The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1882-04-12


Charley Fcrd and Jessie James had been in
the stable currying horses preparatory to the
nights ride. On returning to the room
spoken of where Robert Ford was, Jesse
said: ''It is an awful bot day. He pulled
of his coat and vest and then tossed tbem on
the bed. Then he said !: 81 guess | will
take off my pistols for fear that some one
might see them if | walk in the yard. He
unbuckled the belt in which the pistols were.
He carried two forty-fve cahbre revolvers,
one Smith g. Weston and the other q Colt.
He laid them on the bed with his coat and
vest. He then picked up a busting brush
with the intention of dusting some pictures
which hung on the wall. To do this he got
on chair His back was now turned to the
brothers, who silently stepped between Jesse
and his revolvers, and at a motion both drew
their guns. Robert was the quickest of the
two and in a moment he had the long Weap-
on to level with his eye and the muzzle no
more than four feet from the back of the
outlaws head. Even in that motion, quick
as it was, there was something that did not
escape the acute ears of the hunted man. He
made motion as it to turn his head to s.
certain the cause of that suspicion sound,
but too late. A. nervous pressure on the
trigger, a quick flash, sharp report and
well directed ball crashed through the skull
of the outlaw There was no outcry, just
swaying of the body and it fell heavily back
eho+ boJ 81
Mrs James was in the kitchen when the
shooting was done, divided from the room in
which the bloody tragedy occurred by din
ing room, when she heard the shot, and
dropping her household duties ran into the
front room. She saw her husband lying en-
his back, and his slayers, each holding Their
revolvers in hand, making for the fence in
the rear of the house. Robert had reached
the enclosure and was in the act of scaling it
when she stepped to the door and called to
to him: Robert, you have done this, come
back Robertl lanswered 81 swear to God
did not !" Mr.. James ran to the side of
her husband and lifted up his head. Life
was not extinct, and when asked If he was
hurt, it seemed to her that he wanted to say
something, but could not She tried to wash
away the blood that was coursing over his
face, but it seemed to her that the blood
would come faster than she could wash it
away, and in her arms Jesse James died.
"Charley Ford explained to Mrs. James
that "a pistol had accidentally gone off. "
Eyes, guess it went off on purpose, said
Mrs. James. In the meantime Charley had
gone back in the house and brought out tw
hats and the boys left the cottage. They
went to the telegraph Office and sent mes
sage to Sheriff Timberlant, to Governor
Crittenden and other officers, and then sur
rendered themselves to Marshal Craig. When
the Ford boys appeared at the police station
they were told by the officers in charge that
Marshal Craig and posse of officers had
gone in the direction of the James residence,
and they started after them and surrendered
themselves They accompanied the officers
to the house and returned in custody Of the
the police to the Marshal s headquarters
where they were furnished with dinner.