The Morristown gazette. [volume] (Morristown, Tenn.) 1867-1920, 1882-04-12

HlOFhihS, jesse JaneS, the MlSS0ul
outlaw, before whom the deeds
Fra Diavole, Dick Turpin an
Shinderhannes dwindle into insie
nifcance was killed by a boy
twenty years old, named Rober
Ford, at his temporary residence OF
18th and Lafayette streets, in thi
city. In the light of all moral reas
oning, the shooting was uniustifi
able, but law is vindicated and $50.
600 reward offered by the State fol
the body of the brigand, dead ol
alive, will doubtless go to the man
who had courage to draw q revolver
on the notorious outlaw, when his
back was turned, as in this case
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 accOmplice of Jesse
James since the Sd of last Novem-
Der, and entirely possessed his con-
idence. Robert Ford, his brother
joined Jesse near the house of Mrs.
Samue.s, the mother of the James
boys, last Friday a week ago, and
accompanied jesse and Charles to
this city on Sunday, March %.
Jesse, his wife and two children re-
moved from Kansas City (where
they lived for several months, until
they feared their whereabouts
would ne suspected) in a wagon to
this cigy, arriving here Nov. Is,
1881, aoeOmpanied by Charles Ford,
and rented 4 house on the corner of
Lafayette and TweAty-frst streets,
where they stayed two months
when they secured house 1918 on |
Lafayette street, formerly the prop |
erty OF Councilman Aylesbury, pay
-ng sl4 a month fO- it, and giving
-he name of Thomas Hard. The
house is one-story cottage, painted
white, with green shutters, and
'omantically situated on the brow
VI lofty eminence east of the CITY.
.ommanding a fine view of the prin-
ipal portion of the city, the river
nd railroads, and adapted, as if by
Iature, for the perilousand desperate
alling of James. Just east of the
ouse is a deep gluch, like ravine,
nd beyond a broad expanse ofopen
ountry, backed by belt of timber.
he house, except from the west {
de, can be seen for several miles.
here IS largo yard attached to
he cottage, and a stable where Jesse I
ad been keeping two horses, which t
ere found there this morning.
harles and Robert Ford have been t
'eupying one of the rooms in the c
ar of the dwelling and have secret
had an understanding to kill 5
'sse ever since last fall. A short Ii
NE ago, before Robert had Joined P
'mes, the latter proposed to rob P
e bank at Platte City. He said il
e Bug murder trial would com
ence there to-day, and his plan St
rs, If they could get another COM Il
.nion, to take view of the situa- t;
N Of the Platte City Bank, and is
hile the arguments were being d
ard IN the murder case, which
'uld naturally engage the atten- ol
IN of tho citizens, boldly execute Of
. Of his favOrite raids. Charles d,
rd approved of the plan, and sug- II
sted his brother Robert as a com n
MON, wocthy of sharing theent,r
sc with them. Jesse had met the
; Mt the latter's house, near Rich
md, three years ago, and consent =
to SEQ him. The two men accord. r
;ly went to where Robert was. :,
i arranged to have him accom- =
ny them to Platte City. AS stated r
three of them came TO st. Joseph
Teek ago Sunday They remain
at the house all the week. Jesse -,
'ught it best that Robert should To
exhibit himself on the premises, tn
the presence of three bodied ac
"A, who were doing nothing, oI
nd excite suspicion. They had y;c
j upon tonight 10 70 To Platte ms
Y. liver since the boys had been j.
n Jesse they hal watch Cor an "a
ortunity to shoot him, but he ~ ~:
always - heavily armed that clio
-aS Impossible 20 draw weapon oh
hout his seeing it. They declare pr,
~" no idea or taking Linn H.
c, considering the undertaking - "
idal- The opportunity they chs
long wished for came, this ity
ming. James was standing on der
iair busting some pictures. - II
is back was now turned to the an an
hers, who silently stepped be- bel
en- jesse and his revolvers, and equ
motion from Charley both drew cos
r guns. Robert was the quick t1a tI','
'f the two. In one motion he ;ts
the long weapon to a level with MOI
,ye, with the muzzle no more pla,
! four feet from the back of the the