Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1882-10-19
. OCTOBER 10, 1882.

red OATS Whom should I see in the office
talking to Ike Ray but Jess. Ike knew him
we'll as Joe Howard. Jess was as much sur
prsed as was, and he told me he was living
near Waverly, Humphreys county, West Ten
nessee, and had come up to sell some corn
After some further talk we separated, and a
year and half later he moved into North
Nashville"
"What was Jesse's occupation p
''He was 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 a
big race not long ago in St. Louis, four.
mile race at Louisville and a cup 1T Atlanta
Ga. The horse had not made much of a
record however, at the time Jess sold him to
a druggist in Nashville named John Greener.
Jess moved around with perfect freedom
there''
"When did Cummings 60 there?'
"He and Dick Liddel came there in the fall
of 1880. Jim came on horse back and Dick
came through by cars. Jim was always get
ting frightened. Jim stopped with Jesse, and
so did Jack Ryan. Dick IIiddel lived with me
and was a right good, industrious young chap.
I never thought there was anything very
vicious about Dick, but he was easily inhu-
enced. Well, our residence at Nashville was
abruptly cut short by curious circumstance,
and it was 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 the
fearful, frightened wretch that 1 have de-
scribed, and he got an idea that he was not
safe at Jesse's. His fdgeting and restlesness
attracted Jesse's attention and he became sus-
picious that jim was nerving himself up to
betray us. We both kept close watch on
him. One night in April, 1881, he mysterious
| ly disappeared. Jess and | saddled our horses
and for week kept in the saddle, but our
| fears were groundless. He had merely got
scared and run away.
THE FLIGHT FROM NASHVILLE.
"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 Creek for disorderly con-
duct 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
evidence as to his identity and character. lie
was removed to Missouri, as you know to an
swer to another charge here. 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. MY ola
life grew the more detestible the further got
away from it, and it was with a sense of de-
spar that drove away from our little home on
the Smith place and again became wanderer y
The Gagged outlaw said that while in Nash
vile he exhibited hogs at the fairs and once
or twice rode in the races The popular
idea that he sought out retired places was
wrong lie made it point to spend as much
time as possible in the cities, for nobody would
look for him there. He never wore disguise
on railroad train and always travelled by
rail when convenient. He had many trled
friends in whose parlors he was safe.
time to time 20
sMore offered than were wanted. l can
honestly say that never in my life encOur-
aged a young man to leave his home, but on
the contrary, always advised that OF all the
terrible. God-forsaken lives that ever man led,
the life of an outlaw is the worst. / never in
nv life painted anything but the darkest pic
| lures Of it for those who showed a 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-
mitted to return to your home 20
"Farming is my legitimate occupation, and
as soon as can get affairs settled, if that can
ever be done, l will engage in it,
'How 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 a very hum
BILE way.''
ssYou have evidently read great deal -
Eyes, l am very fond of reading. When
in retirement occupy nearly all my time that
way. tell my friends that have the finest
library in the world. 1t consists of the Bible,
Shakespeare and Plutarch's Lives. | don't
suppose you and the public would believe it,
but am very fond of reading the Bible