Mexico weekly ledger., 1882-04-06

Richmond, Ray county, Mo. Ford lived
Oh the farm until a little over a year ago,
when he went to Richmond and clerked in
his brother Charles Ford's grocery store.
\. few months ago he went out to hunt
down the State outlaws.
HOW THE PLAN was LAID.
Matte Collins, the wife of Dick Little,
tells, graphically, the manner in whichtle
scheme was laid that eliminated in the
death of jesse.
Following is her statement:
Last December, Dick Little, alarmed at
the cloScneSs with which the officers were
pressing the gang, and the fear that Jesse
james intended numbering him, conclud-
ed to enter, if possible, into negotiations
by which he would surrender himself. In
pursuance of this move, he visited the
home of the FordS in Ray county, which
for Il long while had been the rendezvous
of the gang Here he requested Matte
Ford, who has been known for the last
few weeks as the 'veiled' woman, to pay
Il visit to Gov. Crittcnden and see what
arrangements could be effected. Matte
called on the Governor last Christmas
Day, and arrangements We're entered into
as follows, viz: That if Dick would sur
render and present Il plan by which the
be effected he not only should be pardon
ed, but should receive Il part of the re-
ward. Dick accordingly SURRENDERED him
self and Immediately gave information by
which Clarence IIitc was arrested in Ken
lucky, brought to Missouri and sentenced.
Dick then entered into an arrangement
with Bob Ford and his brother, by which
they were to fci"n anger, and r"port to
Jesse james the fact that he Iittlc) had
given himself up. This the Ford boys pro-
ceedcd to do, and in turn brought Little
word from Jesse james that he intended
to catch him, cut him to pieces, and then
burn him alive. GOV. Crittenden then tel
e2raphcd to Police Commissioner Graf" to
enter into what arrangements he thought
proper with the Ford boys by which the
Ntpture of Jesse james could be effected.
Craig then ordered the Ford bows to Join
Jesse James and kill him wheneverth the op-
p%Ortunity presented itself and not to take
him with 4 posse. Bob Ford and his
brother then joined Jesse james, whose
complete confidence they possessed, and
staid with him most of the time until the
murder.
"Why did not Ford notify the officers of
St. Joseph and capture James ~alive?"
"SiInply because he acted under Craig'S
orders. If Ford had summoned Il posse
and captured James the reward would
have been divided anon the entire party.
As it is, Craig and the two Ford boys will
receive the entire amount"
''Wly did You not interccde with Crit
tcndcn for Dick Little, as he was YOUR
hu~band:"
"Simply because Dick grew tired of me
several months ago, and has been living
with Matte Ford ever since. He comes
to see me once or twice a week, however,
and tells me cverythin" that is going on. |
haven't seen him for the last two weeks,
though, as We had Il falling out"
"Wa> Bob Ford an active member of the
gang?"
Little says he never was, although he
claims that honor now that he knows hci-
safe"
CKITrENDEN'S AEGAIS WITH FORD.
1t is 10Y known that the deed was the
fulfillmcnt of a bargain between Governor
Crittcndcn and Bob Ford and that Ford
was to receive onc-fourth the reward and
immunity. In an interview with Dick
Little held by Il reporter Sunday last the
scheme was forcslladowcI, but he said it
was not to have been accomplished before
Wednesday or Thursday, and oH'- hen if
it was found Impossible for Sheriff Tim
berlakc to capture the bandit leader alive.
Gov. Crittendcn tclcgraphcd the authori-
ties at st. Joe to turn the body over to
Mrs. James after the inquest.
In al interview the Governor stated that
his first meeting with Ford was nj the st.
James Hotel, in Kansas City, on the I'D
Of February, and that an arrangement by
which Jesse James was to be either cap
tured or killed was contaminated. He met
Little Il few days later through an engage
ment made by Matte Ford, of Ray county,
who called upon him at jefferson City early
in the month. He was non-committal as
to the disposition To be made of Ford and
Little, blu admitted that their ultimate
pardon was not improbable.
Mrs. Samucls, mother of Jesse James,
his wife, Dick Little and Sheriff Timber
lake identified the body, and during the
proceedings Mrs. Samucl> and Mrs. James
made a highly sensational Sccnchy attack
Ing Dick Little and calling all
MANNER o. CURSES DOWN uruN HIM
for having conSpircd to bctray his leader.
The Coroners jury returned Il verdict of
murder in the first degree against Ford,
and the authorities of Buchanan county
refuse to give him up.
Thus ends the career of one of the most
noted robber chicftains and outlaws that
ever lived in this or any other country.
While the killing was nothing more or less
than IA cold-blooded murder, done for the
$4,000 reward, it is generally conceded
by all o~rder-loving and ~law-abiding citi-
zenS that the outlaw met with his just de
SertS. No matter how he was killed, the
country-and the state of M%issouri-is rid
of his presence forever. Only two of the
old gang are lcft-Frank James and Jim
Cummings.
4 Narrow Escape.
Tuesday, about l O'Clock, a team
that was standing at the Wabash
freight depot became frightened at a