Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1882-10-14
THE LIFE or 4 BANDIT.
Frank James Experience as q Farmer
Near Nashville.


Near Nashville.
FLEEING FROM THE CITY TRAVELLING ON
RAILROAD TRAINS WITHOUT ANY DISCUSSES
THE OUTLAW SAYS He rs BIBLE AND
SHAKESPEARE READER.
From the New York Mail and Express
Frank James. the bandit. Is not q fierce
looking man. He is about five feet nine inches
in height and Is thirty mine years of age. His
face is rugged, and his strong Jaws slope away
at blunt angle towards dhe ears which are
rather large. His blush gray eyes are bright and
small: His forehead is high, his cheek bones
prominent, and his face marked with several
scars. For the past year he has been flying
around to different places He talks freely to
people who visit him in jail at Independence
Mo-, and says he wants to settle down and live
| an honest life. He does not apparept3y fear
| the result of his trial, and the story is pretty
generally believed that if convicted he win be
taken care of by the governor 81 have been
outside the laws of Missouri for twenty-one
| years." said the prisoner during a converse
ton upon his voluntary surrender land now
| have come back to try to regain a home
| have been hunted like wild animal from one
| state to another. / have known no home:
| have slept in all sorts Of places-here to-day,
! There tomorrow; l have been charged with
| nearly every great crime committed in either
Missouri or her neighboring states; have been
taught to suspect my dearest and nearest friend
| of treachery, and where is the end to be-? am
tired of this life Of taut nerves. of night riding
and day hiding of constant listening for foot
falls. cracking twigs, rustline leaves and creak-
| ing doors; tired of seeing Judas on the face of
| every friend [ own; and goodness knows
have none to spare-tired of the saddle, the re-
vOlver and the cartridge belt tired OF the hoofs
! and horns with which popular belief has equip
ped me. and | want to see if there is not some
way out of it,"
Then the outlaw said that he had proved that
! he could be an industrious citizen by his career
| of late. In August, 1877, he went boldly to
Nashville with his wife. His health was poor
| As emigrants were plentiful just then he found
| no difficulty in passing himself off as an emf
| grant. and took the name of B. j. WOedson. In
short time he rented piece of land from
Josiah Walton. on White creek few miles out
of the city, and worked hard at farming At the
end OF a year he became teamster for the IN
diana Lumber Company. and took his meals in
the woods every day with the darkies After a
year of this kind of work he hired land on White
Creek from Felix Smith and remained there
until pfil. 1881. During his four wears around
Nashville he never enjoyed himself better He
numbered among his acquaintance Charles Ii.
Eastman, the county clerk, Rev. Dr. Wall and
y. w. Shute, member of the legislature.
Among the detectives at Nashville were Fetch
Horn and man named Watson He knew them
both and shook hands with them every few
DAYS.
What! did Jesse live there, toe2"
Il forgot to tell you about that 1t was some
thing curious. | had not seen Jesse for two
years, and had no idea where he was. One day
in the spring. after my arrival, stepped into
Ray Il Sons store to buy some red oats. Whom
should | see in the office. talking to Ike Raw
but Jesse! Ike knew him well as Joe Howard
Jesse was as much surprised as / was, and we
stepped out and had a chat. He told me he was
living near Waverly. Humphreys county, West
Tennessee and had come up to sell some corn
After some further talk we separated and
year and half later he moved into North
Nashville?"
what was Jesse's occupation?"
''He was a great patron and lover of the race
track and spent much of his time there. He had
several fine horses. and among them was the
famous Jim Malone. which won big race not
long ago in st. Louis. a four-mile race at Louis
vile and cup at Atlanta, Ga The horse had
not made much of record, however. at the
time Jesse sold him TO druggist in Nashville
named John Greener. Jesse moved around with
perfect freedom there. Dick Liddel lived with
me, and was right good industrious young
chap never thought there was anything very
vicious about Dick, but he was easily influenced
Well, our residence at Nashville was abruptly cut
short by curious circumstance aud 1t was a
strong illustration of the fact. try as we might
to break off from our Bohemian life, something
would always occur to drive us back Jim
Cummings had always been fearful fright
ened wretch and he got an idea that he was
not safe at Jesse's. His fdgeting and restless
ness attrac ed Jesse's attention, and he became
suspicious that Jim was nerVing himself up to
betray US. We both kept close watch on him.
One night in April, 1881. ne mysteriousiy disap-
peared. Jesse and saddled our horses and for
a week kept in the saddle, but our fears were
gronndess. He had merely got scared and run
away.
"Just as we were settling down to security
again, however and less than two weeks after
Jim's departure, Jack Ryan (known here as
Bill Ryan, got drunk one day and was arrested
at White Greek for disorderly conduct by
Squire Erthman whom l knew well, and who
lived about three miles from me. When they
arrested him they discovered that he was
heavily armed and found on him some evil
deHce as to his identity and character. He
was removed to Missouri, as you know to an
swer to a charge. AS soon as we heard of the
arrest We mounted our horses. rode away
and have never been back since. That was the
last time | saw Jess NY old life grew the more
detestabe the further l got away from it, aud
it was with sense of despair that drove away
from our little home on the Smith place, and
again became a wanderer."
The Gagged outlaw said that while In Nashville
he exhibited hogs at the tairs and once or twice
rode in the races. The popular idea that he
sought out retired places was wrong He made
it point to spend as much time as possible in
the Cities for nobody would look for him there.
He never wore a disguise on a railroad train, !
and always travelled by rail when convenient
he nad many trled friends IN whose parlOrs he
was safe.
How did the outlaw band get recruits from
time to time?"
More offered than were wanted. I can hon
estly say that | never in my life encouraged
young man to leave his home but, on the con-
trary, always advised them that of all the terri
be, God-forsaken lives that ever man led, the !
life OF an outlaw is the worst. I never in my
life painted anything but the worst pictures of
those who showed disposition to turn from the
right path, and always held that there are few
crimes in the world more hideOus or dastardly |
than the killing Of any man for money" /
What do you propose to do If you are per-
United to return to your homer"
Farming is my legitimate occupation, and as |
soon as can get affairs settled if that can ever
be done, will engage in It,"
GLOW are you fixed financially"
81 am almost entirely without means, and If I |
am allowed to return to farming will be able
to equip small farm in only very humble
way"
You have evidently read a great deal?"
Yes. l am very fond of reading. When in
retirement l occupy nearly all my time that
way. tell my friends that have the finest
library in the world. It consists of the Bible
Shakespeare and Plutarch' & lives don't sup