River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1882-10-19
RAGGING A BANDIT.
Surrender of Frank James to the Gov
ernor OF Miss0urI-A strange Scene
Finding Hunted Life.

Ending a Hunted Life.
Frank James, the notorious outlaw,
brother to the equally notorious Jesse
James, surrendered himself to Gov.
Crittenden at FIVE o'clock last Mon
day Internationally, and was i'm
mediately taken to independence,
Jackson county, Mo-, to answer indict-
ments there pending against him.
Frank James arrived at Jefferson
City about one o'clock, in company
with John Edwards, and during the
forenoon they were about the city and
in and out of the hotels until the hour
arrived that bad been appointed for
the meeting between the outlaw and
the governor. About quarter 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 Governor Chittenden.
The latter, having 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
occasion was, summoned a number of
the state officials to be present. at the
appointed time and witness this his
torical event. As they arrived one by
one he iokingly 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 thea, just as sort of side issue,
by exhibiting the Frank James letter,
which was perused by all 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 com panion 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
cd in that direction, with his hat in
his hand, his dark eye shone like
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 assent led company halted in
their laughing ard joking merely out
of respect to strangers, and when
Major Edwards said, Governor Crit
tenden, want to introduce to you my
friend Frand James," deathlike still
ness took procession of the room and
the men sat like statues. Governor
Crittenden arose and stepping forward
shook hands with the visitors. Mean
while the spell which had come over
the spectators held its sway. After
shaking hands the outlaw stepped back
two PAGES and unbuttoning his coat
took off his belt of cartridges and re-
volvers and handed them TO the Gov
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; / have slept in
all sorts of places-here to day, there
tomorrow; l 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? i am
tired of this life of taunt 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. l shall prove myself worthy of
mercy"
PRELIMINARY CORRESPONDENCE.
Just after the killing of Jessie James
at st. Joseph, last April, friends Of
Frank James in this state made over
lures to Governor Crittenden 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 was willing to
grant pardon in case Frank would
agree to give information concerning
the other members of the gang who
are yet out. Crittenden himself says
he told Frank that 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 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 a
letter from st: Louis stating in sub
stance that he is anxious 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 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 he throws himself on
the clemency of the Governor and
asks that he be saved. Under date OF
| October 2 Governor Crittenden re-
sponded that he could not grant par
don if inclined to before the conviction
of some crime; that he hopes that
James will abandon his past
life, and if he surrenders will see
that he gets an impartial trial. The
response is this surrender.
| A LONG LIST OF GRIMES.
James history is known. He was
engaged In the Mortified back rob.
berry and some dozen other noted
deeds of outlawry. He is under in
dictment in Iowa for the Corydon bank
robbery; in Missouri, for the Glendale
Blue Cut and Winston train robberies
in Arkansas, for stage robbery; in West
| Virginia, for bank robbery, and il
Mussels Shoals, Ala, for robbing :
government contractor. His wife /;
now living at Independence with hel
father, Colonel Ralston, ve,y respect
able old farmer. James viii from there
be taken to Kansas City and put OF
trial at the November term of tht
Criminal Court.
on TO JAIL.
He left for Independence on the FOL
lowing day, in company with crowde'
train of excited and interested people
He was there placed in jail where b,
will remain until bailed out by friends