The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1882-04-07

4 Companion Assassinates Him I'm
His Home az 81 Joseph, MO.-PrO-
found Excitement Throughout the
Region which Gl0ried An His


Deeds.
Jesse James, the famous outlaw, before
whom the deeds OF Fra Diayolo, Dick Turpin
and Don Joaquin dwindle into insigni6cance,
was killed at st. Joseph, Mo-, on the Sd inst
His slayer was mere boy of 20 years, a cousin
by marriage The affair created the most in
tense excitement at ST. Joseph, and
10, 900 people assembled at the inquest. The
dead bandit was fully identified, and the body
was forwarded to Kansas City by order of Gov.
Crittenden. There has been standing reward
Of $780, 900 for Jesse James, dead or alive
which was offered by the Governor OF Missouri
in connection with the railroad authorities sew
eral months ago, which will in all probability be
turned over to the youth who put an end to his
earthly existence. the following account OF
the killing Of the notorious robbor, sent out
from ST. Joseph, will be read with interest
There is little doubt that the killing was the
result of a premeditated plan formed by Robert
and Charles Ford several months ago. Charles
had been an accompIice of Jesse James since
the Sd Of last November, and entirely possessed
his confidence. Robert, his brother, joined
Jesse near Mrs. Samuels house, mother of the
James boys, last Friday week ago, and accom-
panied Jesse and Charles to this city Sunday
March %. Jesse, his wife, and two children
removed from Kansas City, where they had
lived several months, until they feared
their whereabouts would be suspected, in
wagon to this city, arriving here Nov. /, 1881,
accompanied by Charles Ford, and rented a
house on the corner OF Lafayette and Twenty
first streets, where they stayed two months,
when they secured the house numbered 1918 on
Lafayette street, formerly the property OF
Councilman Aylesbury, paying ga month for
II, and giving the name OF Thomas Howard.
The house Is a one-story cottage, painted white,
with green shutters, and Economically situated
on the brow OF a lofty eminence east OF the
city, commanding fine view OF the principal
portion of the city, the river and railroads, and
adapted as by nature for the perilous and des-
perate calling OF James. Just east Of the house
il deep gulch.h like ravine, and beyond broad
expanse of open country, backed by a belt OF
timber. The house, except from the west aide,
can be seen for several miles. There IL large
yard attached to the cottage and stable where
Jesse had been keeping two horses, which were
found there this morning.
Charles and Robert Ford have been occupy
ing one of the rooms in the rear OF the dwell
ing, and have secretly lad an understanding to
xiii Jesse ever since last fall. A short time
ago, before Robert Joined James, the latter
proposed to rob the bank at Platte City. He
said the Burgess murder trial would commence
there to-day, and his plan was, if they could
get another companion, to take view Of the
situation of the Platte City Bank, and,
while arguments were being heard in
the murder case, which would engage
the attention Of citizens, boldly execute
one of his favorite raids. Charles Ford ap-
proved of the plan, and suggested his brother
Robert az companion worthy OF sharing the
enterprise with them. Jesse had met the boy
at the latters house, near Richmond three
years ago, and consented to see him. The two
men accordingly went to where Robert was,
and arranged to have him accompany them to
Platte City. AS stated all three came TO St
Joe week ago Sunday. They remained at the
house all the week. Jesse thought it best that
oh hn,l11 not axh oolf tha
premises lest the presence Of three
able-bodied men who were doing moth
ing should excite suspicion. They
had fixed upon to night to go to Platte City.
Ever since the boys had been with Jesse they
had watched for an opportunity to shoot him,
but he was always 80 heavily armed that it was
impossible to draw weapon without him see
ing it. They declare they had no idea Of TAX
ing him alive, considering the undertaking sui
cidaL The opportunity they had long wished
for came this morning. Breakfast
nes Sai b enar'i fG Ss and 'ssss
rying the horses preparatory TO their
night ride On returning to the room where
Robert Ford was Jesse said cts an awfully
hot day." He pulled of his coat and vest and
tossed them on the bed. Then he said ~
guess I'll take off my pistols for fear somebody
viii see them If l walk in the yard" He un-
buckled the belt, in which he carried two forty
fve-caliber revolvers, one o Smith Il Wesson
and the other Colt, and laid them on the bed
with his coat and vest. He then picked up a
busting brush with the intention OF busting
some pictures which hung on the wall. To do
this he got on the CHAIR. His back was now
turned to the brothers, who silently stepped be-
tween Jesse and his revolvers, and at a motion
from Charley both drew their guns. Robert
was the quickest of the two. In one second he
had the long weapon to level with his eye,
with the muzzle no more than four feet from
tha hoolr Of tha nttl xusu hAa Exrap iy,t hat
motion, though quick az thought, there was
something that did not escape the acute ears OF
the hunted man. de made a motion as il to
turn his head to ascertain the cause OF that
suspicious sound, but too late. A nerv-
GUS pressure on the trigger, a quick fash,
a sharp report and a well-directed ball
crashed through the outlaws skull. There
was no outcry just swaying of the body, and
it fell heavily back upon the carpet. The shot
had been fatal, and all the bullets in the cham
Der of Charley's revolver, still directed at
Jesses head, could not more effectually have
decided the fate Of the greatest bandit and
freebooter that ever figured in the pages Of the
country's history The ball had entered the
base of the skull, and made its way out through
the forehead. over the left eye. 1t had been
fired out Of a Colts 45, improved pattern silver
mounted and pearl handled, presented by the
dead man to his slayer only few days ago.
Mrs. Jumes was in the kitchen when the shoot
ing was done, divided from the room in which
the bloody tragedy occurred by the dining
room. She heard the shot, and, dropping her
household duties, ran into the front room. She
saw her husband lying on his back and his
slayers each holding his revolver in hand, MAX
ing for the fence in the rear of the house.
Robert had reached the Enclosure and
was in the act Of scaling it when she
stepped to the door and called
to him, Robert, you have done this come
back" Robert answered, 81 swear to God
did not" They then returned to where she
stood. Mrs. James ran to the side OF her hus-
band and lifted up his head. Life was not ex-
tinct, and when asked il he was hurt, il seemed
to her that he wanted to say something but
could not. She tried to wash away the blood
that was coursing over his face from the hole
in his forehead, but it seemed to her "that tho
blood would come faster than she could wash
IL away, and in her hands Jesse James died.
Mrs. James was greatly affected by the TRACE
dy, and heartrending means and expressions Of
grief were sorrowful evidence Of the lovelshe
bore tho desperate.