New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-04-14
THE DEATH OF JESSE JAMES.
ATALK WITH CITY MARSHAL CRAIG.

q
isn the city looking after the bond robbers of that
city, has told TRIBUNE reporter what he
knows of the killing of Jesse James when q
tall man, with long thin beard, rented the house
on the hill on November 81 said the Marshal, no
body paid much attention to it. He kept himself
indoors all the time. II was within two blocks of
where lived, and used to his wife and little
children nearly every day moving about the
yard, but / don't remember seeing James
at all. When some people came running past my
house the day he was killed. April g. crying, jesse
James is shot, laughed at them. By-and-by /
went up on the hill to see what was the matter. l
found about 100 persons around the house, talking
excitedly about Jesse James. l went inside, and in
the largest room found the outlaw, lying on the
floor and his wife holding his head IN her lap, while
the carpet and her dress were saturated with blood
Mrs. James was wid-frantic. She was abusing
the traitors and swearing vengeance; calling on her
husband to speak to her, and moaning all at the
same time. There q scalp wound over
Jamess eye where bis head had struck the
floor, and hole over and back of his
right ear where the bullet had entered. 1t did not
quite come through his skull. He heard the click
of the pistol and, knowing what it meant, started
to turn his head when the ball struck him. took
Mrs. James TO side and asked her what her name
was. She said at first that it was Howard. Then
told her not to deceive me- that knew all. She
flashed look on me and said You don't know
: anything said: Madam, your name is James,
and that man lying there is Jesse James, your hus-
band.' After this she gave in and said: 1t is no
denyinGit it is true and we all living under
an assumed name
al then made her go and bring me pistol that
woman told me she had seen her take from under
pillow and hide in trunk. She went and brought
1t 10 me. She began again TO lament for her hus-
band and upbrald the traitors who had killed
him after eating his bread. l tired TO quiet the
woman and keep back the crowd, when somebody
told me the two Ford boys wanted to see Inc down
at my office When the shooting was done they ran
down the hill at full speed, leaped the fence and
kept straight to the Hannibal and St Joe freight
house. where they sent telegram to the Governor
saying they had their man. / hen they went to my
office to give themselves up, and when arrived
they still had their weapons on, and B0bs was smok
ing at the muzzle. put them under arrest at once,
and had them sent to the City Jail, where they
at present confined, and where they viii probably
remain until they have been convicted and par
doned. then returned to the house and gave di-
rections concerning the body and took charge also
of the widow and children. She has been hand
some woman in her day, and the little boy and girl
are as smart and bright as they can be. Charles
Edward is the little fellows name; lis mother
used to send him to the Presbyterian Sunday
every Sunday. ,,,. -.
ing seven rooms 1t is very commonly furnished |
hui il was not long before the relichnnters at
work upon it, and since the death OF Jesse every
thing within the honse has been seized upon and |
emf ont round piece where his head lay, clipped |
off the twigs of the trees in the yard and were tear
ing up the Misunderstanding when the widow. who
owns the property, sent word to me to protect it.
have here in my pocket relic-a ball from one of
James's cartridge belts"
The Marshal handed to the reporter twO-Ounce |
ball used by a six-shooter of fOrty-fOur calibre.
What is the feeling in regard to the killing |
around ST. Joseph ~ was asked.
friends than he had enemies, and If the Governor
padons the Ford boys (which there is no doubt but
be will do they had better t Leave that country
on Sunday: on Saturday l talked with three men |
who told me they had seen and talked with Frank |
ames Jesses oldest brother, in the streets of ST.
Joe that day. but that he left town In the even |
ing l think there will be plenty more blood shed |
in this business The lords b say aid they dSPs fear
is tall, Slim, light beardless boy Of
twenty -one years"
James when they caught him unarmed without
killing himW
the the, attempt, and they feared her. You see there
were lying around the house double. 6arreiled
also gathered up IN the building, and
have in my possession now, three belts
and belt of shotgun cartridges with eight buck |
shot in each The TWO tords tell some interest
ing things concerning their life with the bandit 1t
was last fall that the bargain was made between
Governor Crittenden Police Commissioner Craig, of
Kansas CITY. and Sheriff TImberlake, of Clay
County, to compass the death OF James by means Of
the Folds Charley Ford, who knew James we'll
they being raised within few miles OF each other
in Raw County Missouri, and having been with
him on some OF his ralds, joined James
TO st. Joseph a few days atterward. All through
the winter Charley watched for chance to kill
him, and none came. They planned robberies to-
Vether and Jesse was sort OF tutor to the boy; |
Re took pride in him. They had made several ex- |
cursions together. and young Fords nerve pleased |
l.. lodi. l.
the St. Joe banks soon. About week before the |
killing Bob Ford joined them in St. Joe, and then |
came the chance and they took the drop on him.
Charley told that at the Winston tram robbery |
Jesse made them shoot Conductor Westfall in |
cold blood for no other w reason than to |
make his men desperate: Westfan had been |
rounded the outlaw house at Kearney some years |
before and threw a hand grenade through the WIN
dow and killed Jesse's haf-brother and blew of |
half of his mothers arm"
Have James, effects all been disposed ofP
Yes, all except a gold watch with a monogram
a Governor of Arizona at the Hot Springs robbery
some wears ago. The two horses, which splendid
animals have both been claimed by their owners in
at the Mammoth Cave robbery has been returned to
the owner. The household effects were sold to the
highest bidder and the weapons have in my. pos
session still. Jesse had two magnificent ivory
handled pistols with rings on them, to swing from
his saddle bow He did not carry any dagger or
bowie knife for he always took the drop AMI
downed his man before he came to close quarters
Charley Ford told me how they saw policeman
walking up the hill toward the house
one day Jesse cried out, They have spot
ted me- and taking down his winchester
rifle he drew sight on the policeman and SAID: Ii
he comes ten steps further shall drop him. But
luckily for the poor fellow, who was only out for
walk he turned and went in another direction, aud
thereby saved his life -
WHAT is the general feeling of the people in Mis-
souri, and Kansas in regard to the Governors action
in the matterp
Well. public opinion is pretty well divided
about it. The newspapers are pretty much down
on him, especially those at St Louis, St Joe and
Kansas City. Where James was raised, around Ray
Clay, Jackson and johnson Counties, the feeling
L L.. linn a i