The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1882-10-18
Frank James Surrender

Yesterday morning, about l O'Clock,
in company with John Edwards, and
during the forenoon they We're about
the city and in and out of the hotels
until the hour arrived that had been
appointed for the meeting between
the OUTLAW and Governor. About a
quarter before 5 o'clock they walked
over to the capitol grounds, climbed
the hill and entered the window
leading to the private office OF Gov-
ernor Crittenden. The latter, having
a few hours notice OF their coming,
naturally felt jubilant over THIS
gratifying elimination OF hls long
fight against the outlaw band, and
he had, without indicating what the
occasion was. summoned a NUMBER
of the, State officials to be present AT
the appointed time and witness this
historical event. As they arrived
one py one he jokingly told them
that there was Christmas boXto oe
opened pretty soon and he wanted
his friends to enjoy it. While wait
ing he entertained them, Just as a
sort of side issue. by exhibiting the
Frank James letter, which was per-
sued by all with intense interest, and
the good penmanship and easy style
of which were generally commented
upon. While the company were SO
engaged Major Edwards and ms
companion walked in and right over
to where the Governor sat IN the
midst of the assemblage. The light
shone In from the west, and as the
outlaw walked in that objection, with
his hat in his hand, his dark eye
shone like brilliant. His face be-
ing clean shaved was unusually pale,
but his walk and manner were as
easy and natural as though this oc-
casion. which was one OF life or
death, was nothing unusual for him.
THE SURRENDER.
The assembled company halted IN
their laughing and joking merely out
of respect to strangers, and when
Major Edwards said, Governor Crlt-
tenden. | want TO introduce to you
my friend Frank James, death
like stiffness took possession OF the
room and the men sat like statues.
Governor Crittenden arose, and step
ping forward shook hands with the
visitors. Meanwhile the spell which
had come over the spectators held
its sway. After shaking hands the
outlaw stepped back two PAGES and
unbuttoning his coat took otf his
belt of cartridges and revolvers and
handed them to the Governor. Then
followed an interview, or rather a
general conversation between all
present, after which the outlaw was
sent to independence in charge OF
the Governors private secretary.
In the course of a long interview
with the prisoner he said he had
come to Missouri on September %
with the purpose of surrendering.
Previous to that time he said he had
not been in the State for a year. He
said: Il came to Missouri to try to
regain home and standing among
her people. | have been outside of
her laws for twenty-one years |
have been hunted like wild animal
from one State to another: | have
known no home have slept in all
sorts of places-here to-day, there
tomorrow | have been charged
with nearly every great crime COM
mitted in either Missouri or the
neighboring States have been
taught to suspect my dearest and
nearest friend of treachery, and
where is the end to be? | am tired
of this life of taut nerves, of night
riding and day hiding, of constant
listening for footballs, cracking
twigs, rustling leaves and creaking
doors tired of seeing Judas on the
face of every friend own-and good
ness knows, | have none to spare (;
tired of the saddle, the revolver and
the cartridge belt; tired of the hoofs
and horns with which popular belief
has equipped me; and | want to see
If there is not some way out of it. L
think | can give the State substan-
tial return for what | ask, and |
think the dignity of the law will not
suffer. | shall prove myself worthy
of mercy"
PRELIMINARY CORRESPONDENCE.
Just after the killing of Jesse
James at st. Joseph, last April,
friends OF Frank James in this State
made overtures to Governor Critten-
den looking to a pardon for the not
ed robber The newspapers were
full of the matter at that time, and
it was even reported that Governor
Crittenden was willing to grant a
pardon in case Frank would agree
to give information concerning the
members of the gang who are vet
out. Crittenden himself says he
told Frank if he wanted to surrender
he must come in the same as any
other criminal and stand trial for
crimes committed. Since that the
matter has dropped from public at
tention, and it was even st; ted from
public attention, and il was even
stated that Frank had gone to
Australia. Suddenly he appeared
on the scene, however, and this week
sent Governor Crittenden letter
from St. Louis stating in substance
that he is anxious to be restored TO
citizenship; that he wants TO put
the past behind him that he is
heartily sick of the life of an oItlaw;
that he has wife and child to plead
for him and make him human, even
though he were as bad as he has
been described. and that he throws
himself on thesclemency of the Gov
ernor and asks that he be saved
Uuder date of October Governor
Crittenden responded that he could
not grant a pardon if inclined to be
fore a conviction OF syme crime /:
that he hopes James will abandon
his past life. and if he surrender,
will seee that he gets an impartial
trial. The response is this surren-
der.
James history is known. He was
engaged in the Mortified bank rob
berv and some dozen other noted
deeds OF outlawry He is under
indictment in Iowa for the Corydon
bank robbery: in Missouri, for the