The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1882-10-13

sympathy of the people, but under the judicial
forms of justice and well establishedlaws. As
determined as am to see the laws enforced
against all grades of crime, am none the less
convinced of the importance to society OF
having every man within the grasp Of the law
protected in his rights, however lawless he
may have been, when he yields voluntarily and
submissively to that law, and appeals to that
and me for Justice and mercy.
of all the heinous crimes charged to you. That
the Court will determine, as before said, and
after the voice of the Court is heard. then, If it
becomes necessary, will decide what my &C
THOMAS T. CR1TrESDES.
Resolves TO Surrender.
After receiving the Governors letter Frank
James seems to have fully determined to give
himself up, although he could CLEAN from it
no promise of immunity from punishment
But he concluded to take his chances, and put
his nerve and courage to the test of setting
out for Jefferson City to deliver himself to the
Executive Of the State. When he reached Sc
dalia he was Joined by Maj. John N. Edwards,
and the two arrived at Jefferson City about
o'clock on the morning of the 5th and put up
at the McCarty house. He remained there
during the day, appearing in the dining room
with the guests of the house and Mr.. McCarty
and family, all of whom were entirely uncon-
scious of his identity, he having registered at
the hotel under an assumed name.
The Surrender.
1t having become known throughout the
capital building shortly before 5 O'Clock that
the great bandit would at that hour put in an
appearance and surrender himself, the heads
of the State Departments and their clerks with
others, who were in and without the building,
assembled in the Executive Office to await his
arrival. Among those present, besides the
Governor, were Judge Henry, of the Supreme
Court, Phil .. Chapel, State Treasurer, Jno.
Walker, Auditor, Adj. Gen. Woodell, Maj. T.
o. Towles and others, besides the representa-
tives of the press. When the hands of the
clock in the office were close upon the hour of
3, the expectant ears of those present heard
the sound of footsteps entering the ro-
tunda of the building. A moment later Maj.
Jno. N. Edwards appeared in the open door
way. As he advanced into the room he was
followed by man nearly six feet in height, of
slender, yet neat and trim build, who walked
erect and with quiet, easy and self-possessed
gait to the middle of the room. Stopping in
front of the Governor, Maj. Edwards said
Governor and gentleman, this is Frank James.
He is here to give himself up" This brief
introduction brought face to face the Execu-
tive of Missouri and the noted outlaw whose
name has been such terror in the West, and
where deeds Of daring outlawry have become
familiar to the whole country. 1t was a scene
without precedent and to all present was
intensely interesting and dramatic. To all ap-
pearances Frank James was the coolest and least
unnerved man in the room. While being intro
duced, his countenance was as quiet aud calm
in its expression as if the business in hand was
no concern of his. He advanced step to-
ward the Governor, and unbuckling belt
from around his body, and holding it to the
Governor said:
''Governor, am Frank James. surrender
my arms 10 you. / have removed the loads
from them. They are not loaded. They have
not been out of my possession since 1864. No
other man has ever had them since them. i
now give them to you personally. / deliver
myself to you and the law"
Gov. Crlttenden received the proffered belt,
pistol and cartridges, and requested his pris-
Oner to be seated. He said that he was very
glad to meet him, particularly in this manner.
Frank James answered that he had come in
and surrendered himself because he desired to
do as he had done for years, that is, live the
life of law-abidiDg citizen. He hoped to be
able to prove that he was not so bad as he had
been painted. Although he had been living
the life of quiet, orderly and law-observing
man for four years. he well knew that every
thing criminal and bad that had been commit
ted of late years had been credited to him.
Governor" said he, with more earnestness
in his tone than he hitherto had shown, ''if
some one were to assassinate you, although
might be able to prove myself entirely inno-
cent, l would not be able to convince the peo-
pie that was guiltless of the crime. they
have been in the habit of attributing all man.
ner OF crimes to me, and are ready to believe
anything they hear" He further stated that
he had not been in Missouri for over year
previous to the Sunday of September "a, when |
be reached st. Louis.
81 have" remarked the Governor, received
over half hundred of letters from you or
from those purportlng to be you. have re-
ceiyed them not only from three or four differ |
emit men on the same day, but from several
different States.''
eyes," answered the outlaw, 'sthat proves
that any crime, no matter by whom commit
ted, is likely to be laid to me. / have sur
rendered because / wish these to end and |
prove, as l can, that for four years, Ihave been
! law-abiding citizen and that 1 have been |
painted blacker than am. do it for my wife |
and child's sake. | am in your hands to do |
with me as you see best"
The Closing Scenes.
1t did not take long for the news that |
Frank James had voluntarily surrendered to |
spread through the city. 1t was the sensation
If the hour. Had he dashed into the city at
he head of few followers, robbed every
bank and made a successful escape the excite
nent could not have been much greater, and |
people focked to see him with much more ca
yerness and greater feeling of safety than
hey would had he been standing at bay with
! bag of stolen gold in one hand and his trusty
evolver in the other. From an outlaw he had
been transformed into hero, and /
lis ruthless hand was warmly grasped by
hose who an hour before would have turned
rom its proffered extension as they would
hun the protruding barb of the
leadly adder. Adjutant General Waddell had
sat at the same table with him
It dinner, and his digestion was undisturbed
because he was blissfully ignorant of the
presence of the notorious guest. Indeed, it is
aid no one would have taken the quiet man,
With open and frank-looking eyes, for the out
aw who held sway over Missouri for so long.
His clear complexion indicated habits of tenn
,erance, and there was not an ounce Of super
luous flesh upon his frame. He showed HIM
elf to be man who could patiently endure
,rave hardships, while his eyes, though in no
wise restless, saw and observed everything
bout him.
With all who called to see him Frank James
pleasantly and made such good
Impression that learned Judge is reported as
aging: ''He has won my sympathy already.
f / were governor l would pardon him right
way.n
The curtain will probably rise upon the next
Gene at Independence, Mo-, where several
Indictments are hanging over the bandit,
which he must answer before the Criminal
Iourt-
Briefly Historical.
Frank James was born in Kentucky IN 1S41;
Jesse in Clay County, Missouri, in 1S45. Their
ather was the Rev. Robert James, promi-
lent and eloquent Baptist minister, pleasant
md courteous gentleman, possessed of more
ducation than was common with the minis
ers of his church in the frontier days of 1913
n the West when the James family moved