The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1882-04-11

rewards and be given pardon
for all past offenses, Jesse's mother and
wife being LEI into the secret. And to carry
their plan into execution the shanty
was arranged at ST. Joseph, One OF
the gang OF doubtful courage and fidelity
was sent to 1t for some pretended purpose,
and while there, was murdered and his body
passed off for Jesse James. 1.-THE inquest
the mother aud wife, as per prearranged
agreement, were present, testified TO
the body being that Of Jesse,
ana poured forth the walls of their wrath on
Dick Little and the Ford boys. The pub.
lie will believe Jesse is dead, and this belief
will be his protection in the future. Dick
Little and the Ford boys will be pardoned
and given their share of the reward, which
they will divide with Jesse, and then all of
them will hunt new homes in distant coun-
tries and settle down TO quiet lives. Now,
suppose this was the theory of some
man, and that it was urged
SO earnestly and backed with SO many good
reasons that il was made plausible on its
face, would 1t not be worth rehearsing for
whatever value might attach to il? 1t
could be.said, could 1t not, that it was now
u well-known fact that Shepherd had
claimed to have killed Jesse James more
than year ago, when he had not even at
tempted TO do such thing, and that this
was but ruSe of Jesse's TO elude
Furthermore, it could be said
nobody had testified to the identity of the
dead man save Jesse James mother, his
wife, Matte Collins and the Howard boys,
all interested parties that nobody knew
Jesse James by sight, in fact, save the few
survivors of Quantrell's band and his
friends who would not give him away.
Jesse had hpnn n with mani ind
since the late civil war, and no
one, save his friends and pals, were
familiar. with his person, 1t could reasona-
bly, be claimed. The HERALD has no reas-
ons save those of speculation to doubt the
death of Jesse James, but is not the sup.
posed case detailed above, plausible2 The
public knows how, during the seventeen
years that have elapsed since the war be-
tween the states was over the James boys
have been at war with law,
with order, with society; that
hunted by the legal authorities OF half a
dozen states or more. The public knows
how they have robbed and slain with i'm.
punity during these long years. The pub
lie knows how full of resource they have
ever been; what masters of strategy they
haze pfoUl theDlClYel 10 20, 81 Low
very many times they have escaped
from besetting perils and dangers equally
rs appalling and as possible of di,aSter to
them as Governor Crittenden's plan for the
capture of Jesse. Knowing Il esq thugs
then, IS i an impossible or an
improbable theory, even, that Jesse James
has turned the tables on the authorities OF
Missouri? The man who was bold enough
to live openly with his family in the city OF
| st, Joseph, Missouri, right in the midst of
the scenes of his outlawry, knowing that
rewards to the extent of $4,000 were piled
up on his head, was bold enough to con-
ceive such plan as the suppositous one
given, and to carry it into effect, too There
can be no doubt of Jesse James shrewdness
and there can be no doubt that the victim
could have been found, and that he would
have mercilessly been sacrificed upon the
altar of the gangs safety and cupidity.
| With the world believing that he was dead
Jesse James knew he could hide himself for.
ever from that world. With pardons in
their pockets, the Ford boys and Dick Little
knew they would be safe from the laws
clutches, and with the money they and
Jesse James had received of the rewards
offered for their own arrests, say $50, 600 be-
tween the four-$l2,0o0 each-added to
their gains by their robbing exploits, they
would have plenty to live on comfortably
and lead honest lives. There is nothing
impossible in the speculation.
In support Of the position that the theory
that Jesse is still living and that he has
only played a successful ruse on Governor
Crittenden and his authorities, is plausible
i not tenable, the following is pub
lished:
To the Editor Of the Post. Dispatch
st Louis, Aprili, lsS2.-As to the death
Of Jesse James it is Dam Lie. He is still
alive and still at Large and wishes you &c
Publish this Note and relieve the people.
remain as ever his Brother.
FRANK JANE,