The Sedalia weekly bazoo. [volume] (Sedalia, Mo.) 187?-1904, 1881-08-02
Some Interesting Facts and
Incidents Connected with
the Recent Outrage.
A Proposition from Frank
James to the Writer, In
dicating His Plans
for the Rob-
berry.
The James Boys Rendezvous and
Where They were Recently
Seen.

ent arrived in Kansas City on Monday
last, the 18th, for the purpose Of prosecut
ing an investigation, not concerning ths
particulars Of the recent train robbery al
Winston, NO.. but to discover il possible
who the outlaws were. where they came
from, whittier they went, and how the
authorities prosecuted the search. am
glad to say nv efforts have not been with.
out results, rs will be seen in the summing
up which follows:
am prepared to state. with circumstan-
tial poeitiveness, that Frank James and
Jim Cummings were the parties who plan
ned, and with the aid Of their cOnfrers, ex-
ecuted the robbery at Winston, and that
the proof may not he wanting the follow
ing several facts are recited:
4 few weeks ago received a letter from
Frank James acknowledging the receipt Of
a copy of my late publication, Border
Outlaws" which ] sent to him by rela-
tive. This letter has already been pub
lished. Shortly after its receipt this same
relative, who is known to he in communi-
cation with Frank James, visited ST. Louis
and confdentially conferred with my pub
Usher upon the advantages which We
might mutually reap by sudden stimula-
ton in the sale Of BORDER Outlaws"
for which he was acting az agent. His
proposition embraced statement that
Frank James and Jim Cummings were at
that time in Missouri planning campaign !;
that large robbery would soon he consul
mated, attended with some startling re-
suits. All these facts he agreed to furnish
US with the very moment the robbery
should be completed, comprising the
names Of those engaged, how they organ
lied, where assembled, cause for their acts,
ETC., provided any publisher would give
him certain sum Of money. The incen-
tive on our part to comply with his proP"-
sition was in securing this reliable infOr-
nation, which might be added as an az.
pendix to new edition Of Border Out
laws" and issued contempOraneonsly with
the first newspaper reports, thereby Great
ing largely increased demand for the
book. Of course there appeared So much
doubt in this singular offer that il was NJ
iected with little consideration of the prob
ability Of robbery such as was about to
take place. At this time, however. the as
sertiOns then made assume an interest
which throws much light upon the prob
lem, who committed the robbery?'
But this is not all the evidence am in
Of respecting this latest defama-
ton OF Missouri's good name. In pnrsu.
ing my Investigations ! visited Olathe,
Kansas, twenty miles south OF Kansas
Civ, and there found gentleman we'll
known in that town. who had met Frank
James walking on the south side Of the
public square in Olathe, we'll armed, ON
the 10th inst, or only five days before the
robbery occurred. 1t was not \ mistaken
identity, for the gentleman in question
Was raised within four miles Of the present
residence of the James boys parents, and
vas for years upon terms of the greatest
social intimacy with them, attending the
SAME school, participating in the same
sports, and in later years meeting with
hem rs old acquaintance. Being we'll ac-
.uainted myself in Ola,he. can positively
state that this information regarding the
presence Of Frank James in the town re-
erred to is true beyond all doubt. But
what his business was ar when he left,
.Ould not ascertain.
Mrs. Samuels, mother Of the James BOYS,
was in Kansas City ON yesterday and also
On Tuesday, presumably to discover what
fort was being made by Jackson county
authorities 10 apprehend the gang. She
vas very positive in her declarations that
10Th Frank and jesse were dead. going 80
ar in her assertions n to say that Frank |
lied three years ago Of consumption, in |
Texas. What she hoped to gain By q |
lain SO easily disProved is difficult to
conjecture.
The rendezvous Of Frank James manv |
know Is in the Indian nation. On the head |
1aterS Of the Sandy river, near Atoka. 4 |
well known gentleman of st. Louis, whose |
business for the last seven months has |
.ept him in the nation, informed me some |
laws ago that he had seen Frank James |
md several of his cOnfederates more than |
fifty times during the present year, and al
rays within q hundred miles or less Of /
AtOka This section of the nation is dis !
inguished for the lawless characters that
nfest it, murder and robbery being the
hief occupation of nearly every one in
hat particular section Of country. 1t il,
n fact, almost impossible for gentleman
o pass through the district without large
nd weIl-armed escort. In such haunis
he James boys feel secure from official
From the best evidence obtainable, the
ang who robbed the Rock Island train,
mong whom were Frank James, Ed. Mil
r., Jim Cummings and Dick Little, after
eaving the train mounted their horses and :
ode northward until. they reached the
ntskirts Of Cameron, when they turned
nd took to the brush again, making
irectly for the Missouri river. Just
here they made crossing it is impossi-
le to state, but on the following evening,
he 10th, they certainly passed through .
ni-a-bar township, Jackson county, and
liking q sOuthwestwardly course, cOntin-
ed on to the Indian Territory. The party,
owever, did not remain intact, but divided
p into couples, SO rs to destroy the trail
hich SO large number As seven riders 4,
ould have made conspicuous. They were !
no time 30 far apart though but that .
signal they would have con- I
.ntrated the outlaws. Such force dis =,
plined in desperation and schooled 50 I
ell in the use Of arms, would be capable {