National Republican., 1882-04-10
THE KILLINo or JEssE JAMES.
The hoy Robert Ford Tells How He
Killed the outlaw.

"I FIRST met Jesse James three years ago."
said Robert Ford TO reporter. He used
TO come over to the house when was on my
oldest brothers farm. Last November he moved
to st. Joe aud went under the name Of Thomas
Howard. My brother Charlie and had known
nearly all Of the gang, but had never worked with
them otherwise. was in colluson with the de.
tectives. Jesse never suspected that we were false
to him, and, as his gang was all broken up he
wanted new material, and regarded us favorably.
Two weeks ago he came to Clay County to sec his
mother, Mrs Samucs, who lives forty miles east of
Kansas City. Charlie and l told him then we
wanted TO join him and he outlaws, and
he said oil right Charlie came here
with him a week ago Sunday, and I fol.
lowed last Sunday night. We both stayed at his
house, ono.story building with seven rooms.
Governor Crittenden had offered $4,000 reward
FOR JESSE, DEAD or ALIVE.
We knew that the only way was TO kill him. He
was always cool and selfposscssod, but always on
the watch. During the day he would stay around
the house, and at night he would go down town to
the news depot and get the papers. Ho said there
wero men here who ought 10 know him, but they
never did. He took the Chicago Tribune Cincn.
matt Commercial, and Kapsqs City Times regularly,
and always knew what was going on all over tile
world. He had not done any Job since the Blue
CUT train robbery last september, aud don't
believe he had over 500 or $500 In money. He
was thinking OF roDbing some bank near by, aud
then running In under close cover. II was Tor ihiS
nc wanted our nelp, We knew VIC nAu 10 XIII
him But there was no chance
TO GIT THE DROP ON HIM
until this morning His Wife and boy of seven
and girl of three were in the kitchen. Jesse was
IN the front sitting room, where he slept | never
knew him TO be careless. He commenced
brushing the dust on some picture frames, but
stopped aud took of his weapons, and laid them
on the bed. There was n Colts revolver and a
Smith Il WCsSon, each forty-five calibre. He also
had In the room Winchester repeating rifle, four
teen shots, and breech- loading shotgun. As he
turned away from the bed we stepped between
him aud his weapons, and pulled on him. / was
about eight feet from him when he heard my
pistol cock. He turned his head like lightning
fired, the ball hitting over the left eye aud com.
ing out behind the right ear. Charlie had his
finger on the trigger but saw he was done for, and
did not shoot. Not one OF us spoke n word, He
fell dead at Charles feet We then got our hats
went to the telegraph Office and telegTaphed what
we had done to Governor Critendcn, Captain
Henry Craig, OF Kansas City, and Sheriff Timber
lake, of Clay. County"
WHEREABOUTS OF FRANK.
Frank James, II Is believed Is not in Kentucky
but in the pan.ha section of Texas where he
and Jesse invested in ranch some years ago. One
of'the most vivid pictures which some writer will
have to portray one of these days is the ride of
Frank James from the borders of Minnesota 10
Kentucky tied TO spirited horses, of which there
were relays his life blood staining the grasses of
| the prairies and the leaves of the woods as he
dashed for life TO his old haunts. From the effects
| of this wound and ride he has never recovered
| The bank and train robberies committed by this
gang are as follows: