The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1882-04-13
JESSE JAMES KILLED.

The Last OF a Most Notorious OutIav--
KILLED by HIS Comrades for the Heavy
Reward Offered for Him ''Dead Alive"
Jesse James, the notorious bandit and train
robber, was shot and killed at his home in st.
Joseph, Mo-, on the Sd of April, by one of the
Ford brothers, former companion. The news
Of the killing spread rapidly throughout the
city and created the greatest excitement. Peo-
pie docked by hundreds to see the corpse.
The home of Jesse James was frame shanty
in the southern part of the city where he has
lived with his wife and Charles Ford since last
November. Robert Ford arrived at the shanty
only ten Gays ago. Upon the evening of the
day of the shooting, preparations having been
made, the trio were to start on raiding expe-
dition. The following is the account given of
the shooting:
The Ford brothers claim that they are de-
tectives, and that they have been on James
track for long time. 1t is believed they were
with James in the Blue Cut robbery, and that
they were Influenced in killing him by the hope
of getting the big reward, which has been
offered for James, dead or alive, by the
Governor and by the express and railroad
companies.
Ever since the boys had been with Jesse they
had watched for an opportunity to shoot him,
but he was always SO heavily armed that it was
impossible to draw a weapon without his seeing
it. They declare that they had no idea of TAX
suicidal.
On the morning of the shooting, on return
ing from the stable to the room where Robert
Ford was, Jesse said "Its an awfully hot
day." He pulled of his coat and vest and
tossed them on the bed. Then he said: ~
will see them if walk in the yard He un-
buckled the belt in which he carried two forty
hve callber revolvers, one Smith Wesson
and the other Colt, and laid them ON the bed
vrift hio o,,I H. al-oI
busting brush, with the intention OF dusting
some pictures which hung on the wall. To do
this he got on q chair. His back was now
turned to the brothers, who silently stepped
between Jesse and his; revolvers, and at mo-
ton from Charley both drew their pistols.
Robert was the quickest of the two. In one
motion he had the long weapon to a level with
his eye, with the muzzle no more than four
feet from the back Of the outlaws head. Even
In that motion, as quick as thought, there was
something which did not escape the acute ear
OF the hunted man. He made motion as If to
turn his head to ascertain the cause of that
suspicious sound, but too late. nervous
pressure on the trigger, quick flash, a sharp
report, and well-directed ball crashed through
the outlaws skull. There was no outcry, just
swaying Of the body and it fell heavily back
| upon the carpeted floor. The shot had been
| fatal, and all the bullets in the chambers Of
Charleys revolver, still directed at Jesses head,
could not more effectually have decided the fate
OF the greatest bandit and freebooter that ever
| figured in the pages of this 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 Colts
forty-fve improved pattern, silver mounted
and pearl handled, presented by the dead man
to his slayer only few days ago.
Mrs. James was in the kitchen when the
shooting was done, divided from the room in
| which the bloody tragedy occurred by the din
ing-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 his hand,
making 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 then returned
| to where she stood. Mrs. James ran to the side
of her husband and lifted up his head. Life
was not yet extinct, and she asked him if
| he was hurt. 1t seemed to her that he wanted
to say something, but could not. She tried to
wash away the blood that was coursing over
his face from the hole in his forehead, but II
seemed to her 'that the blood would come
faster than she could wash it away, and in her
hands Jesse James died. Charles Ford ex-
planned to Mrs. James that ga pistol had acci-
dentally gone or" ''Yes," said Mrs. James
~ guess it went of on purpose
Meanwhile Charley had gone back into the
house and brought out two hats, and the two
| pOys leit Inc house. Lucy went 10 Ine telegraph
Office, sent message to Sheriff Timberlake, OF
Clay County, to Governor Crittenden and other
officers, and then surrendered themselves tc
Marshal Craig.
Mrs. James was greatly affected by the
tragedy, and her hoartrending moans and
expressions Of grief were sorrowful evidences
Of the love she bore the dead desperate.
An inspection of the body revealed two
large bullet holes on the right side of the
breast within three inches OF the nipple, O
bullet wound in the leg, and the absence oi
the middle finger Of the left hand.