Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1882-04-12
SELECT.
The Career of a Noted Outlaw.

A dispatch from ST. Joseph, Mo
dated April 3rd, said that a great ex.
citement was created in that city that
morning, by the announcement that
Jesse James had been assassinated in
house in that city, by one of his own
gang, who had joined the detective
force, and who killed James to get the
large rewards offered for him, dead or
alive, by the Governor of the State
and by the railroad and express com.
panies.
A look at the body while it was be-
ing photographed at the undertaker's
showed that James was fine-looking
man, apparently forty years old, with
broad forehead, and his ply siognomy
was that of an intelligent as well as a
resolute and daring man.
The house where James lived, and
in which he was killed, has the ap-
pearance of an armorv. A number OF
guns and pistols, including repeating
rifle, needle gun, and navy revolvers,
with good store of ammunition, were
found there. Jesse was in the habit
of wearing two belts, with brace of
very fine revolvers and twenty-five ex-
ira cartridges. In small stable near
the house were discovered several fine
horses, the property of James.
Jesse James is the elder of the two
James boys. Frank, the younger, is
understood to be living in Texas under
an assumed name. lie is married and
has abandoned his old ways of life.
They were the sons of Baptist clergy
man of Kentucky, and were educated
at Georgetown College, Scott county,
Ky. Jesse was born in l845, and
Frank in 184l. In 1916 the Rev. Mr..
James removed to Clay county, Mo-,
where he purchased farm and per-
formed ministerial duties for small
Baptist congregation. In lS49 he
went to California and died there. In
1857 his widow married DR. Reuben
Samuels, physician of Clay county,
Missouri.
When the war opened Jesse and
Frank endeavored to enlist in the Con-
federate army, but were rejected as
being too young for the service. 1t is
stated that DR. Samuels was oEce ter
ribly beaten by party Of Union men
who came to the house, and that it
was desire for vengeance that started
the boys on their career as desperadoes.
At any rate they joined Quantrell's
guerillas, and took part in the murder
Gus work of the gang. Jesse james
has made brag Of the number of peo-
pie ee killed at the sacking Of the town
of Lawrence. In 1865 Quantrell was
killed in fight with a body of Federal
troops, and the gang was broken up,
the James boys returning to Their
homes in Clay county, Mo, where they
lived quietly.
In 1868, with the Younger brothers
and George Sheppard, who had been
with them in Quantrells band, the
James boys went to the races at Lex
ington, KY. On their way home they
visited Russellville, in that State, rob
bed the bank of $4,000 and fled tc
Texas
In December, 1869, they resumed
criminal operations. and robbed the
bank at Gallatin, Mo. in connection
with the Younger brothers and Others
of their old associates in guerilla war
fare. Here they murdered several per.
sons, and again went TO Texas.
In May, 1870, the two brothers had
| ..,..L .ou,n Tnvapg o Japcf
I house, which resulted in several mur
ders, the victims being men Of their
own profession, and theresult was thai
they were compelled to fly for thei
lives. They returned to their ole
home in Missouri, and again resumed
agricultural pursuits.
In the spring Of 1870, together will
the Younger brothers, they made {
rade into Iowa entering the town o
Corydon, where, in broad daylight
they dashed up to the bank on theil
horses, seven in number, dlsmounted
entered with drawn revolvers and find
ing the cashier alone, demanded al
the money he had. The safe was open
and the cashier was totally powerlcss
After emptying several thousand dol
lars into a sack, they quietly remount
ed their horses and rode away. They
were followed for hundred miles o
more by posse of citizens, but disap
peared, and were not seen again fol
several months.
In the latter part Of the same yea
Is7O) the two James brothers and th,
four Younger brothers again attended
the races at Kentucky, and there con
ceived the plan Of robbing bank n
Columbus. In the afternoon, aftc
spending the day around the tavern il
that town, the six men mounted thei
horses, rode over to the bank, whicl
was only few rods distant, leisurel.
dismounted and entered the building
where they found the cashier, th