The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1882-08-23
THE FORD BOYS.
a Times Reporter Interviews Them st
Chicago.

narrow passage and stood behind the
scenes Of q State street variety theatre.
Bob, whose pistol-shot rang Though
the United States a few months ago, has
been described before, and by the des-
criptions recently telegraphed to the pa
peers; no one would fail to recognize him.
A slim, sm%ooth-faced boy of 20, with
short, dark hair, gray eyes and regular
features, he hardly realizes in his ap-
pearance the beau idealo of the dime-novel
reader. Quiet and reserved in his man
ner, he impresses one favorably, but It
was the very
SARCASM IF FATE
permitted a lad like that to send q bullet
through the brain of Missouri's outlaw.
"You felt pretty nervous when you got
the drop on Jesse ?"
"Well L couldn't miss him. He was
standing on a chair almost as close to me
as I sm to you. He turned his head
when my pistol clicked, and the bullet
struck him Just behind the ear and came
out over the eye. He fell stone dead.
There wasn't much fuss after that.
When Mrs. James ran in and took his
head in her lap She accused me of killing
him, but I never answered her. Charlie
and [ picked up our hats and walked
out Of the house."
"What have you been doing since?"
"Scarcely anything. We went out to
vieit our folks near Richmond, i'll Ray
county, for 2 few weeks, but mos, Of the
time we spent at q boarding house in
Kansas City. No, / was never afraid
that the gang would try to get even with
me. You see, Frank james would not
attempt
TO KILL Me
in q crowded city, for he would stand no
show of escaping. If he yer does try
that dodge be will do it when I am visit
ing the old folks in the country"
1T is said that he is very feeble and
broken down.
''EYell, when { saw him a few months
ago he was healthy enough. But one
thing is certain and that is that Govern
or Crittendtn has fixed the gang for
good, and Frank will never try to reor
ganige it. Crittenden has done more
than any, other man ever did for the
State OF Missouri, M matter what his
enemies say about him."
"He stood by sou pretty we'll"
Eyes, he kept his promise. What
did was done by his directions, and
think I had Us much right to do it as if
was of Pinkerton's d~etectives.n
"What sort OF Il man was Jesse James
in private life?n
"A very good man, I should say. He
was devoted to his wife, and always
pleasant and agreeable about the house.
You would rather like him at first, but
you would change your opinion when
you began to see into bis real character.
Treacherous? Well, [ should say SO.
Why, he shot one OF his w gang, when
the poor devil was fast asleep. Ii my
hand had trembled there would have
been a lively time in that sitting-room.''
'Jesse would have made q corpse oi
me in about two seconds said Charley,
who had been q quiet listener to the con
yersation.
"Yeu ought to call on Allan Pinker.
ton" suggested The reporter; "he ought
to feel somewhat indebted to you.o
eyes" said Bob, musingly. Jesse
was pretty anxious to get even with the
Pinkertons. IF he had ever got a chance
he would have made short work Of the
old man, or of Billy either, for that mat
ter. BY the way, 7 wonder If Pinkertor
has many men IS brave rs the one he
sent to capture Jesse. Why, that detec
tive expected to take Frank end Jesse
alive. He located their house and walk
ed in and asked for q joba q farmland
They suspected him, and before HI
knew they had him covered with Their
revolvels. Then they searched him
found lis weapons aud the game wat
up. They
TIED HIM HAND-AND-FOOT,
threw him over q horse, and took hin
with them across lie Missouri river int
the next county. Then they put three
bullets into him, and left him by tht
roadsids. His name was Wicher,
think, but he was a brave fellow. The
people up that way must have though
that one na could handle Il gun as vel