The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1882-04-13
JESSE JAMES.
The COwardIy Murder of fhe
Brave Bandit.
The Desperate Dead Sure This
Time.

by the announcement that Jesse james
the notorious bandit and train-robbe
had been shot and killed here in 81
Joseph. The news spread with gTea
raridity, but most people received /
with doubts. until investigation estab
1ished the fact beyond question. Their
the excitement became more and more
intense, and crowds Of people rushed Il
that quarter OF the city where the shoot
ing took place, anxious 10 view the body
of the dead outlaw and learn the partieu.
lars. In q email frame shanty in thC
south part Of the city, on o hill not fal
from the World's Hotel, Jesse james
mas lived with his wife since some time
IN November last. Robert and Charles
Ford, two of his gang, have made theil
headquarters at his house, and Charles
Il is said. has lived with him in thai
shanty ever since Novemb Der. Rober
was arrested about ten days sgo,
and the three have been making
preparations for raiding expedition on
which they we're TO start tonight. Jane;
and the two Fords being in trent room,
together about 9 this morning, the
former took eff his belt and laid his pis-
tolls on the bed, preparing 80 wash him
self, when Robert Ford sprang up be-
hind him and sent bullet through bis
brain. The ball entered the back of hI;
head at the base Of the right brain,
coming out at the eye. The Ford
brothers at once made known what they
had done and gave themselves up. They
are now under guard at the court house.
The body Of jesse James was conveyed
TO an undertakers wnere it was prepared
for burial, and where a photograph was
taken. James wife has telegrsphed MS
mother the news of his death. A num-
Der of men have identified the body and
there Is no question about it being Jesse
James.
A Herald reporter viewed the body at
the undertaker's when it was being
photographed. Ho WAS fierce looking
man. apparently 40 years old, with
broad forehead, and his ply
siognomy was that of an in
telligent as well as a resolute and
daring man. The house whore James
lived and IN which he was killed he's the
appearance of an armOry. a mum Der Of
guns and pistols, including a repeating
rife, q needle gun and navy revoiveTs,
with good store of ammunition, were
found there. Jesse was In the habit OF
wearing two belts, with q brace Of very
fine revol7ers and twenty-five extra car
tridges. In a small stable near were dis
covered several fine horses, the property
OF James. The Ford Brothers claim
that they are detectives, and that they
have been on james track for & long
time. It is believed they were with
the were influenced in killing him by
Z h 9 h. vi Nh !,
has been offered for james, dead or
alive. By the governor and by the e.
press and railroad companies.
Ford, who killed James, was only 20
years old. The shooting, although
wholly uDjustifsble, vindicated the law,
and Ford will doubtless get the $50, 000
reward offered By the state for James
dead or alive" Charles Ford had been
an accom- plice CT Jsmes since the 3rd of
Novem Der last, and possessed his entire
confidence. Robert Ford Joined James
Or March 25rd, several months after ne
moved here. They rented house under
the name of Thomas. The house Was
situated for defense and retreat. Jesse
had two horses il the stable. Charles
and RoDest Ford had been in one room
IN the cottage. james had planned to
ron bank at Burgess city, this weak,
snd Robert was chosen as a third COM
psnion, and they were going tonight.
Ever since the boys had been with Jesse
they had watched for an opportunity to
shoot him, but he was always so heavily
armed that it was impossible to draw a
weapon without him seeing it. They de-
clare that they had no idea of taking
him alive, considering the undertaking
suicidal. The opportunity they had long
wished for came this morning Break
fast was over; Charles Ford and jesse
James had been in the stable currying
the horses preparatory 10 their night
ride. On returning TO the room where
Robert Ford was, Jesse said: ITS an
aWfally hot day." and he pulled of his
coat and vest and tossed them on the bed:
then he said: 81 guess I'll take off my
pistols for fear somebody will see them
If I walk ia the yard" Jesse unbuckled
a belt in which he carried two forty-fVe
cslibre revolvers, one q Smith 81 Wesson
and the other COLI. He laid them on
the bed with his coat and vest. He then
picked up busting brush with the in
tentioa OF busting some picture; which
huBg on the wall To do this be got on
3 chair. His back vas now turned to the
brothers, who silently stepped between
J Jesse and his revolver, aud at motion
from Charley both drew their guns.
Robert was the quickest Of the two. l.
he had the long weapon 10
level with his eye, with the muzZle no
more than four feet from the back of the |
outlaws head. Even II that motion,
quick IS thought, there was something |
that did not eEcsee the acute ears of the |
hunted man. He made q motion as if Ia |
turn his head 10 ascertain the cause of |
That suspicious sound, but too lsts--a |
nervous pressure on The trigger, 8 quick |
fash; sharp report, and we'll directed |
ball crashed through the outlaws skull. |
There was no cutlery, just the swsying Of |
the body and it fell heaVily back upon |
the carpet. The shot had been fatal, and |
all the bullets in the chamber of Char !
Iey's revolver, still directed at Jesse's |
head, could not more effectively decide /
The fate of the bandit. The bsll had en-
tered the base Of the skull and made its |
way out through the forehead, over tie |
left eye. L had been fred out Of C0lgs |
Is. improved pattern, silver mounted and |
Jeafl handled, presented by the dead N IN 1
20 his slayer only few days ago Mrs |
James was IN the kitchen when the shoot- |
ng was done, divided from the room IN
which the bloody tragedy occurred by
he dining room. She heard the shot,
md dropping her household duties ran
uto The irOHt room. She saw her hus-
)s1d lying on his back, and his slsyers
sch holding his revolver IN hand, max
, D for the fence In the rear OF the house |