Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1882-04-05
THE JESSE JAMES KILLING
Further Particulars Of the
Affair.
THE VERDICT OF THE JURY.
Ford Charged with Murder in the
First Degree.
THE VERDICT OF THE JURY
ESPECIAL BY TELEGRAPH TO THE KEcoaD-UNIoN.l

uSt O6Sito'
ESPECIAL BY TELEGRAPH TO THE KEcoaD-UNroN.l
ST. JOSEPH MOI April 4sh.-A great
sensation was created here by the announce
ment that Jesse james had been shot aud
killed here in st. Joseph. The news spread
with great rapidity, but almost all the people
received the story with doubts until inves,i-
CATION established the fact beyond question.
The excitement became more and more in
tense, and crowds of people rushed to the
quarter where the shooting took place, anx
ious to view the body of the dad outlaw and
learn the particulars. In small frame
shanty in the south part of the city. on hill
not far from the Worlds Hotel, Jesse James
has lived with his wife since some time in
November last. Robert and Charles Ford,
two Of his gang, have made their headquar-
ters at his house, and Charles, it is said, has
lived with him in that shanty ever since No
vember. Robert arrived about ten days ago,
and the three have been making preparations
for raiding expedition, on which they were
to start last night. james and the two Fords
being in the front room together, the former
took off his belt and laid his pistols ON the
bed preparatory to washing himself, when
Robert Ford sprang up behind him and sent
bullet through his brain. The ball entere1
the back of his head at the base of the isht
lobe of the brain, coming out over the eye.
The Ford brothers az once made known
what they had done, and gave themselves up.
They are now under guard at the Court
rba hOI1 81
conveyed to an undertaker's, where it
was prepared for burial. aud where a
photograph was taken. James wife tele-
graphed his mother the news of the death.
A number of men have identified the body
and there is no question aboutit being James.
A Herald reporter viewed the body at the
undertaker's when it was being photographed.
He was fine looking man, apparently 40
years old, with a broad forehead and
his physiognomy was that of an in
teiligent as we'll as resolute and daring
man.
The house where james lived, and in which
he was killed, has the appearance OF an ar.
mory. A nunber of guns and pistols, in
:luding q repeating rif., needle gun, navy
revolvers, with good store of ammunition,
were found there. Jesse was in the habit Of
wearing two belts, with a brace Of very fine
rsvolvers and twenty extra cartridges In a
small, stable near were discovered several fine
horses, the property of James.
Career Of the Outlaw.
KANSAS CITY, April 4th.-Jesse James
was born in Clay county, Missouri, in 1915.
He was the son of Rev. DIR. James. He had
little education. When under 16 years Of
age he Joined Q Qlantreli's band of gusrrillas,
and participated in the butchery at Centralia
and the s.cking aud buraiog of Lawrence,
Kansas He was also connected with other
events Of the war of a ike nature. In 1866
he made his first robbery, which was the Bank
of Liberty. In 1867 he robbed tbs Russellviile
lKy) Bank, and in 1868 the Huntington
IVA. Bank. During 1866 and 1868 he was
connected with two stage robberies in Texas
Frank James and Jesse, in 1869, robbed the
Gallstin (M1 Bank and killed the Cashier
La 1872 he robbed the Kansas City Fair off ice
IN broad daylight of $4,000 Ia 1873 the
St. Gsnevieve Bank WIS robbed, and
IN 1874 the Munc;e tKsnsas) Bank.
La the latter year he robbed stage
1t Hot Springs, and also participated
in his first train robbery on the Iron
Mountain Railroad. Ia 1876 the Minnesota
Bank was robbed at Mortified, MINI, the
Cashier killed and three of Jesse's gang. The
Glendale robbery occurred in 1879. The
Winston and Blue Cut train robbefies took
placs last year. Since the officers have been
in pursuit of the desperate he has been aided
in all of his exploits by gang from his own
neighborhood. 1t is estimated that his roE
berries amount TO nearly 500. coo.
Detail, of the Killing OF Jesse
James-The COroner's IGquest.
ST JOSEPH, April 4.h.-When Jesse James
came into the room where he received his
ieassh-Yound, he laid his pistols on the bed
With his cat and vest. He then picked up
iusting. brush, with the intention of busting
some pictures which hung on the wall, TIE
10 this he got upon chair His back was
now turned to the brothers, who silently
stepped between Jesse and his revo.vers, and
at motion from Charley, both drew their
pistols. Robert was the quicker Of the two.
In a moment he had his weapon TO level,
with the muzzle no mere than four feet from
.he back of the outlaws head. EvsB in that
netior, quick as thought, there was some.
hing that did not escape the acute ears of
he hunted man. He made a me tion SIS if to
turn his head to ascertain the cause of that
suspicious sound, but too late. A nervous
pressure on the trigger, a quick fash, a sharp
'eport, and the well-dirscted ball crushed
through the outlaws skull. There was no
,utcry, just swaying of the body, and it
ELI heavily back upon the carpet. The
cts in the chamber of Charley's revolver
till directed at Jesse's head, could not more
,ffsctusily decide the fate of the bandit. The
oall entered the base of the skull, and made
Is way out through the forehead over the
eft eye. It had been fred out of Coll's
i5 improved pattern, silver.mounted aud
pearl handled pistol, presented By the dead
nan to his slayer only few days ago.
Mrs. james was in the kitchen when the
hooting was done. divided from the room in
which the bloody tragedy occurred by the
lining room. She heard the shot, and
iropping her household duties ran into the
ront room. She saw her husband lying On
lis back, and his slsyers, each holding his re-
yolver in his hand, IN king for the fence in
he rear of the house. Robert had reached
,he inclosure, and was in the act of sealing
{. when she stepped to the door and calling to
lin, Robert, you have done this. Come
back" Robert answered, 81 swear to God |
lid not" They then returned where she |
tood. Mrs. James ran to the side of her
aud lifted up his head. Life was not
extinct, and whsn asked if he was hurt, it |
eemed to her that he wanted to say some
hing, but could not. Sac tried TO wash away
he blood that wss coprsing over his face |
rom the hole in his forehead, but it seemed |
% her that the blood weuli come faster than
1g
Jesse James died.
Charlie Ford explained to Mrs James that
pistol had accidentally gone off, Yes,"
aid Mrs. James, II guess it went eff on |
purpose" Meanwhile Charlie had gone back |
nto the house and brought two hats, and the |
wo boys left the house. They went to the |
ofhce and sent messages to Sheriff |
to Governor Crittenden and |
ther officers, and then started to surrender |
themselves to Marshal Craig.
When the boys appeared at the police sta /
ion they were told by an officer that Marshal |
Jraig and a posse of officers had gone in the |
Erection ef James residence, and thew |
tarted after them and surrendered thern- |
elves. They accompanied the officers to the |
ouse. and returned in custody of the police to |
he Marshals headquarters, where they were |
urrished with dinner. and about o'clock |
we're removed to the old Circuit Courtroom, |
rhere the inquest was held in the presence of |
n immense crowd. Mrs. James also ac-
ompanied tbe officers to the City Hall. She |
7as greatly affected by the tragedy, and her
moans and expressions of grief |
yere sorrowful evidence of the love she bore p,
Or the desperate.
The Coroner was notified and an under.
aker was instructed to remove the body. A
arge crowd accompanied the Coroner to the
forgue, but only few, including reporters,
'ere admitted.
Nothing in the appearance of James re-
lains indicated the desperate character of
ne man. or the many bloody scenes in which