The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1882-10-20
How James Surrendered.


AN.| ntooVthis
When Frank James surrendered to
Governor Crittenden at jefferson City
there was scene in the Governors
room The hands of the clock on the
wall of the Office, says the st. Louis
Globe Democrats account, were close
upon the hour of five when the expec-
tant ears of those present heard the
sound of footsteps entering the rotun-
da of the building. A moment later
the well.known form of Major John
w. Edwards appeared in the open
doorway. As he advanced into the
room he was followed by man nearly
six feet in height, of slender, neat and
trim build, who walked erect aud with
quiet, easy and self-possessed gait to
the middle of the room. Stopping in
front of the Governor, Major Edwards
said
"Governor and gentlemen, this is
Frank James. He is here to give him
self up" This brief introduction brought
face to face the Executive of Missouri
and the noted outlaw whose name has
been terror in this State and is fatni-
Ii throughout our land, if not the
whole world. 1t was scene without
a precedent in the annals of the State,
and to all present was intensely inter.
esting and dramatic. TO all appear
ances Frank james was the
coolest and least moved man in the
room. While Major Edwards was in
PRODUCING him his countenauce was as
quiet ard calm in its expression as If
the business in hand were no concern of
his. He advanced step toward the
Governor and by a dexterous move
ment unbuckled belt from around
his 1.-THE body and, holding it toward
the Governor, said lJli
"Governor, am Frank James. /
surrender my arms to you. / have re-
moved the loads from them; they are
Tot load 1. t'hey havenot been ont
of my possession since 1864. No other
man has had them since then now
give them to you personally. deliver
myself to you and the law" r,
Governor Crittenden received the
proffered belt, pistol and ca, ridges and
with characteristic courtesy requested
Frank James to be sc ed, saying that
he was very glad to meet him, pati-
cularly in this manner. Frank James
answered that he had come in and sur
rendered himself because he desired to
do as he had done for four years--that
| is, live the life of a -biding citizen.
He hoped to be able to prove that he
was not SO bad as he had been painted.
Although he had been living the life of
a quiet, orderly and law-abiding citizen
for four years, he well knew that every
thing criminal and bad that had been
committee OF late years had been cred
tied to him. 10 the Governor he said,
with more earnestness in his tone than
he had hitherto shown "1f some one
were to assassinate you, although /
might be able to prove myself entirely
innocent, ] would no. be able to con-
vince people that ] was guiltless of the
crime. They have been in the habit of
a..ributing all manner of crimes to me
and are ready to believe anything they
hear a. ss-.i' aaI4
Reference being made to the time hp
had been in the State, Frank James
said he had not been in Missouri for
over q yea previous to Sunday, Sent
ember "a, when he reached st. Louis
Governor it;enden said 81 have
received over half of bushel letters from
you, or from those protesting to be You.
i have received them not only from
three or four diffe ent men on the
same day, but from several different
States.9 ssk
yes" answered the outlaw "this
proves that any crime, no matter by
whom committed, is likely TO be laid to
me. l have surrendered because with
this to end and to prove, as / can,
that for four years I have been law.
abiding citizen and that / have been
painted blacker than l am. / do it for
my wife and child's sake. l am in
your hands, to do with me as You see
best"
As soon as the, talk between the
Governor and Frank James was over
those present gathered around him.
Adjutant General Wadd,ll said to him:
81 met you to-day at dinner, but had
no idea who you where Indeed, no
one would take the quiet, calm man,
with the wide, open and frank looking
eyes, for the outlaw who had held sway
over Missouri for so long. His clear
complexion indicated habits of temper
ance and there was not an ounce of
supertluous flesh upon his frame.