The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1882-04-06
A MODERN BANDIT.
Some Interesting Incidents in the Ca
rccr Of Jesse w. James. ny the Eds.
for Of the waslsingtoa Post

.acsrerafc men in the olden time than Jess'
lance. the Missouri bandit, who was as
sas.inated last Monday at II. Joseph, bu
il j. not probable that for audacity, fol
cool. calculating courage, aud resources OF
Skii and endurance. his equal has either
lr,cn seen during the last twenty years Oh
survives him. outside OF Missouri ms
name stands for nothing but colossal
theft and brutal ferocity-in Missouri OF
In certain sections Of the State he II better
known and understood. and possibly more
in>flv appreciated. For ten years he has
h.en the terror 81 railroads, banks, cN-
rres> companies. and Pinkerton's detective
force. As long ago * 1872 Pinkerton, the
original. took a contract TO catch HIM, anu
since that time Mr.. Pinkerton's detectives
nave been free warren for the James boys
and their gang. The mortality among
thr,n has been excessively large and steady.
n /. certainly instructive 10 reflect what
I,,.s James might have become II he had
i,,lcu into legitimate as well ~ congenial
,h,nnels. In licensed murder, on spoila-
tior--llkc war--hc could have had no SUI
ncrior. such splendid courage ~ he has
,Nh,iitcd was surpassed on neither side dll-
rinr the great civil war. He must have
neon master Of strategy, for he planned
bi. campaigns with absolute precision. ON
,,.,,. one Of his expeditions he was forced
t.tike 4 thousand chances. and yet coolly
,od ,agaciousy provided against every
.. n them. He was the unquestiOned
FODDER of al his followers, and, al
,t.,,,,h the price set on his head
,,.. enormous, he had been able at
IN times 70 protect himself from
am. treachcrv Of his gang n well a. the
,,r,idity of MI. common enemy-thc pub
r. Giye such man the command OF an
.'.., and what lamcls might he not have
vnng His control Of himself was more
wonderful than his control over those VINO
..r,,d with him. II l. reported oil nun
thai nobody ever knew bin 10 be dlScon-
,crcd-noi even for moment-no matter
how Great the peril His wits were iike
iiebtniDg flashes, and always al ms COM
nlrd. They never fell short OF the neces-
.i-ie. ~ hi, situation. Most men tenn
u0rile. aud III their remedies 70 thelf dis-
ar,l.r.. Thi. superb villain always allowed
f, liberal margin and took a bond OF fate.
lp one Of the last years OF the war he
wa, capfnrcd at @ Mississippi river town
and mi on board steamer to be taken To
Nnnuhi.. Even then he was known e. be
q, desperate man, and 10 prevent any At
,.n,ut NJ escape or suicide ne was hand
,pf.d 10 n Federal soldicr-one OF his
.uard-and confined TO the lower deck.
n MA. desperate case and required
heroic Treatment About midnight he
.trYr!, his captive companion stunning
blow on the head. which killed him in
.flntiy and without sound or alarm de-
FL,rielv cut of the arm Of the dead man
4, which he WI. handcufied, jumped into
fb, river and swan ashore. ! am not sure
,houi nv dates. hut this story and the one
which follows know TO be in everything
bni mere detail true.
Before III, name had become the terror
of the State Of Missouri hewas supposed,
with his brother and the Younger gang, 10
have committed q daring bank-rObbery and
murder AZ p small town i'm the northern
pan of the state. and Pinkert0n put one Of
hi. ~hrewdc.t aud braycSt detectives on his
track. James was shadowed successfully,
and was at last oyerhauled at Hannibal.
town ninety miles or more above -. Louis.
on the river. The detective knew his man.
aud resolved 10 take no chances. He waited
unfit he found him seated i'm a BARRIERS
chair. his face covered with lather, and
h. deadly hands folded in his lap.
The pursucr pushed open the door
of the shop, quietly drew his "Nayy"
to q dead cover. and announced that
ID hc moved he would be shot dead. james
attempted TO Jump to his feet, but the han
dies % hi, heavy navy revOlyers had drop
ped Oyeron either side. and, coming in con-
tlr with the arms OF the chair, fairly
PINNED him 10 IT,. As he rose the detective
tired. and the hall went crashing through
bis mouth, taking two or three teeth along
with u. and, glancing, passed out of ms
neck. \ FAINT conception OF his splendid
courage and presence of mind can be got
from what be did. Disengaging both pis-
iol> from the chair, he drew one in less
time than 10 requires 10 record It and shot
tic detective dead. rushed from the room
1ld made his way out Of the town TO a safe
covert. with a wound which would have
deprived ninety-nine men out Ola hundred
oi their senses.
There /, hardly any doubt that along in
1875 both Of Che James boys honestly de-
sired Co call the old account even. aud set
%, down 10 peaceful life. Jesse, who is
now aid 10 be the younger Of the two. but
have always understood him To De the
elder had a genuine love affair, and con-
ilai Those Who had known him ana had
served with him during the war, applied to
luc Nj souri, Legislature fOr some act OF
amnesty or clemency that would insure
The brothers against indemnityfor their past
~ tifl would give security for the future,
and lhis they agreed to do. The matter
Was discussed seriously. as the exploits. or
fumored exploits, Of the gang We're doing
mint" injury 10 the State. As it
>cru'd Impossible 10 catch them, or to
mt'cn- them from doing as they pleased,
sensible men thought IL best 10 accept the
nf'i,ablc and lcgislate upon II. II was
found impossible TO do this. \ pardon
could not be- granted for an mconvicted
ci'ulc and The Jameses did not propose 10
pat their heads in halters. For year on
Two They were quiet, however. Jesse mar
RED and. IL is believed, went TO Texas with
ihc notion Of DESTROYING his identity and
becoming a good citizen, but lac came bach
To Missouri, either on visit or 10 remain
and il was while he was at his mother
h0u,c--a Mrs. Samuels-abOut forty milo'
from Kansas CITY, that Pinkerton''
force surrounded the place and at
tempted 10 dislOdgc the occupants bl
throwing in hand-grenadeS. one eX.
ploded, killing little child OF Mrs. Samu.
cl.. in the cradle, and tearing OF her arm
This crazy act was an excuse and iustiiica
li0n for a new campaign. and the Jane
boys seem from that time 10 have taken tn
field Tor lie. OF the fifteen or more mel
who made up the party which conducie,
the >Drfie on the Samuels house, il i sal,
that al bat three have been killed. Whe
thcr This j. true or not do not know, bu
when the Jameses robbed train on IN
Hannibal road last year Jesse went throug
thc r,r, until he found the conductor, wh
w., he same man in charge OF the trai
that look the Pinkerton party 90 hearne
Wears before, and killed him, giving hi
reason Tor IL a. he did so.
l.. -. i.....L LII i,... iii -.