The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1882-04-15
JESSE JAMES.
A Brief ketch of the James Boys and
Their Leading Exploits.

The Kansas City (Mo.,) correspondent OF the
New York Sun, after giving the details OF the
murder of Jesse James, at ST. Joseph, gives
the following rapid outline of his strange ca
reer and incidentally of some of the leading
members of his gang
Jesse James Is the elder OF the two James
boys. Frank, the younger, Is understood to
be living in Texas under an assumed name.
He is married and has abandoned his old
ways of life. They were the SONS of a Baptist
clergyman of Kentucky, and were educated at
Georgetown College, Scott county, Ky. Jesse
was Torn ia 1916, and Frank IN 1S4l. In 1916
the Rev. Mr.. James removed to Clay county,
Mo-, where he purchased farm and perform
ed ministerial duties for small Baptist con-
preration. In 1S49 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 ana Frank en-
deavored to enlist in the Confederate army,
but were rejected as being too young for the
service. 1t is stated that DR.. Samuels was
once terribly beaten by party of Union men
who came to the house, and that 1t was de-
sire for vengeance that started the boys on their
career as desperadoes. AT any rate they Joined
Quantrell's guerillas, and took part IN the
murderous work OF the gang. Jesse James
has made brag Of the number Of people he
killed at the sacklng OF the town of Lawrence.
In 1865 Quantrell was killed IN fight with u
body of Federal troops and the gang was
broken up, the James boys returning to Clay
county, Mo, where they lived quietly
In 1863 with the Younger brothers and Geo.
Sheppard, who had been with them IN QUAINT
rell's band, the James boys went to the races
at Lexington, Ky. On their way home they
toad luiI 10 in nj
bank of $4,000 and fled to Texas.
In December 1869 they resumed their crimi.
nal operations, and robbed the bank at Gala
tin, Mo-, IN connection with the Younger
brothers and others of their old associates In
guerilla warfare. Here they murdered several
persons, aud again went to Texas.
In May 1870 the two brothers had fight
with some Texans at dance house which re-
suited in several murders, the victims being
men of their own profession, and the result
was that they were compelled to fly for their
lives. They returned to their old home In Mis-.
souri,, and again resumed agricultural pur.
suits.
In the spring of 1870, together with the
Younger brothers, they made raid into Iowa:
entering the town of CoryuOn, where, in broad
daylight, they dashed up to the bank on their
horses, seven in number dismOunted, entered
with drawn revolvers, and finding the cashier
alone, demanded all the money he had.
The safe was open, and the cashier was totally
powerless After emptying several thousand
dollars INTO sack, they quietly remounted
their horses and rode away. They were fol-
lowed for hundred miles or more by posse
Of citizens, but disappeared, and were not
seen again for several months
In the latter part of the same year (1S7O)
the two James brothers and the four Younger
brothers again attended the races in Kentucky,
and there conceived the plan of rObbing bank
at Columbus. In the afternoon, after spending
the day around the tavern in that town, they
mounted their horses, rode over IN The bank,
which was only "A few rods distant, rl>nrely
dismounted and entered the building, where
they found the cashier, the presi0ent and cit
lien engaged IN conversation. Without losing
any time, three OF them leveled their rrvolvris
upon the occupants of the room, while the - L.
er three unceremonlously smpued the safe.
They gathered together all the money in sight,
and, after shooting the cashier, who made an
cutlery, they mounted their horses and rode
away. An alarm was Immediately gwen, and
they were pursued by the sheriff and large
posse of men, but they reached the Cumber-
land mountains in safety and disappeared.
On the Goth of September 1872 they com
mitted one OF the most daring and amazlng
exploits IN the history of crime. They attend
where it is SAID 10000 people were gathered
and, of course, the receipts at the gate were
correspOndingly large. They remained through
the day, took dinner on the fair grounds, at
tended the races, and about four O'Clock in the
afternoon while the attention OF the crowd
was drawn to a famous contest between Ethan
Allen and another noted horse, they rode up to
the Office of the fair association, where they
found Mr.. Hall, the treasurer OF the fair
counting up the receipts OF the day, which
amounted to nearly $4,000 Mr.. Hall sat in
the Office with d young man. The gang put
revOlvers to their heads, pOcketed the money,
and made their escape.
In the spring OF 1878 they raided bank at
st. Genevieve, Mo-, During the flight the out.
law who had the bag of money in charge
dropped it, and the pursuit was so hot that
they had to abandon the booty. 1t was while
they were smarting under this dlsappont-
ment that their first tram robbery was planned,
which ok place on the Rock Island road IN
June y. ,le same year. About seventy five
miles east of Council Bluffs they took up a
rail on sharp curve An express train was
thrown off the track. The engineer and fire
men were killed, and number of passengers
badly wounded. The gang robbed the express
Car carrying away gold bricks, specie and
notes to very large amount. A large reward
was offered for their apprehension, but they
found safe refuge in Indian Territory.
After this affair they committed number OF
stage robberies, one of them on route to Hot
Springs, Ark In January 1874 the gang made
Its appearance at Gads Hill flag station on
the Iron Mountain road, in Wayne county,
Mo. They tagged the train robbed the ex.
press car of $1,000 and plundered number
Of the passengers.
The railroad and express companies now de.
termined to hunt the gang down at any ex-
pense. Pinkertons agency took the case, and
corps of detectives were sent to Missouri
under the command OF Louis l.. Lull, former
ly a lieutenant on the police force of Chicago.
One of his detectives by the name of Welcher
went TO the rendezvous of the desperadoes IN
the garb of German immig and applied