The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1882-04-14
JESSE JAMES SLAIN.

JESSE JAMES SLAM
The Hsmeus OusIav shss Dovgn p
Cold Blood BY One II aiS Old GanS
-Deenlled Account 0f the A@A1r-1oe
Coroner's Inquest.
ST. JOSEPH. Mo-, April Sat 3 tnis
morning the notorious outlaw and bandit
Jesse James, was shot and instantly killed
BY Robt. Ford, Of Richmond County. Jesse,
It appears, has been living In this city since
the Sch Of lat November, under the name
OF Thomas Howard.
Robert Ford, the slayer Of the famous
bandit, is one Of the old train robbing gang
and was entirely familiar with tho whole
history Of the James brothers. His younger
brother, Charley Ford, had been living with
the Jameses ever since they came to this
CITY. About . week ago Bob Ford
came up from St Louis and
Immediately went to the house
OF his old leader, where he was warmly well
some time In confidential communication
with the authorities at Kansas City and had
laid his plans to kill James for the reward
onered, and In consideration Of immunity
being granted him for his part In the rob.
berries.
ADDITIONAL PARTICULARS
are to the following effect: The wife Of the
dead outlaw at first insisted that the name
made . full confession Of the whole affair,
along with history Of the robberies In
which her husband had been engaged. She
said they resided last summer In Kansas
City, but had removed to this city where
Jesse hoped to reside In peace and earn an
honest living. They brought with them
one OF the Ford boys who bad since been !iv-
Ing In their house. This morning after
breakfast Robert Ford and Jesse went into
the sitting room to do some work
about moving . stove, and Charles
was assisting her In the kitchen washing
dishes. After little Charles also went into
the room where the two men were. Soon
after she heard . shot, and rushing In she
found her husband lying on the floor, shot
to death. while on . chair lay his pistol,
belt and cartridges, which he had removed
while at work with the stove. The Ford
boys both ran from the house, one jumping
over the rear fence, the other running
around by the front way. They both re-
turned again and then started to the city
to deliver themselves up and claim the re-
ward offered for Jesse James. They first
came to the Marshal's Office, but finding
him out, went direct to the Sheriff and gave
themselves into custody.
THE cORONER's INQUEST.
At about O'Clock the Coroner, after
viewing the remains, repaired to the Court
House. where jury had been impaneled.
The first witness CALLED was the wife Of the
dead man. whose testimony was substan.
tally as follows:
My name ia Mrs. Jesse James; the dead
man is my husband. We came to St. Jo-
seph in November last. Had previously
lived in Texas, Nashville, Tenn, Kansas
City and other places. Charles Ford has
lived with us since last November; his broth.
er Robert came to us last Sunday. In answer
10 question as to the manner Of her hus-
bands death, witness replied: 81 was in
the kitchen. My husband had gone into the
front room, and had not been in there more
than three minutes when heard pistol
shot: went right in and he was lying on
the floor. looked out the door before I
went up to him, and saw Bob Ford get
over the fence. Charlie was standing in
the yard. He came back and said he did not
90 it, he would swear before God that he
did not, that it was Bob. He was the one
that shot him.
The examination was further continued
as follows:
Q. Where was your husband when Won
went into this room? A. I saw him lying
on his back. @. Did he breathe or speak?
A. can not tell whether he breathed or
not; he did not speak. @. Has your hus-
band always beer friendly toward these
boys, or had they had some trouble, fight
or words? A. No, sir; not word that ever
knew OF. z. Why were these boys living
with your husband? A. There were charges
against them and they were afraid to stay
1t home. @. Do you know what any of the
charges were? A: They were charged with
robbing stage and being In a train rob-
berry, and had been in the Blue Cut robbery
and had robbed a stage between Lexington
and some spring. don't remember what
do T.,
they were In three robberies? A. heard
them say 80. heard Charlie say so.
BOB FORD's STORY.
When he started from Kansas CITY he
told Sheriff Timberlake and Captain Craig
that they would hear from him within ten
days, and he had kept his word. He was
not impelled to do the deed from any
special hatred Of Jesse, but knew that If he
did not kill Jesse now, some day Jesse
would kill him, as sooner or later it would |
be known that he 1t was who first rave away |
he facts upon which Clarence Hite was ar |
rested. 81 gave them to Chief of Police |
Speers in Kansas City first, and then to |
Captain Craig, who, with Mr.. Undertake, |
Knew all that was going on. For long
line the gang have made our house in Ray |
county their headquarters. and Jesse and |
Inow them well, as also Dick Little and
" God Hite. They came to the house after
he Winston and Blue Cut rObberies, and
passed up and down to Kansas City, where
Jesse James had been living all summer.
After the raid into Ray County by Craig's
men l went to Kansas City and opened he.
,otiatiOns for the surrender of Dick Little,
md one night had an interview at the St.
James Hotel with Governor Crittenden on
he matter. He said he would do all in his
power to protect Little II the last named
would surrender and assist in the capture
It the gang. Little afterward surrendered
o Sheriff Timberlake and went to Kansas
lily, where he and have ever since been
lctlng with the officials. I went with the
ulcers and Dick Little to Tennessee where
clarence Hite was arrested, and came back
With them. l was also In the room when
little and Wood Hite had the terrible fight,
don't know whether Little killed Wood, or
whether did. After his death, we buried
lin at night. and Little was lame q long
ime from the shot he got in the leg. OF
course saw good deal of him as we slept
o Captain Craig g room over the old Nation
i Bank. corner Of Fifth and Delaware
streets, Kansas City. and at night went out
lpon the street together. The night came
o st. Joseph went at once to the house
where jesse was living with his wife and
hildren, and found my brother Charley
here also. talked with him q good deal
bout killing Jesse for large reward. He
greed to assist me. We waited long time
o catch Jesse without his revolvers, know.
ng that unless he put them of
We c0uld not fetch him Eorlv this ruoru;rr, |