The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1882-10-19
Surrender of Frank James.

!; the notorious outlaw, brother to the equal
the Governor at o'clock last evening nncon
dtionally, and was Immediately taken to In
dependence, in Jackson county, to answer in
dictments there pending against him.
Frank James arrived in the capitol yesterda,
morning, about l o'clock, in company will
John Edwards, and during the forenoon the,
were about the city and in and out of tn
hotels until the hour arrived that had been ap
pointed for the meeting between the OUTLAW
and the Governor. About quarter before
O'Clock they walked over to the Capito
grounds, climbed the hill and entered the win
dow leading to the private Office Of Governor
Crittenden The latter, having few hours
notice Of their coming, naturally felt jubilan
over this gratifying elimination of his long
tight against the outlaw band, and he had
without indicating what the occasion was
summoned number of the State officials to
be present at the appointed time and witness
this historical event. As they arrived one by
one he jokingly told them that there was
Christmas box to be opened pretty soon and
he wanted his friends TO enjoy it. While wait.
ing he entertained them, just as sort of side
issue, by exhibiting the Frank James letter
which was perused by all with intense inter-
est, 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 walked in
that direction, with his hat in his hand, his
dark eye shone like brilliant. Els face being
clean shaver was unusually pale, but his walk
| and manner were as easy and natural as tho
this occasion, which was one of life or death,
was nothing unusual for him.
The assembled company halted in their
laughing and joking merely out of respect to
strangers, and when Maj Edwards said, "Gov.
| Crittenden, 1 want to introduce to you my
| friend Frank James," deathlike stiffness took
possession of the room and the men sat like
| statues. Gov. Crittenden arose and stepping
| forward shook hands with the visitors Mean
while the spell which had come oyer the spec
tators held its sway. After shaking hands the
outlaw stepped back two PAGES and unbutton-
ing his coat took off his belt of cartridges and
revolvers and handed them to the Governor
Then followed an interview, or rather gen
eral conversation between all present, after
which the outlaw was semitic Independence in
charge of the Governors private secretary
In the course of a long interview with the
prisoner he said he had come to Missouri on
September 23d with the purpose of surrender
ing. Previous to that time he said be had not
been in the State for a year. He said II came
to Missouri to try to regain home and stand
ing among her people. Ihave been outside of
her laws for twenty-one years; haye been
hunted like wild animal from one State to
an other; have known no home have SLEPT
in all sorts of places-here to-day, there to-
morrow l have been charged with nearly ev-
cry great crime committed in either Missouri
or the.neighboring States | have been taught
to suspect my dearest and nearest friend of
treachery, and where is the end to be? l am
tired of this life of taut. nerves, of night rid
ing and day hiding, of constant listening for
footballs, cracking twigs, rrstling leaves and
creaking doors tired of seeing Judas on the
face of every friend I 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 be-
lief 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 l
ask, and I think the dignity of the law will
not suffer. I shall prove myself worthy of
mercy"
Just after the killing of Jesse James at st.
Joseph last April, friends of Frank James in
this State made overtures to Gov Crittenden
looking to pardon for the noted robber. The |
newspapers were full of the matter at that |
time, and it was even reported that Gov Crit |
tenden was willing to grant pardon in case |
Frank would agree to give information con-
corning the members of the gang who are yet |
out. Crittenden himself says he told Frank if |
he wanted to surrender he must come in the |
same as any other criminal and stand trial for
crimes committed. Since then the matter has
dropped from public attention and it was even
stated that Frank had gone to Australia. Sud-
denly he appeared on the scene, however, and
this week sent Gov Crittenden letter from
St. Louis stating in substance that he is anx-
ious to be restored to citizenship; that he
wants to put the past behind him; that he is
heartily sick of the life of an outlaw that he
has wife and child to plead for him and make
him human, even though he were as bad as
he has been described and that he throws him
self on the clemency of the Governor and asks
that he be saved. Under date of October 2,
Coy. Crttenden responded that he could not
grant pardon If inclined to before convict
ion of some crime; that he hopes James will
abandon his past life, and if he surrenders will
see that he gets an impartial trial. The re-
Spouse is his surrender
James history is known. He was engaged
in the Mortified bank robbery and some dozen
other noted deeds of outlawry. He is under
Indictment in Iowa for the Corydon bank rob-
berry in Missouri, for the Glendale, Blue Cut
and Winnot train .robberies in Arkansas for
stage robbery in West Virginia, for bank
robbery, and in Mussel Shoals, Ala,, for rob-
bling GovernOment contractor. His wifeis now
living near Independence with her father, Col
Ralston, a very respectable old farmer. james
will from there be taken to Kansas City and |
put on trial at the November term of the
Criminal Court
At Independence, Mo, Saturday the crowd |
of curious ones to see Frank James was even |
greater than Friday. A number of old friends |
were admitted to the Jail to talk with him. |
He seemed in excellent spirits, and expressed |
his entire confidence in being able to clear
himself of any charges that may be brought
against him. His wife visited him during the |
morning. At the hotel Friday he wrote upon
the register, Frank James, wife and child"
remarking it was the first time he had signed
his real name in sixteen years. There were a
number of bidders for the autograph. but the
landlord declined to permit the register to be
cut. James appearance strongly indicates
the rapid approach of consumption, although
he asserts that he is in good health. 1t is the
general opinion that he confidently expected
to be admitted to bail Friday, and there is no
doubt he could give bonds in any amount that
might be demanded. The regular term of the