St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1882-04-15
Especial to the Times-Democrat, J

ST. JOSEPH, Mo-, March 3.-Jesse
James, the outlaw, whose name has
been terror throughout this section
for many years, is dead. His death is
not so much a surprise as would have
been the report Of his capture, for no.
body who knows anything OF the man
or his record ever thought he would be
taken alive. The manner OF his taking
Off, as gathered from conversations
with the officers and those conversant
with the facts, is about as follows Jes-
last fall, and made his home here with
his wife and two children, aged and 4.
1t seems, in pursuance of a plot made
by Robert and Charles Ford, two young
men, brothers, whose home is in Ray
county, Mo, and who have been mem
bers OF the James Gang, Charles has
been living with Jesse ever since last
November. Three or four days ago
Robert also came to the house, and the
three have been planning a raid which
they were to make tonight. Robert
Ford is the man who has figured in all
the train robberies, but who has only
been known as the "Mysterious Bob"
Nobody seemed to know who he was
On February % last, Gov. Crittenden
went to Kansas City ostensibly to at
tend the Craig Rifles ball, but his visit
had a greater import. On the midnight
of the 22d, he made appointment with
"Mysterious Bob," young man of % or
thereabOut to meet him at room II of
the st. James Hotel. At 8 o'clock the
next morning "Bob' was on hand and
then and there agreed to deliver Jesse
James dead or alive, if given free scope.
Bob was himself a train robber, but a
Incnnpa f<N,,
desperate disease, and Bob was employ
ed. Ever since that date he has been
in and around Clay and Ray counties
keeping sharp lookout. A few days
ago Bob received visit from Jesse
James and another companion alta far
mer's house in Clay county, and started
away with him riding behind one of the
party, but making an excuse he slipped
back to the house for a moment and
charged his host, a former friend Of the
James, but who perceiving the game
was closing in, had turned against them.
to deliver q message to Capt. Graf e and
Sheriff Timberlake that he would
within 10 days, either bring in Jesse
James, kill him, or be killed in the at
tempt. The message was duly deliy-
cred to the officers. Robert having been
with the great outlaw, knowing him
well, evidently knew the difficulties at
tending the job he had undertaken. He
waited and tried until he concluded
that it was an absolute impossibility to
take him alive, so he decided Oh the
other thing. Accordingly this fore
noon, about 10 O'Clock, he was sitting in
the front room OF the house in CONVEX
sation with the robber chief. His broth
er Charles was not in the room, but ac-
cording to one account was keeping
Mrs. James IN the back part Of the
house, that she might not witness the
cOuD de .0race to her husband.
The great bandit, all unconscious of
his impending fate, laid his coat to one
side and taking off his pistol belt con-
tanning his pair Of revolvers, laid it to
one side preparatory to washing him
self. This was the opportunity Ford
had been waiting for for months.
Quick as flash, he jumped to his feet
and pulling and cooking his navy six,
at the same instant sent bullet crash
ing through Jesse James. brain, little
to the right, ranged upward and came
out lust over the right eye.
Tie news spread like wild-fre, and it
seemed the entire population of the city
flocked to the scene.
The Fords had to make a run for it,
as the dead outlaw had many friends,
and there was fine prospect for lynch
ing. They gave themselves up and are
now in the courthouse under strong
guard. Nobody is allowed to talk with
any of them, as it is feared that some
one of James friends might slip in un-
der some pretext and serve them as
they served Jesse. The dead bandit was
taken to an undertaker's, and after be-
ing washed, photographed. He is a
large, fine looking man about 40 years
Of age, and while his features show him
to be resolute and desperate man, still
he has not the look OF wicked man.
The outlaws wife and children are with
the body at the undertaker's. The
body will be taken to Kansas City. The
Fords will claim the rewards.
The well-known strengthening prop
critics of iron, combined with other ton