The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1882-06-14
Pretty Annie Ralatnn.
SOME GOSSIP ABOUT THE BIG OUTLAWS AND
THEIR WIVES

4
/ THEIR WIVES.
kansas City Times.
The one romantic episode in life of the
/ James b8ys, which deserves prominence in
writing the history Of their career, was the
marriage of Frank James to Annie, the
pretty daughter of Samuel Ralston, of In
dependence, which occurred in June, 1874,
and now that all the facts in connection
with that affair are revived by the return
home of Mrs. Frank James nee Annie Rail-
ston, who Unexpectedly and unannounced
reached her fathers house late on Friday
night last from st. Louis over the Chicago
and Alton road Not since 1874 has her
form darkened the door of her fathers house,
and at that time, when she departed, il was
to visit the family of Mrs. Ezra Hickman,
in this city, and from here she went to
Omaha, where she was clandestinely mar
ried to Frank James The young girl who
thus linked her life with that of the notori-
GUS outlaw was as well known as any young
lady in jackson county. Her father, Mr..
Samuel Ralston, before the war, was one of
the richest and best known men in jackson
county, and owned, and lived on what is
now the Preston Roberts farm. There
Annie Ralston was born, and her education
was the best that could be obtained. During
the war Mr.. Ralston's farm was raided time
after time by jaYhawkers, his horses and
blooded stock stolen and stampeded, and
shortly before the celebrated S'Order No. |
II'' was issued, he received q special order
from the commander of the district to leave |
the county for his supposed leaning to-
ward the Confederates. He was then forced |
to leave his home and farm, which never |
again came into his possession in such a |
shape that he occupied it, even if he had any |
thing like legal title. The war swept |
everything from him, and he was left COM
paratively poor man. All this time his /
pretty daughter remained with the family, /
and during 1870 or 1871 she secured the |
position of school teacher in the county, |
which she was in every way capable offlling,
and it was about this time that her path
crossed that of Frank James, and her life
was changed in all its bearings. To say
that the return home of this girl after all
these years caused an excitement at Inde-
pendenee is but expressing it mildly, and
on Friday night last, when she walked into
her fathers house she was greeted as only Il
returned child could be under the circum
stances, and with her was a fine boy about
seven years of age, who answers to the
name Of 'Bob." and all the family say he
looks Just like Frank On Saturday
and Sunday last, when it became known in
and about Independence that Annie Raj
ston James had returned to her fathers
house, large number of friends and rela-
tions called upon her. 1t is said the eight
years which have passed since she so sud
denly went away have worked great changes
in her appearance, and that she looks care {
worn and weary and at least fifteen years :
older. She refuses to talk about her hus-
band in connection with the crimes laid at ,
ais door, but says he is alive. She knows
nothing as to the reported negotiations for
ais surrender, and declares emphatically
hat he will do nothing of the sort, unless
ull and complete pardon be granted him by {
he Governors Of States where charges are
hanging over his head. /
Education in the Southern States. !,
THE st. Louis Republican publishes a t
and ably written editorial, in which !
t takes up the cudgel of education and be- I
abors northern politicians for their persis- !.
ent endeavors to depreciate, iniure and dis
lonor the States and the people of the I
south. We are all a set OF ignorant and t
people, and, say they, the Y
mount expended upon common schools in i
he Northern States is out of all proportion a
o same expenditure in the Southern States :
Allowing for excess in population and
wealth the Northern States, still the differ
nee is not accounted for. As figures do ?
ot lie, we will simply take the tabular CEN s
us of 1880, as the most crushing answer to t
he constant accusations of sodden ignorance r
nd selfish Indifference The following are a
chools in both New England and the =
nutharu Sfatea. u