The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1882-10-14

Nemesis
Yours contritely and hopefully.
FRANK JAMES.
After writing the above letter Frank James
went TO Jackson County and remained in or
near independence until the receipt of the
following:
GOVERNOR CRfTTENDES's REPLY.
EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT,
JEFFERSON CITY MO, Oct. 5, 1882.
Frank James: .t.r
SIR-Your letter. dated ST. Louis, October l,
1882 has been received. in which you apply to
me Tor an amnesty or IA pardon. Under the
Constitution OF this State [ can not grant a
pardon, even if inclined to, before conviction
of some crime Whether you can be con-
vcted of any violation of the law it is not
for me to say That the courts of the
State will determine in the proper way when
you are before thcm think 1t wise in you
to abandon the life you are charged with
leading, and in surrendering to the legal du.
thorties of the state or the county in which
you are located. If innocent 80 those charges,
then you will have an opportunity to provei it
10 the world. IL guilty, the law dictates the
punishment. If YOU surrender, you, as any
other man charged with crime, shall and Will
nave fair and impartial trial. The
TINS state are ample guarantees OF such
trial without any assurance from me, one
not no, based upon nor governed by the preiu.
the judicial forms of just and well established
laws Determined as / am to see the laws
eH1OTCcu against all HfHucS OF crlue, hul
none the less convinced of the Importance
to society OF having ,eve-y man within
the grasp Of the law protected in
NAV ma Ig9Vs bee1Y when tM Ms Yields
voluntarily and subnissiveiy to that law, and
appeals TO 1t and to me for Justice and mercy:
You may be innocent or you may be guilty of
all the various crimes charged TO you. That
the courts will determine, as before said, and
after the voice of the court is heard, then, II
1t becomes necessary, ! Will decide what my
action shall be- Yours truly, i''.''i ~ TOT.
ON 4. Yg9s THOMAS Il. qRITrENDEN.
When the train from the west rolled
nto the depot IN this city at an early hour
this morning there ali9hted from it two men
VINO, without mounting the depot platform,
climbed the hill and walked lefsurely south-
ward to the McCarty House. Nobody was in
the office when they arrived but they regis
tered as John Edwards Sedalia, and b. +.
Winfrey, Marshall, Mo. When the proprietor
entered the Office, just as they had finished
registering, and was Introduced by Major Ed.
wards to MIR. Winfrey, he, considered it an
every day affair and assigned the two to
room. At o O'Clock the two strolled about
town, the Major meeting numerous acquain-
tances and Introducing Winfrey. Re-
turning to the hotel they took dinner, and de-
voted the afternoon to reading the morning
papers. About O'Clock they agein emerged, !
and walking over to the Capitol grounds
climbed the hill and entered the window lead
ing to the private office of Cow Crittenden.
The latter, having had a few hours notice of
their coming, naturally felt juDilant over this
gratifying eulmihationl of his long fight
against the outlaw band and summoned
number of State officials to witness the his
toripal event. While they were commenting
upon; the letter from Frank, to which the
Governor had called attention. Major Ed
wards andhis companion, walked in, stop
ping in front OF the Governor, Maj Edwards
said:l .W15i l1itI fau ~fa iiI yI iT q
"Goyernor, this is Frank James. He is here
to give himself up" This brief introduction
brought face to face the Executive OF Missouri
and the noted outlaw. whose name has been
a terror in this State and is faniliar through
out our land, il not the whole world. 1t was
scene without y precedent in the annals of
the State and to all present was intensely in
terestihs and drHinaticJ 20 all appearances
Frank James was, the coolest man in the
room. While Maj. Edwards was Introducing
linn his commentaries was as Quiet and calm Z
in it's expression, as if the business in hand
were no concern OF his. lie advanced step
toward the Governor, and by 4 dexteroust
movement unbuckled belt from around his
body and, holding it toward the Governor,
said: .9,fI..-,t ,.,,,. ,I,.t. Obj.
Governor, am Frank James. l surrender
my arms to you. Have removed the loads
from them; they are not loaded, They have
not been out of my possession since 1854. No
other man has ever had them since then. II
nov give them to you personally. l deliver
myself to you and the law" q" -
Governor Crttenden received the profcred
belt, pistol and cartridges, and with charac-
teristic courtesy requested Frank to be seated,
saying that he was very glad to meet him,
particularly in thismanttny n
Frank. James answered that he had come in
and Surrendered himself lJecausel he desired
to do as he had done for yearslrthat is, live
the life of a law. abiding citizen. He hoped