The Portland daily press., 1882-04-18
The James Brothers.
Senator Vests Experience with Them.

United States Senator George G. Vest was
entertaining little group in Washington one
evening last winter with "reminiscences OF his
law practice in Missouri, when the conversa-
ton drifted around to the James boys. Some
one asked the Senator II he had ever met the
bandits, aud he replied that he had once, and
under circumstances calculated to impress
themselves upon his memory. Charging his
hearers not to repeat the story, which injuno-
tion one of the group, popular young Mis-
souri, Congressman, failed to bear in mind, the
Senator related his experience somewhat as
follows:
Old Joe Shelby, the confederate general, who
at the close of the war, did not surrender but
marched his men to Mexico and offered his
services to Macmillan, is an old friend Of mine
and he has been urging me for long time to
come down to his splendid place in Lafayette
county and spend a few days hunting and fish
ing. 1t was shortly, a few days. perhaps, after
the Gads Hill robbery. on the Iron Mountain
Railroad, that completely worn out by close
attention to business in the Sedalia courts,
determined to run down to the farm and resi-
tor fes. dave took tho rs~ht t..s,, ~ .
Lexington branch of the Missouri Pacific and
got off at the little station near the Shelby
place, called Page City. 1t was beautiful
moonlight night, and as the house was but lit
Tie over mile distant shouldered my double
barrelled shotgun, which had taken along
for some SPORT and trudged over the white lane
leading to the homestead. The old home was
surrounded by some tall forest trees, and had
lust emerged from their shadow into the moon
light, twenty steps from the house, when
clear ringing voice called out sHaltl' and at
.I,a fopt shining in fha mn
light polished rifle barrel protruding from a
partially raised open window. / intuitively
felt that the man at the other end of the rife
had bead drawn on me, and l halted. l
became statue My blood seemed to
chill. In moment-it seemed hours to me-
heard old Joe's voice ring out, "Who are
you?"
"G-g-george Vest come down to lsee
you,'' replied, my lips trembling in spite OF
me.
sWait minute was the reply.
waited five minutes, and then there was
rattling of bars and chains, and the front door
was opened cautiously, and was bidden to lay
down my gun and approach. did so until
came close to the door, when Shelby's voice
said: "Its all right, boys, 1 will vouch for
him. I then entered, and looked about me.
The cosy little sitting room was converted into
fortress. The windows were barricaded Sc
| curely, and furniture was moved up close
| against the door, while on table in the centre
Of the room lay collection of revolvers and re-
peating rifles that would have excited the ad-
miration of pirate. There were five men in
| the reom whom did not know. They sat
| around and did not talk. The gentlemen also
| wore their small arms. "These are some friends
| OF mine' said Shelby, and was not introduc-
| ed further Immediately knew that the visi-
| tors were the two James boys and the three
| Younger brothers. Shelby and l INDUCED in
| conversation for some time, which the others
showed no disposition to enter, and at last 1
was shown to bed, where tossed until day
| light in troubled sleep. When came down
| to breakfast the curtains were drawn, old Joe
| sat in an easy chair calmly smoking pipe and
playing with a couple of Youngsters. The trav-
cling arsenals of the night before had departed
| so quietly as not to break my light sleep
| hours before. Shelby did not refer to the vis-
tors of the night before, nor did I. did not
know, however, whether they would return
| that night, and so pleaded pressure of busi-
| ness and limited my stay to one day. And that
| is the only time met the Missouri bandits.
| That was nearly nine years ago, when the gang
| quartered themselves on their friends in Mis-
souri,, on the strength of the memories of the
war, still fresh in the minds of those who lived
| on the border.