Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1882-10-24
Frank James, the Bandit.
HIS OWN ACCOUNT OF HES FARM-LIFE
NEAR NASHVILLE.

Frank James talks freely to the peo-
pie who attend bis levees in Jail at In~
dependence, Missouri, and his language
shows that he is man possessing more
intelligence than might be expected
from his lawless life. He is not a fierce
looking man, being only five feet nine
inches in height. He is thirty-nine
years of age. and his face is rugged and
his strong jaws slope away at blunt
angle towards the ears, which are rath-
er large. His bluish-glay eyes are bright
and small. His forehead is high, his
cheek-bones prominent, and his face
marked with several scars. In his talks
he evades any reference to a period be-
fore August, 1877, when he went to
Nashville with his wife and passed him.
self off IS an enigrant under the name
Of E. J. WOodson. In short time he
rented piece OF land from Josiah Wal
ton, on White creek, few miles out of
Nashville, and worked hard at farming.
At the end of year he became team
ster for the Indiana Lumber Company,
and took his meals in the woods every
day with the darkies. After a year of
this kind of work he hired land on
White creek from Felix Smith, and re-
manned there until April. 1881. During
hia four years around Nashville he never
enjoyed himself better. He numbered
among his acquaintance Charles III.
Eastman, the county clerk, Rev. DR..
Wall, and J. w. Shute, a member of the
Legislature. He daily shook hands
with Fetch Horn and a man named
Watson, whom he knew to be detec-
tives.
He says he had not seen his brother
Jesse for two years, when, one day in
the Spring, after reaching Nashville, he
suddenly encountered him in a store,
where he was known as Joe Howard
Jesse told him he was living near Wa
verify, West Tennessee, and had come
in to sell some corn. They separated,
and eighteen months later Jesse moved
into North Nashville. Jesse spent much
of his time on the race.track, and had
several fine horses. Among them was
the famous Jim Malone, that won sew
eral races after Jesse sold him to Nash
vile druggist named John Greener.-
Jim Cummings, formerly one of the
gang, lived with Jesse. but he got fright
ened and ran away, and this alarmed
both Jesse and Frank, fearing that he
would betray them, and they kept on
the move for a week on horseback
Their fears proved unfounded, but about
two weeks later Jack Ryan, another Of
the gang, got drunk and was arrested.
He was removed to Missouri to answer
for a robbery, and this caused Jesse and
James to separate, and Frank became a
wanderer from what had been his peace
ful home.
The Gagged outlaw said that while in
Nashville he exhibited hogs at the fairs
and once or twice rode in the races. The
popular idea that he sought out retired
places was wrong. He made it point
to spend as much time as possible in the
cities, for nobody would look for him
there. He never wore disguise on
railroad trein, and always travelled by
rail when convenient. He had many
tried friends, in whose parlors he was
safe. He protested that he never en-
coursged any young man to join the
gang-that be always advised them that
of all the terrible, God-forsaken lives
that ever man led, the life of an outlaw
is the worst, and that there were few
crimes IN the world more hideous and
dastardly than the killing of any man
for money. He proposes to return to
farming, if permitted. but that he is al
most entirely without means, and could
only equip q farm in very humble
way. In conclusion he said, II am very
fond OF reading. When in retirement l
occupy nearly nearly all my time that
way. I tell my friends that I have the
finest library IN the world. It consists
OF the Bible, Shakespeare, and Plu.
tarch's Lives. don't suppose you and
the public would believe it, but I am
very fond Of reading the Bible"