepherd had in his right side ct
him pocket 49, calibre
fine SMITH & wEssON REVOLVER,
'ury which he cooked before taking fir,
and his pocket. Being ready, he drt
anne ped back step, placed the muZZle
the revolver within few inches
ians Je.se's head and fired, III, ball tax
225, effect just back of his left ear. Sh
herd brought his horse to sta
ians still. Jesse's horse made two or tn
New jumps forward, its rider tell to
earth corpse. Jesse's horse C.
tinued on his course few var
when he stopped. 1t then occur
to Shepherd that he had business
oing Galena, and turning his horse
lalla "bucktracked' at a lively gait.
state to this moment the balance Of
'ohn party remained motionless.
n6er (Shepherdl was the first to move,
lie it is presumable that he did not n
the time to observe the movements
po- those behind him. Yet, he says, \
lie Ter went over to the body of Je
beon and remained with it, while Bla
lie more and Cummings pursued b
ap- In his race for life Blackmorc, y
age, had poor horse, fell behind So
rame what, while Cummings, who
his mounted on fine thoroughb
snifi- horse, rapidly gained OH Shephe
lead, who, seeing that he would be oI
rown taken, turned and rode toward c.
tow mings when they continued to
ike change shots until they were cl
glcal enough 10 touch one another. ST