The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1882-04-05

1
and suggested his brother Robert as a COM
paniOn worthy of sharing the enterprise With
them. Jesse had met the boy at the latters
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.
Joseph week ago Sunday, and remained
at the house all week. Jesse thought il pest
that Robert should not exhibit himself on
the premises lest the presence of three able
bodied men who were doing nothing should
excite suspicion. They haG 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 ne was
always so heavily armed il was impossible
to d-aw a weapon without his seeing it.
They declare they had no idea of taking him
alive, considering the undertaking suicidal
The opportunity they had long wished
for came this morning. Breakfast was
Charley Ford and Jesse James had
been in the stable currying the horses, prep
aratoIy to their night ride. On returning
10 the loom where Robert Ford was. JeeSe
said, Its an awfully hot day aad pul e 1 off
his coat and vest and tossed them on the bed.
Then he said, Il guess Ill take off my pis
tolls for fear somebody will see them if
walk in the yard" He unbuekIed his belt
IN which he carried two forty-6ve calibre
revOlveTs, q Smith Il Wesson. and the other
Colt, and laid them on the bed with his
coat and vest. He then picked upa dusting
brush with the intention of dusting some
pictures which hung on the wall. To DO
this he got on a chair. His back
was now turned to the brothers, who
silently stepped between Jesse and his re-
volvers, and at a motion from Charley, both
drew their guns. Robert was the quickest
of the two. In one motion lie had the long
weapon 10 level with his eye, with the
nozzle no more than four feet from the back
of the outlaws head. Even in that motion
as quick as thought there was something
that did not escape the acute ears of the
h2nted man. He made a motion rs if TO
turn his head to aScertaia the course of that
suspicious sound, but too late. a nervous
pressure on the trigger. a quick fash a
sharp repoTo and well-directed ball crashed
through the outlaws skull. There was no
outcry, Just sHaying OF the body and il
fell heavily back upon the oerpeted loor.
The shot had been fatal and all tae bullets
IN the cham beTs of Charley's revolver still
dTec,ed at JesSie's head could not more
effectually have decided the fate of the
greatest bandit and freebooter that ever
figured in the pages OF the country's history
Coroner Headins was notified and under
taker Sidenfaden instructed 10 remove the
body to his establishment. Inspection of
the body revealed two large bullet holes in
the right side OF the breast within three
inches of the nipple, bullet
wound in the leg and the absence of
the middle finger OF the left hand. After
viewing the remains the Coroner repaired
to the CourJ within. Soon after Mrs
James in custody of Marshal Craig, the
two Ford boys, both heavily armed, fol-
lowed. They were kept In separate apart
ments till the Jury announced itself ready
to hear testimony.
KANSAS CRY. april 3---Ihe news Of The
killing OF Jesse James created q great SEN
sation IN this city, although the report was
generally treated with incredibly and even
at this late hour many non-believers can De
found. This afternoon as soon as the news
was received here Police Commissioner
Craig left for St. Joseph with q heavily
armed posse of men to gfard the body Of
who killed him. At the Police Station il
was learned that Bob Ford, a young man
who has been hanging about the Station for
several weeks, was the person who shot and
killed Jesse James Ford left this city
about week since, and Joined James in the
vicinity of ST. Joe, remaining with him till
opportunity to kill was found. From the
police it is learned that Ford who is said to
be member of the gang. was under the
control of Craig, and has been used rs an
instrument for James destruction. Ford is
young man about,twenty-twoy years old. and
looked like verdant youth from the
country. In appearance he is q mere boy.
and is the last person in the world 10 be
taken as the slayer of the famous outlaw.