The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1882-04-05

The COWRFdIy Murder OF she
Brave BansaiE. 2h
The Desperate Dead snre This
Time.


ton was created in this city this morning
Eby the announcement that Jesse James,
the notorious bandit and train-robber,
had been shot and killed here in st.
Joseph. The news spread with great
Iraridity, but most people received 1t
| with doubts, until Investigation estAb-
lished the fact beyond question. Then
1.-The excitement became more and more
intense, and crowds of people rushed to
that quarter OF the city where the shoot
ing took place, anxious to view the body
Of the dead outlaw and learn the particu-
liars. In q small frame shsnty In the
south part Of the city, on hill not far
from the Worlds Hotel, JeAse James
has lived with his wife since some time
lin November last. Robert and Charles
Ford, two Of his gang, have made their
Iheadauarters at his house, and Charles,
lit is said, has lived with him in that
Ishanty ever since November. Robert
Twas arrested about ten days ago,
land the three nave bsen making
preparations for = raiding expedition on
which they were to start tonight. James
and the two Fords being in trent room,
together about 9 this morning, the
former took Of his belt and laid his pis-
tolls on the bed, preparing 10 wash HIM
self, when Robert Ford sprRnR up be-
hind him and sent bullet through his
brain. The ball entered the back Of his
head OF the Eass OF The right brain,
looming out ct the eye. The Ford
brothers ct once made known what they
had done and gave themselves up. They
are now under guard 1t the court house.
The body Of jesse James was conveyed
/ e, SxyKa
for buriAl, and where q photograph was
mother the news of his death. a num-
there is no question about it being Jesse
James.
A Herald reporter viewed the body at
the undertsker's when it was being
photographed. he Was fierce looking
} man, apparently 40 years old, with
! broad forehead, and his ply
sicgnomy was that Of an in;
J tellieent as we'll as q resolute and
daring man. The house where Jams
lived and in which he was killed has the
sppearsnce Of an armory. 4 number Of
guns and pistols, including . repeating
ride, needle gun and navy revolvers,
with = good store of ammunition, were
found there. Jesse was in the habit oil
wearing two belts, with s brace of very
fine revolvers and twenty-five extra car
tridges. In q small stable near were dis
covered several fine horles, the property
Of James. The Ford Brothers claim
that they are detectives, and that they
have been on james track for long
time. It is believed they were with
James in the Blue Cut robbery, and that
they were Influenced in killing him by
the hope Of getting the big reward which
has been offered for James, dead or
alive, by the governor and by the e.
press and railroad companies.
Ford, who killed james, was only ~
years old. The shooting, although
wholly unjustifable, vindicAted the law,
and Ford will doubtless get the 500, OOO
reward offered by the state for James
dead or alive" Charles Ford had been
an accomplice of James since the 3rd OF
November last, and possessed his entire
leoufdence. Robert Ford joined James
on March 23rd, several months after ne
moved here. They rented house under
the name OK Thomas. The house WAS
situated for defense aud retreat. Jesse
had TWO horses in the stable. Charles
land Robest Ford had been in one room
I'm the cottage. James had planned to
rob bank at Burgess city, this week,
and Robert was chosen a. third COM
psniOn, and they were going tonight.
Ever since the boys had been with Jesse
they bad watched for an opportunity 10
shoot him, tut he was always 30 heavily
armed that it was impossible to draw a
weapon withou: him seeing it. They de-
lciare that they had no idea of taking
him alive. considering the undertaking
,uicidsl The opportunity they had long
wished for came this morainE. Break
fast was over; Charles Ford and jesse
James had been in the stable currying
the horses preparatory to their night
ride. On returning to the room where
Robert Ford was, Jesae said: ITS an
lawfully hot day" and he pulled off his
coat and yes and tossed them on the bed:
then he said: II guess I'll tske Oft my
pistols Hor fenr somebody will rec ihem
liz I walk in the yard" Jesse unbuckled
a.belt in which he carried two torty-fve
eslibre revolvers, one Smith & Wesson
and the other a colt. He laid them ON
the bed with his coat and vest. He then
picked I'D busting brush with the in
tsntiou of dustinS rome pictures which
hung on the wall. To do this he got on
3 chair. His back Was now turned. to the
brothers, who silently stepped between
Jesse and his revolver, aud at q motion
from Charley both drew their guns.
Robert WAS the quickest Of the two. i
moment he had the long weapon to a
lsvel with his eye, with the muzZle no
more than four feet from the back of the
outlaw's head. Even in that motion,
quick as thought, th-re ~as something
that did not escaE the acute ears Of the
hunted man He made q motion as if t.
turn his head . ascertain tbs cause of
that Suspicion sound, but 40 lAte-&
nervous pressure on the trigger, quick
fash, . sharp report, and well directed
bail crashed thrOu4h the outlaws skull.
There was no cutlery just the swaying Of
the body and 1t iell heavily back upon
the carpet. The suot had been fatal, and
sll the bullets in the ch&n5er of Char
ley's revolver, stih directed ut Jesse's
head, could not more effectively decide
the fate Of - DGgSit. Ta@ ball had en-
tered the base Of the skull and made it,
way cut through the fOrehea over the
left pc. II had been fred oct Of Col's
45 improves pattern, silver mounted and
pearl handled, presented by thedsad man
to his slayer only 4 few days ago. Mrs
James was ia the kitchen when the shoot
ing WAS done, divided from the room in
which the bloody tragedy occurred BIZ
the dining room. She heard the shot,