Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1882-04-05
THE MURDERED OUTLAW.
DRAMATIC SCENES AT THE
INQUEST.
The Mother of the Dead Man In
Tears and DenOuncIng HIS BE.
traYer-HtstOrV of the Ford Broth
ers and the scheme 10 Dispose of
JEme+The Body Identified and
the slayer Held for Murder.


ST. JOSEPH, Mo-, April AT the Coro-
ner's inquest Mrs. Samuels, the mother of
Jesse James, testified that it was her son
Jesse. Considerable excitement was created
by her denunciation of the treachery of
Dick Little. Governor Crittenden has just
arrived here. 1t is unknown at present
what will be done with the body, but the
Governor has ordered it to be turned over
to his relatives.
ST. LOUIS, April "A dispatch from Kan
sas City says: "It is now known that the
taking off of Jesse James was the fulfill
ment Of an arrangement between Governor
Critteuden and Bob Ford, and that Ford was
to receive one quarter of the reward and
immunity. la an interview with Dick Little
and a reporter on Sunday night the last
scheme was foreshadowed, but Little said it
was not to have been accomplished before
Wednesday or Thursday, and only then, if
It was found impossible for Timberlake to
capture the bandit leader alive.
"Governor Crittenden stated here to-day
that his first meeting with Ford at the 81.
James Hotel In this city was on February
221, when the arrangements by which Jesse
James was to be either captured or killed
were consummsted. He met Little a few
dsvs later. He was non-committal as to the
disposition to be made of Ford and Little,
but admitted that their ultimate pardon was
improbable. Sheriff Timberlake, Dick Little
and Mrs. Samuels, mother of the dead bandit,
passed through this place last night en-
route to st. Joseph, where they have since
identified the body under osth. The double
confession of Dick Little is still a mystery,
and the officers are endeavoring to solve IL
and learn which is correct.
''The trial of the Blue Cut robbers is still
In progress at Independence, and the utmost
efforts OF counsel are directed toward prov
ing an alibi. Matte Collins the wife of
Dick Little, recently showed a correspoI-
dent letter received about two weeks ago
from Jesse James, in which he stated that
he wOuld stay In this country till he had
killed Dick Little, and that then he aud his
brother Frank aud their families would pu.
the Atlantic ocean between them and the
United States F"
KANSAS CITY, Mo, April 4-Governor
Crittenden, who arrived here this morning,
asserts positively that the body is that of
Jesse James, ard that his death was the
result of an understanding between the au-
duu DOO rOTus WHO kIii6u MIN, auu
Dick Little, who surrendered to Sheriff
Tlmberlake at the same time Ford did
At the inquest at st. Joseph, which was
concluded at noon to day. Mrs. Samuels,
the mother of Jesse, his wife, Dick Little
and Sheriff Tmberlake identified the body,
and durirg the proceedings Mrs. James and
Mrs. Samuels made a highly sensational
scene, attacking Little and calling all man
rer OF curses down upon him for having
M 1{-nA RI &c H.
CorOner's jury returned a verdict of
murder In the first degree against
Ford, and the authorities of Buchanan
county refuse to give him up. The body of
james will probably be taken to the old
farm near Kearney, Clay county, for burial.
The confirmation of James death has
created a profound sensation In Western
Missouri, and farmers near this place and
Independence, who have not been In this
morning in order to investigate the
rumor. Some denounce Ford as an
assassin, whose only object was blood
money, while Others excuse him upon the
ground OF expediency. The Governor will
return ITO Jefferson City tonight, where
some steps will be taken to protect Ford,
who is thought to be in danger from the
friends OF the dead robber. ''Cracker
Neck" was upon horseback this morning,
have been made against the lives of Ford and
Little. The Ford brothers reside on farm
shout two miles from Richmond, the county
seat OF Ray county, In this State. Robert,
who did the shooting, is only about twenty
years old. Their house is said to have
been a rendezvous of some of the James
gang, and it was there that Dick Little
killed Wood Hite, the brother OF Clarence
Hite, who was recently sentenced to twenty
five years in the penitentiary, and is now in
prison. It is said that both belonged to the
James gang at one time, but this statement
does not seem to be verified. The family
came from Virginia fifteen years ago and
has always been considered very respecta-
BILE. For some time past both brothers are
believed to have been In the dete ctive ser
vice and specially engaged in hunting out
the members of the James gang.
ST. JOSEPH, Mo, April AT the inquest
on the body of Jesse James to-day H. Fl.
Craig, Police Commissioner OF Kansas City,
testified: 81 know the Fords; Robert Ford
assisted Sheriff Timberlake and myself;
Ford was not commissioned; Robert
Ford acted through our instructions, and
Charles was not acting undtr our
Instructions"
Mrs. samuels, mother of Jesse
Jemes, took the stand. She is large,
with a kindly face and eyes and a rather
prominent nose. Her hair is black sprinkled
with gray. When she took the stand her
face bad a resolute appearance, but IS the
examination progressed that disappeared,
aud she was very much affected She
testified that she was the mother Of Jesse
James and she had seen the body but a
moment before.
SIS that the body of your SOM" asked
the Coroner.
"It Is" she answered, and then sobbed
out, "Would to God it was not" Placing
her hands upon the heads of little son and
daughter of Jesse James, who were stand
ing just in front Of her, she continued, "and
these are bis orphan children" AS she said
this she was moved to tears.
When Mrs. Samuels retired from the
court room Dick Little was standing near
the door. Her eyes rested on him nc
ment. Then she turned upon him with the
fiercehess of tiger. "TraitoT! traitor trail
torw she exclaimed excitedly; "God will
sand vengeance on you for this. You are
the cause of all this. Oh, you vilIainl l
would rather be in my poor boys place than
in yours"
The jury found verdict that James came
to his death from a pistol shot at the hands
of Robert Ford. The Ford brothers are
confined In jail, charged with murder, under
a warrant sworn out by Mrs. James. They
will not he intarvinWpd and the ShariT ra-