Morris tribune. [volume] (Morris, Minn.) 1880-2000, 1882-04-06
THE TRAIN ROBBERS.
John Laird Tells the Story Of His Fellow
ship with Jesse James In the Glendale
Train Robbery

John Laird Tells the Story OF His Fellow
ship With Jesse James In the Glendale
Train Robbery.
Kansas Cry, March 31.--The confession of
John Laird, tee train robber, was given to the
press to-day. It Is the same as anticipated in
. previous dispatch, and lnculpates the James
boys, Miller. Little, Bugle, Cummings, Matt
Armstrong and Greed Chapman. There Ia
some dispute between the county officers and
Police commissioner Craig Of this city sthe lat
ter desiring to honor the parole given to Little,
while the former declare that inasmuch as he
has contradicted some OF his statements. and
may be playing false with the authorities, he
should be arrested.
THE CONFESSION.
Laird'a confession Is as follows:
At o'clock a. IN. two men came to me. They
were John Bngler and Greed Chapman. They said,
John, wat do you want to work SO hard for? We
don't work, but get lots Of money easy" Bugler
said. How would you like to go and help US rob
don't bsliese will make any more Iobbing trains
| than digging wells Bngier said, IF you
Will go We will insure you more money. ''
said Jesse James, Franf E james. Dick dss Little.
| James Cummings, Ed Miller, Henry Bugler, John
Matt, Charlie Deerdurff, Armstrong, Greed and
Iault wotk al once. and ali three Of US started up
the railroad toward Glendale. After walking
short distance they left me and struck off
across the country, while ] went on to Glendale.
think it was about o'clock when reached the
platform of the station. l went inside, and John
Mott was there. We had short conversation about
drill which wanted to use, and then stepped out
OF the depot on to the platform, and saw q man
riding down the road towards the depot on large
bay horse. He hlched his horse, came up to us,
shook hands with Matt and turning to me said
INTRODUCE YOU TO JESSE JAMES,"
Immediately after shaking hands he and Mott
walked to the other end of the platform and held a
short conversation Jesse then came up to me
lair | pu
IN in, with us 10 rob the train tonight" said
"Yes SIR" Jesse said: Have you any arms?" /
Hs ssd Sf snrs 'rsssh to s,ns 3sdns T. % Th
you. Meet US at the cut back of Jack Coles
farm as soon after O'clock as convenient. -
Come alone. When you get within two or three
hundred yards of the spot signal us by whistling
twice. The answer will be once. lhen turned
| and went back home. Myfolks except my brother,
who was not at home. retired soon after sundown.
We had no time-piece. think my brother got
him, he on the back and / on the front side.
As near as l can judge it was little after
| swhen got up. took down my my rife and alp
ping out in my socks, got away without raising any
OF the family, On arriving at the cut gave the
signal agreed upon. 1t was answered, and ]
stepped forward and was met by Jesse James.
ALL THE OLD GANG
was there-six Of them-and Armstrong and Deem
drufr whom had known before, and whom had
Joined the regular gang only short time before.
who had got there. Shortly after. Weed, Chapman ma
and John Bueler gave the signal and came in. Fol-
lowing them came John Mott alone. Pret-
| ~ soon the train was heard coming and
Jesse said Boys, -, We who are older
| the cars and get what there is there. You fellows
| run along the outside and fire fifteen or twenty
| apiece to scare the passengers" Jessie stood
| upon pile of rocks On the track
came to p stop within few feet Of the obstruction.
| south side of the track. while John Mott
| and two others were on the other side The
first thing they did was to breab into the express
car. We all had on white masks, and as began at
once to fire and the excitement rose ]
| did not notice who it was that went into the
| cars, Before We had been long at work 1 saw
man come frsm the train with lantern and start
| torun east. Bugler called out, Look there What
does that mea4T Creed Chapman at once fired al
him, followed by Bugler, and took the third shot
Don't shoot him. He is going to flag the freight
After the men in the cars got through they came to
the head OF the engine and Joined by those on
the north side. and all of them came over and
start started foa. of together. went through ths
for some distance, when we were halted By Jesse
| James, who said Boys, its death to any man who
q res this away. So to your homes as though moth.
ing had happened and meet me at the East Fork O!
from that night. and We will divide equally" We
! then parted and I went home and to bed without
| disturbing the family.
I went to work the next day. taking my gun with
| me, and that is what gave me away, for some one
saw me andtold the officers of t,and when they came
In and put me in Jail here Qndependencel. We
had all agreed not to give the thing away but the
thing got too hot for and now tell the whole
| story just as 1t was.