The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1882-04-05
The Ferd Brothers, Members of the
Celebrated Gang, the As
sassins.
The Bandit Taken Unawares Wher
Unarmed and Riddled With
Bullets.
The Murderers to be Paid the $50, o,ooC
Reward offered for the Rob-
ber's Head.
DIED WITH HIS BOOTS ON.

The Famous Outlaw, Jesse james, Shot
Dead by the Ford Bros, Members OF
His Gang-ParticuIars of the Assassina.
ton.
ST. LOUIS, April ga brief dispatch from
st. Joseph says: "Charles and Robert Ford
who at one time belonged to the James
gang, and were engaged in the Winston
and Blue Cut train robberies, have been IN
ST. Joseph for week for the purpose OF ar
resting Jesse James, but being afraid
as is alleged, to make the attempt
shot him down at Thirteenth and
Lafayette streets, and then surrendered tc
the authorities and were lodged in Jail
There is tremendous excitement over the
affair, several thousand people being on the
streets. The wife of the desperado was on
the scot in q few minutes after the shooting
was done. and wePt copiously over his re-
mains. The body OF James was taken in
charge by the police. Considerable ammu-
milton and several weapons, including
pistols and d rifle, were found in the house
where James had been stopping.
FULL PARTICULARS.
ST. JOSEPH. Mo-, April 3.-Great sensation
was created in this city this morning by the
announcement that Jesse James, The nOtO-
riOus bandit and train robber, had been shot
and killed here in ST. Joseph. The news
spread with great rapidity, but most people
received it with doubts until investigation
established the fact beyond question. Then
the excitement became more and more in
tense and crowds of people rushed 10 that
quarter of the city where the shooting took
place, anxious 10 view the body of the dead
outlaw and to learn the particulars.
In a small frame shanty in the southeast
part of the city, on the hill, not tar from the
Wared 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 headquarters at his house,
and Charles, it is said, has lived with him
in that shanty ever since November Rob
ert arrived about ten days ago, and the three
have been making preparations for raid
ing expedition, on which they were to start
tonight. James and the two FOrds being
in the front room together about 9 this
morning, the former took off his belt and
laid his pistols on the bed, preparing to
wash himself, when Robert Ford sprang up
behind him and sent bullet through his
brain. The ball entered the back of
his head at the base of the right
brain, coming out over the eye. The Ford
had done, and gave themselves up. They
are now under guard at the Court House
The body of Jesse James was conveyed 10
an undertaken :, where it was prepared for
burial, and where photograph was taken.
James wife has telegraphed TO bis mother
the rews of his death. number of men
have identified the body, and there is no
question of 1t being Jesse James
A Herald reporterreviewed the body at the
L ~ Lo., Il.
graphed- He a fine looking man. ap-
parently forty years old, with broad foe
mead, and his physiOgnomy was that Of an
intelligent as well as a resolute and daring
man. The house where James lived and in
which he was killed has the appearance of
sn srmory. A number of guns and pistols,
including a repeating rifle, needle gun,
navy revolvers, with coed store
of ammunition, were found there.
Jesse James was in the habit of wearing
two belts, with u brace of very fine revolv-
ers and twenty-five extra cartridges. In a
small stable near BY were discovered sew
eTal fine hOrSess the property of James.
The Ford brothers claim that they are de-
tectives, and that they have been on James
track for long time. It is believed they
were with James in the Blue Cut robbery,
and that they were influenced in kill
ing him by the hope of getting the big re-
or alive by tire Governor and by the Ex-
press asd Railroad Companies.
In the light of all moral reasoning the
shooting was wholly unjustifiable. but the
law is vindicRted, aad the $50, 900 reward
offered by the State for the body of the brig
and. dead or alive, Will doubtless go to the
man WHO had courage 10 draw n revolver on
the noted o1tlaw when his back was turned
as in this case. There is little doubt that
= 4
plan fOUned 10y Robert and Charles Ford
several months ago. Charles had been an
accompiice of Jesse James since the Cd
of last November, and entirely pos
Sessed his confidence. Robert Ford,
his brother coined Jesse near
MIS-. S0rnuels' house, mother of the James
boys. Last Friday week ago and accompanied
Jesse and Charles to this city Sunday. March
D. Jesse, his wife and two children re-
moved from 8sansas City, where they had
lived severalnonthsAn they feared their
whereabouts would be suspected in a wagon
to his city. arriving here November s, 1881
accompanied by Charles Ford, and rented a
hOGse on the corner Of Lafayette and Twen-
ty-fiIst street. where they stayed two months,
when they secured hOEse ,3lS~on Lafayette
street, formerly the property of Council
man AS lesbu-g, giving the name of
Thomas Howand. The house is a one
story cottage, painted white, with green
shutters. and romantieally situated on the
brow of q lofty emiDence east-of the city.
commanding Gne view of the principal
portion ofthe city, the riFer and railroads.
ana adapted as by nature for the perilous
and despenate calling of James. Just east
of the house is deep guloh-like rs~ine and
beyond a troad sxpanse of open country
hacked by kelt of timber. The hezlse, ex-
ocpt from the west side, can be seen for
several miles There is q large yard at.
tached to the cottage and stable, where
Jesse had been keeping two horses, which
were found there this morning
Charles and Robert Ford have been
occupying one af the rooms in the real' of
the dwelling and have secretly had an Gn-
derstanding to k1a Jesse ever since last fail.
A short time ago. before Robert had ioineV
James, the latter proposed TO rob the bank
at Platte City. He said the Burgese trial
would commence to-day and his plan was
if they could getanother companion to take
view of the situation sf the Platte City
Bank, and;while the arguments were being
heard in the murder case, which voula