Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1883-10-11

on deposit in the Liberty bank, and !
had been instructed to get that. / went
to the bank and saw the president. We
talked over the death of Whicher,
and to my surprise l discovered
that the james gang had com
pletely terrorized the town. The bank
president frankly admitted that such was
the state of public feeling. If Jesse
James rides up to my house, said he, i
bid him hearty welcome, invite him to
come in, and give him the best my house
affords, though fear and detest the
man. If should do otherwise my life
and property would not be safe. And
such you will find to be the feeling Of a
great majority Of the people. They fear
the James boys, and the instinct Of self
preservation has tied their hands and
closed their mouths. l would advise
you to be careful. Jesse has spies here,
and he might take notion to raid you
l thanked the old gentleman and with
drew. As stepped upon the hotel YER
anda friend accosted me, and in quiet
but cautious tones said: Don't betray
any agitation, but on the opposite corner
stands Jim Cummings, and he is watch
ing you l casually glanced around,
and from the description we had I recog-
nized the man at once. His baleful eye
was upon me.
q You had better walk out the back
way and cut for the depot to avoid
trouble with that man, observed my
friend. A mixed local train left soon,
and I thought discretion the better part
of valor, and acted upon the advice
given. My Kansas City friend and I had
not reached the depot before we discoy-
cred Cummings following US. We
climbed into the caboose car and seated
ourselves in the farther corner. Cum
mings sprang upon the platform,
revolver in hand, and peered
in the doorway. But we were
prepared for him. Our revolvers
were out and our fingers were on the
| triggers. We looked at each other.
Cummings countenance was demoniac
and his eyes sparkled with hate. He
stood in the door and glared at me.
Meantime the train moved out, but he
did not change his position We as
sumed all the indifferences we could
under the trying circumstances, but it
seemed ages to me from the time the
train started until Cummings suddenly
jumped off at way station and disap-
peared. The Kansas City man drew a
long breath and remarked that Clay
county did not seem to be healthy eli
mate for detectives"
Did you meet any other members Of
the gangap
I" Yes; I went down afterward as one
of squad of detectives bent on the cap
ture of Jesse. We were concealed in
the barn of friendly farmer, a few
miles from the farm of Jesse's mother,
awaiting an opportunity to ambush him.
We numbered six in all, and were armed
with revolvers and Winchester repeating
rifles. We stayed there week and were
getting pretty tired of being mewed up
in such close quarters, when one day
word came that Jesse and Frank were
expected to visit their home that night.
When evening came on we struck across
the fields to the road along which they
were expected to pass, and hid in the
bushes. Twelve o'clock came and passed.
Two hours longer we crouched and shiv-
cred in the chilly air, and no sign of the
bandits. We then came to the conclu-
sion that our information had been in
correct, or that the James boys had
changed their minds. We started back
for our headquarters, leading the
way Just as we approached cross
road l heard the sound of hoof beats. l
hurried ahead and concealed myself in
the bushes along the road. My com
panions were some distance in the rear.
Two men rode by. The first was mounted
on powerful roam horse such as Jesse
was said to ride. I covered him with
my Winchester. My hand was on the
trigger. Another moment would have
ended the career Of Jesse James and made
me famous, though I don't fancy would
care for such fame now, if the thought
then was fascinating.
{ But as my finger played upon the
trigger the thought flashed upon my
mind, might not be shooting an in
nocent man? The man who hesitates is
lost, and in this case I hesitated just
long enough to lose my game. Jesse's
horse SHE'D at some object in the road
and galloped off like whirlwind, fol
lowed by bis companion. My comrades
came up breathless and cursing the i'll
luck that kept them from the spot until
too late to get shot at the big game we
were hunting
z Did you ever see him again %
"No I was recalled shortly after that
to Chicago, and after serving few
months longer on the force was offered
better position, and SO ended my detec-
tive days. The rendezvous of the posse
was discovered by Jesse, and they were
compelled to change their quarters.
Jesse subsequently killed the farmer who
owned the barn and harbored us.
Jesse James was brave man as well
as a butcher. and he was a wonderful