Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1882-10-19
BAGGING 4 BkDIT.
Surrender Of Frank james to the Gov
ernOr of Missouri-A Strange Scene
Ending a Hunted Lif.

James, surrendered hiaself to Gov.
Crittenden at five o'clok last Mon,
day Internationally, sd was i'm
mediately taken to Independence,
Jackson county, Mo-, to answer indict-
ments there pending aginst him.
Frank James arrived at Jefferson
City about one o'clock in company
with John Edwards, AM during the
forenoon they were about the city aud
IN and out of the hotels until the hour
arrived that had been appointed for
| the meeting between the outlaw and
the governor. About qlarter before
five O'Clock they walked over to the
capitol grounds, climbed the hill and
entered the window leading to the pri-
vate Office of Governer Chittenden.
The latter, having a few hours notice
of their coming, naturally felt jubilant
over this gratifying elimination of his
long fight against the outlaw band, and
he had, without indicating what tn e
occasion was. summoned a number of
the state officials to be preseut at the
appointed time and witness this his
torical event. As they arrived one by
one he jokingly told them that there
was Christmas box to be opened
pretty soon aud he wanted his friends
to enjoy it. While waiting he enter
tanned them, just as sort of side issue,
by exhibiting the Frank James letter,
which was perused by oil 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
his 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 walk
ed IN that direction, with his hat in
his hand, his dark eye shone like a
brilliant. His face being clean shaven
was unusually pale, but his walk and
manner were as easy and natural as
thOugh this occasion, 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 Crit
tenden, | want to introduce to you my
friend Frand James," o Geathhke still
ness took procession of the room and
the men sat like statues. Governor
Crlttenden arose and stepping forward
shook hands with the visitors. Mean
while the spell which had come over
the spectators held its say. After
shaking hands the outlaw = .7ped back
ts'Tn- -4""no I'D 5,,nIht,ittonasg his coat
ernor. Then followed an interview, or
rather a general conversation between
all present, after which the outlaw was
sent to independence in charge of Gov
ernor's private secretary.
HUNTED FOR TWENTY. ONE YEARS
In the course Of 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 year. He said:-'I 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; I have slept in
ali sorts of places-here today, there
tomorrow; have been charged with
nearly every great crime committed in
either Missouri Or the neighboring
States; / have been taught to suspect
my dearest and nearest friend Of treach-
cry, and where is the end to be? [ am
tired of this life Of t&unt nerves, of
night riding and day hiding, of constant
listening for footballs, cracking twigs,
rustling leaves and cracking doors; tired
of seeing Judas on the face of every
friend own-and, goodness 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. think l can give the State a
substantial return for what ask, and
think the dignity of the law will not
suffer. I shall prove myself worthy Of
mercy"
PRELIMINARY CORRESPONDENTS.
Just after the killing of Jessie James
at st. Joseph, last April, friends of
Frank James in this state made over
lures to Governor Critte,den looking
to pardon for the noted robber. The
newspapers were full of the matter at
the time, and it was even reported that
Governor Crittenden WIS willing to
grant pardon in case Frank would
agree to give information concerning
the other members of the gang who
are yet out. Crittender himself says
he told Frank that if he wanted to
surrender he must come n the same as
any other criminal and stand trial for
crimes committed. Since then the
matter has dropped from public atten-
ton, and it was even stated that Frank
had gone to Australia. Suddenly
he appears on the scene, however, and
this week sent Governor Crittenden q
letter from St. Louis stating in sub
stance that he is anxious to berestored
to citizenship; that be wants to put the
past behind him; that he is heartily
sick of the life Of an outlaw; that he
has a wife and child to plead for him
and make him human, even though
he were as bad as he has been de
scribed, and that ne throws himself or
the clemency of the Governor anc
asks that he be saved. Under date o
October 2 Governor Crittenden re
sponded that he could not,grant a par
don if inclined to before the conviction
of some crime: that he hopes tina
james viii abandon his pas
life, and if he surrenders will SCI
that he gets an impartial trial. In
response is this surrender.
LONG LIST OF CRIMES.
James history is known. He wa
engaged in the Northfeld baEk rob
berry and some dozen other note
deeds of outlaWry. He is under II