Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1882-10-19
M}istellaueuus &eadiug'
FRANK JAMES, THE OUTLAW.
rIs VOLUNT4RY SURRENDER TO THE COY
ERNOR OF MISSOURI


When Frank James surrendered to Cover
nor Crittenden at Jefferson City there was a
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 when the expectant ears of
those present heard the sound of footsteps
entering the rotunda Of the building. A mo-
ment later the well l-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 and
with quiet, easy and self-possessed gait to
the middle of the room. Stopping in front Of
the Governor, Major Edwards said
'sGovernor and gentlemen, this is Frank
James. He is heretSgiFe himself 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 familiar throughout our land, if not the
whole world. It was a scene without prece-
dent in the annals of the aState, and to all
present was intensely interesting and dramat-
ic. To all appearances Frank James was the
coolest and least moved man in the room.
While Major Edwards was introducing him
his cOuntenance was as quiet and 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 movement
unbuckled belt from around his 1.-the body
and, ,,holding it toward the Governor, said
"Governor, am Frank James. 1 surren-
der my arms to you. I have removed the
loads from them they are not loaded. They
have not been out of my possession since 1864.
No other man has ever had them since then.
I now give them to you personally. [ deliver
myself to you and the law"
Governor Crittenden received the proffered
belt, pistol and cartridges, and with charac-
teristic courtesy requested Frank James to be
seated, saying that he was very glad to meet
him, particularly 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 years-that is, live the life of
a law-abiding 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 w-abidng citizen for
four years, he well knew that everything
criminal and bad that had been committed Of
late years had been credited to him. To the
Governor he said, with more earnestness in his
tone than he had hitherto shown ''If some
one were to assassinate you, although might
be able to prove myself entirely innocent, |
would not be able to convince people that
was guiltless of the crime. They have been in
the habit of attributing all manner of crimes
to me, and are ready to believe anything they
hear"
Reference being made to the time he had
been in the State, Frank James said ne had
not been in Missouri for over year previous
to Sunday, September "a, when he reached st.
Louis. Governor Crittenden said 81 have
| hole buc bo1D Of LOTT from
or from those protesting to be you. | have re-
ceived them not only from three or four diff
ferent men on the same day, but from several
different States"
"Yes," answered the outlaw "this proves
that any crime, no matter by whom commit
ted, is likely to be laidtto me. have surren-
dered because wish this to end and to prove,
as l can, that for four years Ihave been law
abiding citizen, and that have been painted
blacker than am. l do it for my wife and
chld's sake. am in your hands, do with me
as you see best"
As soon AS the talk between the Governor
and Frank James was over, those present gath,
cred around him. Adjutant General Waddell
said to him: 81 met you to-day at dinner, but
had no idea who you were" Indeed, no one
would take the quiet, calm man, with the wide
open and frank-lookng eyes, for the outlaw
who had held sway over Missouri for 80 long
His clear complexion indicated habits OF tenn
perance and there was not an ounce OF super
tluouS flesh upon his frame.
TALK WITH THE OUTLAW.
A letter from Independence says Frank
James, the outlaw, has been leading very
quiet life for the past four years. He denies
that he has been implicated in the train rob-
berries which have caused so much excitement.
If his story is true, and he gives names and
dates to substantiate it, he has not done much
shooting of late. lie is not iierce-lookng
man, such as the typical bandit is supposed to
be- He is about five feet nine inches IN
height and is thirty-nine years OF age. His
face is rugged and his strong jaws slope away
at blunt angle toward the ears, which are
rather large. His bluish-gray eyes are bright
and small. His forehead is high, his cheek
bones prominent and his face marked with
several scars For the past year he has been
flying around to different places. He talks
freely to people who visit him here in jail and
says he wants to settle down and live an
honest life. He does not apparently fear the
result of his trial, and the story is pretty gen.
orally believed that if convicted he Will be
taken care of by the Governor.
81 have been outside the laws of Missouri
for twenty-One years. said the prisoner dur
ing conversation upon his voluntary surren-
der, land now have come back here to Try
| to regain home. I have been hunted like Il
wild animal from one State to another.
have known no home; | have slept III all
sorts of paces-here to-day, there tomorrow !;
1 have been charged with nearly every great
crime committed in either Missouri or her
neighboring States have been taught to
suspect my dearest and nearest TREND Oh
treachery and where is the end to be am
tired of this life of taut nerves, of night-ridng
and day hiding of constant listening for foot
falls, cracking doors tired of seeing Judas OH
the face of every friend | own-and goodness
knows have none to spare-tired of the sad
die. the revolver, and the cartridge belt tired
of the hoOfs and horns with which popular
belief has equipped me, and l want to see II
there is not some way out of it,"
Then the outlaw said that he had proved
that he could be an industrious citizen by his
career of late In August, 1877, he went
boldly to Nashville with his wife. His health
was poor AS emigrants were plentiful Just
then he found no difficulty in passing himself
off as an emigrant, and took the name of B..
J. Woodson. In short time he rented a
piece of land from Josiah Walton on White
Creek, a few miles out of the city, and worked
hard at farming. at the end of year ne
became teamster for the Indiana Lumber
Company and took his meals in the woods
every day with the darkeys After year
of this kind of work he hired land on White
Creek from Felix Smith and remained there
until April, 1881. During his four years
around Nashville he never enjoyed himself
better. He numbered among his acquaint-
onces Charles II. Eastman, the county clerk,
Rev. DR.. Wall, and J. w. Shute, member OF
the Legislature. Among the detectives at
TNIzI .l> nod