The evening light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1881-1883, 1882-04-19
TOM MARTINS OPINION OF THE KILL
ING OF JESSE JAMES.

Capt. Tom Martin, of Kyle, Texas, an dip
Union scout on the southwestern border, and
we'll acquainted with all the living and dead
desperadoes of the past twenty years, has been
interviewed by the editor of the Nutshell in
regard to the killing of Jesse James. He
says:
"Wel, sir, the killing Of Jesse James is a
good thing, no matter how it was done. The
people at large are better OFF, and | tell you
this is the only way to reach such men. Jesse
has been terror to the country for seventeen
years. The mere mention OF his name mas
caused whole cities to tremble. Thousands OF
dollars have been spent to catch him Tor no
good The shrewdest detectives have been
employed and put on his trail, and no less
than five good officers, to my knowledge, have
never returned. Their horses returned with
empty saddles. | don't suppose that those
five men would make tally marks for the men
that have died by the hand Of Jesse ames
and his band. l think his end is just, no
matter how he met it.
ole has now gone to the happy hunting
ground, where they wear no false faces, and
Carry no Colts ass. He and those whom he
has sent ahead have | suppose met before this
time, where they have a book-keeper to bal
ance their acts"
"Mr. Martin what do you think of the Ford
brothers,"
81 think they exhibited very little courage.
They might have, al least, given him little
tussle, unarmed as he was, and if compelled
to kill him, shot him in the right side. Every
body wants them hung. l say turn them
loose. 1t takes desperate remedies to reach
such cases, and if they and their God can fix
it up, say let them alone.
You say why didn't they get help, surround
the house, and take him? If they made such
a break, the chances would have been, that
several good men would have been killed. AS
it is, ames is the only sufferer, and it is just
what he ha done for many another He
trained the Fords, and therefore could have no
cause to complain. think this was the best.
Look at the Sam. Bass fight. Would il not
have been better for Murphy in some way to
separate Bass, Jackson and Barnes, and done
all the work himself? If SO, the officer killed
at Round Rock would probably be yet alive,
and of some use to the state. Maurice Moore,
of Austin, would not be suffering from the
wound received in that fight.
And then look at my expedition and Bud
Carter and BOSWELL, the stage robbers of
BIanCo Valley. After had tracked them up
ana lau tnem COrnercu, 1 was lnuuCed ny
Sheriff Merit, at Mckinney, TO take posse
with me. DO you remember the result?
Well, if you don't, do, and | am not likely
TO rorget it. Sam liersberg, my pardncr, lies
in his grave, rid'lled with huckshot, and |
hopping about like little dog in high rye
from the effect of shot received there.
Well, Cash, since that time l have played 4
lone hand and have got along much better.
The Ford boys exhibited good judgment in
playing lone hand.
Now could tell you OF a hundred cases,
which resulted badly, by trying TO arrest bad
men. Some good men always get hurt. |
have been acting as an officer, in some capa-
city for twenty years, and give it as my opin-
ion, that the best way to fight the devil is to do
it with fire Once you get bad men mixed up
and gel them 10 talking you may expect good
results.