The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1882-04-07
JESSE JAMES KILLED.
A Companion AssaSsinates Him i'm
His Home at ST. Joseph, HEO.-PrO-
found Excitement Throughout the
Region Which UlOried In His
Deeds.

aAu Oon OOa4uiu uNlnulS lutO 1HsiSAlHehDCe;
was killed at st. Joseph, No., on the Sd inst
His slayer was mere boy of 20 years, cousin
by marriage. The affair created the most in.
tense excitement at St. Joseph, and
10, 900 people assembled at the inquest The
dead bandit was fully identified; and the body
was forwarded to Kansas City by order Of Gov
Crittenden. There has been standing reward
of $4,000 for Jesse James, dead or alive,
which was offered by the Governor of Missouri
in connection with the railroad authorities sew
eral months ago, which will in all probability be
turned over to the youth who put an end TO his
earthly existence. The following account of
the killing of the notorious robber, sent out
from ST. Joseph, Will be read with interest
Thefe is little doubt that the killing was the
result of premeditated plan formed by Robert
and Charles Ford several months ago. Charles
had been an accomplice of Jesse James since
the Sd of last November, and entirely possessed
his confidence. Robert. his brother, joined
Jesse near Mrs. Sainuels' house; mother OF the
James boys; last Friday week ago. and accom-
panied Jesse and Charles to this city Sunday,
March %. Jesse, his wife, and two children
removed from Kansas City, where they had
lived several months, until they feared
their whereabouts would be suspected, in
wagon to this city, arriving here Nov. 1, 1881,
accompanied by Charles Ford, and rented a
house on the corner of Lafayette and Twenty
first streets, where they stayed two months,
when they secured the house numbered 1918 on
Lafayette street, formerly the property of
Councilman Aylesbiiry; paying $14 month for
it. and giving the name of Thomas Howard.
The house IS a one-story cottage painted wbi &,
with green shutters, and romanticaly situated
on the brow of lofty eminence east of the
city, commanding fine view of the principal
portion of the city, the river and railroads, and
adapted as by nature for the perilous and des-
perate calling of James. just east of the house
is deep gulch-like ravine, and beyond broad
expanse of. open country, backed by belt of
timber. The house, except from the west aide,
can be seen for several miles. There is large
yard attached to the cottage and stable where
Jesse had been keeping two horses, which were
found there this morning
Charles and Robert Ford have been occupy
ing one of the rooms in the rear of tho DWELL
ing, and have secretly had an understanding to
kill Jesse ever since last fall. A short time
ago, before Robert Joined James, the latter
proposed to rob the bank at Platte City. He
said the Burgess murder trial would commence
there to-day and his plan was, If they could
pet another companion, to take view Of the
situation Of the Platte City Bank, and,
while arguments were being heard in
the murder case, which would engage
the attention of citizens, boldly execute
DIG VI Lbs ldNOrlI0 Tdlub. CGdIleS EOIU hp-
proved of the plan, and suggested his lrother
Robert as a companion worthy of sharing the
enterprise with them. Jesse had met the boy
at the latter's house, near Richmond, three
years ago, and consented to see him. The two
men accordingly went to where Robert was,
and arranged to have him accompany them to
Platte City. AS stated, all three came to st.
Joe week ago Sunday. They remained at the
house all the week. Jesse thought it best that
Robert should not exhibit himself on the
premises, lest the presence of three
ing should excite suspicion. They
had fixed upon to night TO go to Platte City.
Ever since the boys had been with Jesse they
had watched for an opportunity to shoot him,
but he was always 80 heavily Armed that ii was
impossible to draw weapon without him see
ing it. They declare they had no idea of talk
ing him alive, considering the undertaking sui
for came this morning. Breakfast
was over. Charles Ford and Jesse
James had been in the stable cur
rying the horses preparatory TO their
night ride. On returning to the room where
Robert Ford was, Jesse said: {" It's an awfuliy
hot day." He pulled off his coat and vest and
tossed them on the bed. Then he sa;d 81
guess I'll take off my pistols for fear somebody
will see them if walk in the yard" He I'M
fte-caliber revolyers, one a Smith & Wesson
and the other Colt, and laid them on the bed
with bis coat and vest. lie then picked mp
dusting-brush with the intention OF busting
some pictures which hung on the WALL TO do
this he got on the onaIr. His back was now
turned to the brothers, who silently stepped be-
tween Jesse and his revolvers, and at q motion
from Charley both drew their guns. Robert
was the quickest of the two. In one second he
bhd tho iO11o To a laval with big
with the muzzle no more than four feet from
the back of the outlaws head. Even in that
motion, though quick as Thought, there was
something that did not escape the acute ears of
the hunted man. He made motion as if to
turn his head to ascertain the cause of that
suspicious sound, but too late. A nefv-
GUS pressure on the trigger, a quick flash,
sharp report and a well-directed ball
crashed through the outlaws skull. There
1t fell heavily back upon the carpet. The shot
had been fatal, and all the bullets in the cham
Der of Charley's revolver, still directed at
Jesses head, could not more effectually have
decided the fate of the greatest bandit aud
freebooter that ever figured in the pages of the
country's history. The ball had entered the
base of the skull, and made its way out through
the forehead. over the left eye. 1t had been
fired out of a Colts As, improved pattern, silver
mounted and pearl handled, presented by the
dead man to his slayer only few days ago.
Mrs. Jumes was in the kitchen when the shoot
ing was done, divided from the room in which
the bloody tragedy occurred by the dining
room She heard the shot, and, dropping her
household duties, ran into the front room. She
saw her husband lying on his back and his
slayers each holding his revolver in hand, MAX
ing for the fence in the rear of the house.
Robert had reached the inclosure and
was in the act of scaling it when she
stepped to the door and called
to him, "Robert, you have done this come
back" Robert answered, 81 swear to God /
did not They chen returned to where she
stood. Mrs. James ran to the side of her hus
band and lifted up his head. Life was not ex-
tinct, and when asked if he was hurt, it seemed
to her that he wanted to say something but
could not. She tined to wash away the blood
that was coursing over his face from the hole
in his forehead, but it seemed to her " that tue
blood would come faster than she could wash
it away" and in her hands Jesse James died.
Mrs James was greatly affected by the TRACE
dy, and heartrendiDg means and expressions of
grief were sorrowful evidence of the loYe:she
bore the desperate.