River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1882-04-13
JESSE JAMES.
The Notorious Outlaw Killed
BY One of His Own
Gang.
st. Joseph, Missouri, the Scene of
Action, and Robert Ford
the Slayer.
Scenes and Incidents A Summary of
Crir es by the James Boys
PARTICULARS OF HIS DEATH.

PARTICULARS OF HIS DEATH.
ST.. JOSEPH, Mo-, April 6.-There is
little doubt that the killing was the re-
suit of a premeditated plan formed by
Robert and Charles Ford several months
ago. Charles had been an accomphce
of Jessie James since the Sd of last No
vember, and entirely possessed his
confidence. Robert, his brother, join
ed Jesse near Mrs. Samuels' house,
mother of the James boys, last Friday
week ago, and accompanied Jesse
and Charles to this city Sunday, March
%.
Jesse, his wife, and two children
REMOVED FROM KANSAS CITY,
where they had lived several months,
until they feared their whereabouts
would be suspected, in wagon to this
city, arriving here Nov. l, 1881, accom-
danied by Charles Ford, and rented
house on the corner of Lafayette and
| Twenty-first streets, where they stayed
two months, when they secured the
house numbered 1878 on Lafayette
street, formerly the property of Coun-
Gilman Aylesbury, paying $l4 month
for it, and giving the name of Thomas
| Howard. The house is a one-story
cottage, painted white, with green
| shutters, and Economically situated on
| the brow of lofty eminence east of
the city, commanding fine view of
the principal portion of the the city,
the river, and railroads, and adapted
as by nature for the perilous and des-
perate calling of James. just east of
the house is deep gulch-hke ravine,
and beyond broad expanse of open
country, backed by belt of timber.
The house, except from the west side,
can be seen for several miles. There
is large yard attached to the cottage
and stable, where Jesse had been keep
ing two horses, which were found there
this morning.
| CHARLES AND ROBERT FORD
have been occupying one of the rooms
| in the rear of the dwelling, and have
secretly had an understanding to Kill
Jesse ever since last fall. A short
time ago, before Robert joined James,
the latter proposed to rob the bank at
Platte city. He said the Burgess muir
der trial would commence there to-day,
and his plan was, if they could get an
other com panion, to take view of the
situation of the Platte City bank, and,
while arguments were being heard in
the murder case, which would engage
the attention of citizens, boldly execute
one of his favorite raids. Charles Ford
approved of the plan, and suggested his
brother Robert as companion worthy
of sharing the enterprise with them.
Jesse had met the boy at the latter's
house, near Richmond, three years
ago, and consented to see him. The
two men accordingly went to where
Robert was. and arranged to have him
accompan them to Platte city. As
stated all three came to st. Joe week
ago Sunday. They remained at the
house all the week. Jesse thought it
best Robert should not exhibit himself
on the premises, lest the presence of
three able bodied men who were doing
nothing should excite suspicion. They
had fixed upon tonight to go to Platte
City. Ever since the boys had been
with Jesse they had watched for an
| OPPORTUNITY TO SHOOT HIM,
but he was always so heavily armed
that it was impossible 10 draw a weapon
without him seeing it. They declare
they had no idea of taking him alive,
considering the undertaking suicidal.
The opportunity they had so long
wished for came this morning. Break
fast was over. Charles Ford and Jesse
James had been in the stable currying
the horses preparatory to their night
ride. On returning to the room where
| Robert Ford was, Jesse said: "lts an
awfully hot day." He pulled off his
coat and vest and tossed them on the
bed. Then he said: II guess I'll take
off my pistols for fear somebody will
see them if / walk in the yard. He
unbuckled the belt, in which he car
| ried two forty-fve- caliber revolvers,
one a Smith & Wessen and the other a
Colt, and laid them on the bed, with
his coat and vest. He then picked up
a busting brush with the intention of
busting some pictures which hung on
the wall. To do this he got on chair.
His back was now turned on the broth
ers who silently stepped between Jesse
and his revolvers, and at q motion from
| Charley both drew their guns. Robert
| was the quickest of the two. In one
second he had the long weapon to a
level with his eye, with the muzzle no
more than four feet from the back OF
the outlaws head. Even in that mo-
ton, though quick as thought, there
was something that did not escape the
acute ears of the hunted man. He
made motion as if to turn his head
to ascertain the cause of that suspicious
sound, but too late. A
| NERVOUS PRESSURE ON THE TRIGGER.
quick flash, sharp report, and we'll
| directed ball crashed through the out
| laws skull. There was no outcry, just
swaying of the body, and it fell heavl
ly back upon the carpet. The shot had
been fatal, and all the bullets in the
chamber of Charly's revolver, still d.
rected at Jessie's head, could not more
| effectually have decided the fate of the
greatest bandit and freebooter that ever
| figured in the pages of the country's
history. The ball had entered the base
of the skull and made its way out
through the forehead, over the left eye.
1t had been fired out of a Colts As, inn
proved pattern, silver mounted and
pearl handled, presented by the dead
man to his slayer only few days ago.
MRS. JAMES
was in the kitchen when the shooting
was done, divided from the room in
which the bloody tragedy occurred by
the dining-room. She heard the shot,
and dropping her household duties, ran
| into the front room. She saw hcr hus-
/ band lying on his back and his slayers
each holding his revolver in hand,
making for the fence in the rear of the
house. Robert had reached the in
closure and was in the act of scaling it
when she stepped to the door and call
ed to him, Robert, you have done this,
come back" Robert answered, 81 swear
to God / did not" They then returned
to where she stood. Mrs. James ran to
the side of her husband and lifted up
up his head Life was not extinct, and
when asked if he was hurt. it seemed
to her that he wanted to say something
but could not. She tried to wash away
taI. IL \ Al l.