Mexico weekly ledger. (Mexico, Mo.) 1855-1956, 1882-10-12

tuse angle to pair of very promi-
nent ears, narrow mouth, surmount-
ed by light mustache, an acquiline
nose, straight overhanging brows,
and pair of smallish but very bright
gray-blue eyes, high, round and re-
ceding forehead, with suggestive
scar about an.inch above the eyes and
another just over the brow, prominent
check bones and light, wiry hair.
: So much has been written and said
about the james brothers and, since
the death Of Jesse, about Frank, the
survivor of the famous couple, and so
various have been the statements re-
gardiag him that the true view of his
character, as Supplied in an inter-
view had with him Immediately after
his surrender, will be worthy of con-
sideration. The general impression
resulting from the interview is that he
is man of strcng Acommon sense, Of
some little education, of . very large
amount Of self esteem and of a quick
ness OF pereeptionsAand knowledge OF
human nature which coupled with a
readiness tofact promptly upon forced
opinions, must have made him q dan
gerous companion when grounds for
suspicion may have arisen in his mind.
Speaking of his present condition he
said that he was 's'tired Of this life OF
taut nerves, Of night-riding and day
hiding; of constant listening for foot
falls, cracking twigs,, rustling leaves
and creaking doors; Of Judas-faccd
friends; of the saddle and the cart
ridge-belt," and desirous of securing
official clemency and a return to hon
est life, citizenship and civilization.
He stated that IN August, 1877, he
arrived in Nashville, accompanied by
his wife, and went by the name of B.
J., Woodson. After a years work as
farm laborer, he engaged to drive a
mule team for the Indiana Lumber
Company, and year after rented a
farm eight miles from Nashville, and
worked up an excellent reputation in
the county. Heawas on=sexeellent
terms with couple of local detec-
tiyes, to whom he wanted once to in-
troduee Jim Cummings, who however,
lacked the nerve to face the officers
Of the law. Jesse James, who, at the
time, was a great patron and lover
of the horse-traek," and the owner
of Jim Malone, which won several
fine races at st. Louis and elsewhere,
turned up there and moved about
with perfect freedom under the name
of Joe Howard. Jim Cummings
restlessness excited Jesse's suspicion
that he intended to betray the broth.
ers and they kept watch upon him,
and, upon Jim's sudden disappear.
ance in April, 1881, they feared that
he had gone off to meet officers from
Missouri whom he had sent for. The
fears, however, were groundless, and
he believed that Cummings had mere.
ly been animated by fear and had
fled. These 4 years of comparatively
quiet life were the happiest, the pris.
oner said, that he had spent since his
childhood, Notwithstanding the hare
labor attending them, and the old life
grew the more detestable the farther
he got away from it, so that when
through the arrest of one of his com.
panions, it became necessary for hin
to move from his home near Nash,
vile, and became a wanderer, he
did so with a sense of despair. Dur
ing his life there he moved about
freely and without fear of identified
ton, attended the public gatherings
won prizes with prize hogs, and stake:
with fast horses. He heard of tn,
death Of Jesse, the day after it hap
pened, but did not come to Missouri
as had been reported, which woult
have been the very poorest kind o
generalship on the part of a man ii
his position.
The letter in which the OUTLAW
makes his appeal to the Governor TO
executive clemency and the Govern
or's answer, which induced the sur
render, areas follows: =
| Hon. T. I. Crittenden. Governor: -~~
ST. Louis, September 3e.-YoUR EX
CELLENCY-Time has demonstrated thai
however correct my course of conduc1
however carefully I may follow. the pat
of good citizenship, and however success
full | may be in gaining the confidence an
respect of those who associate with m
daily and known every act, the work &
heaping infamy On the name which m
children are, to bear goes steadily on an
on as it began SO many years ago. TIL
greater the crime which startles the pee
pie of our Western States the greater tn
certainty fhat it WIFI be attributed tor N
/ act or instigation. However strange
may seem that man of the reputatio
that / bear should assume to posses
either pride or sensibility, l have til
hardihoott 70 lay-ciairn 70 some degree
both. To-day and for Years the one de
sire of my life is, and has been. to regal
the. .citlzenship which L lost in the dar
days when, .in Western Missouri ever
man's hand ayas against his neighbor, an
to have an opportunity to prove by sui
mission to the most rigorous tests that
am not unworthy of it. Itgwould ava
tme nothing ut this day to revert to Il
circumstances attending my outlaw
which and thousands of Others regarde
8 extenuatiug Those who were whel
they could observe the events in that litt