The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1882-04-14

thief, joined the band, which included
Cole, Jim and Bob Younger, Jesse and
Frank james, Clell Miller, Charley
Pitts and Chadwcll This was in
September, 1876. On the afternoon
of the 7th the desperadoes dashed into
town, shooting their rcvolvcrs and
halting in front of the Northield
Bank. While Frank and Jesse James
and Bob Younger entered, the other
five remained outside to guard against
attack. j. l.. Hayward, the cashier,
and two clerks were in the institution
at the time. For refusing to open the
time-lock Jesse James sent ball into
lIayward's brain. Meantime the citi
zens on the street realized what was
going on and opened fire on the rob
bers. Chadwell was shot from his
horse by man from the court house
window, just opposite the bank, and
IN few seconds Clell Miller, who had
escaped dozens of times in Missouri,
was also killed. BY this time the
firing became general and Jesse James
was in the tightest place of his life
Jim Younger had bullet in his mouth
and Frank James one through his left
leg, but the entire six succeeded in
mounting their horses and escaping
from the town Then began flight
and pursuit, which for persistence and
endurance is almost without parallel
The robbers were in strange and un-
known country, followed by fifty
armed men When it was seen that
the chase was to be to the death
proposition was made to separate.
Before this time jesse James wanted
Bob Younger killed, as the blood from
his wound made plain trail but Cole
Younger would not allow it, and said
he would kill the first man who dared
lay finger on his wounded brother.
Jesse and Frank James went off in
northerly direction, while the three
Youngers and Charley Pitts remained
in body. AS on all previous occa-
sions, luck followed the James boys,
for, while they escaped after being
pursued nearly five hundred miles, the
Youngers were shot down and cap
tured, and Pitts was killed. The three
former were terribly wounded before
they would surrender, and are now
serving life sentences in the Minnesota
Penitentiary at Stillwater. Jesse and
Frank James, after being chased for
weeks, succeeded in reaching Texas,
and at Waco, Frank had a surgical
operation performed upon his leg in
consequence of the bullet he received
at Mortified.
In the fall of 1879 the boys returned
to their old haunts in Clay county and
very soon had about them new gang
ready to follow wherever rich haul
was in sight. Among the recruits
were Ed Miller, brother of Clell, killed
at Mortified Jim Cummings, a noted
Clay county horse thief; Tucker Baas-
ham, Ed Ryan and Dick Little. The
last three were young farmers sons,
who, led on by the persuasive power
of Jesse James, went blindly into the
work. They robbed train on the
evening of October sth at Glendale on
the Chicago and Alton, and secured
S25, 900 or 100000. The gang scat
tered at once. James Ligget, at that
time marshall of Jackson county, at
once organized strong party to cap.
ture the robbers, if possible, and
George Shepherd, a former friend of
Jesse James, was taken into their con
tidence. Shepherd was to betray Jesse.
A plan was laid to rob the bank at
Galena, Mo. Shepherd came back
and reported that he had killed Jesse,
but it was only put-up job to secure
the $1,000 reward. Then followed
the recent robberies at Winston and
Blue Cut, which are still fresh in the
public mind After the Blue Cut rob
berry Jesse hid at his mothers house il
Kearney. He had shot himself during
the flight and was badly wounded
Little in fuss, killed Wood Hitc
Jesses best friend, and had to leav,
the gang. He then gave himself u,
and has confessed all about the rccen
Robberies. Jesse and Ed Miller, h
says, had quarrel about the spoil
after the Blue Cut robbery and Mile
was shot by jesse. The death of Jess
will about put an end to the outlaws
There is no other leader so daring.
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