The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1883-02-18

-
Dssait, Frash. May ~ Called - Aeessss.
James. who began a star engagement In the
Criminal Court In Kansas City the other day.
has appointments enough ahead TO last until
he is a tolerabiy old man. even II his calcula-
tions Of acQuittal or pardon in each case provo
well founded. No sooner Is he done with one
Indictment than out pops another from some
dusty pigeonhoe. like Jack out of the box.
When he arrived In Independence In October
last with q good send-on from our eccentric
Governor. the only indictment known to be on
file against him in Jackson county was for the
robbery OF the Independence Bank. But while
his friends were discussing the question OF
bail their attention was called TO another Grand
Jury document charging him with having as
sisted in the murder Of one Of Pinkerton's do
tectives In March. 1874. The prosecutions on
these two indictments were dismissed for lack
OF evidence. but before leaving the court room
the lawyers agreed upon the fourth Monday in
May for trial on a third Indictment alleging
that he helped 10 rob Express Messenger Fox
Of $500 at Blue Cut in September. 1881. In the
absence OF conclusive evidence for the prosecu-
ton. Franks attorneys may easily clear him on
the simple plea that the James boys never in
tentionaily Tagged train bearing so small a
treasure. III they succeed in doing this Jack
son county may still claim the illustrious de-
PENDANT on two other charges: one for the
when the gang made haul of $4,000, and one
ior the dashinE raid on the gatekeeper OF the
Ty P sSss be ,Sa when
tanning the gate money for tho big day Of the
fair. amounting to nearly 10000;
James could readily furnish the SO 500 bail
required for his appearance in May but there
are several reasons why he dare not venture
pcndence Jail. One Ia that the authorities OF
Daviess county seem eager tn arraign him on
s sh Sld ndls,Imen1 ior the MURDER Of Capt
December. 1869. The railroad village Of Win
mason named McCulloch were murdered by
trim Sd robbers one warm night II July ISL is
three men Is generally believed to have been
the work OF Jesse James. Yet Frank is in no
hurry TO face Dayiess county Jury.
Liberty Bank robbery which dates back to
whoever they were. $40 900, farmer named
Askew, a neighbor OF the Jameses. who was
81 To he nome was s shot on his
own porch on the night Of April y. 1875. by
three men hidden bohind the woodpile.
Missouri Pacific train robbery in July, 1876.
and the amount Of the booty was $1,000.
Rumors connecting Frank James with this en-
terprise may require investigation by the
county authorities.
In Wayne county party of robbers. believed
to have been the James gang. slxnalleu u train
OF the Iron Mountain road at Gadshill at dusk
on the last day Of January. 1874. robbed the
safe. riled the. mail bags, and rode of with
nearly 10000 that did not belong TO them.
raigned in the Missouri courts on indictments
charging comp lefty In the foregoing offences.
and there may be number OF precincts yet to
but on the fact that all these raids, with the
possible, exception Of the Liberty Bank robbery,
are marked bv the. unique and incisve meth
ODDS OF the band in which he was a leader.
Charges OF impeding or robbing the mails may
also be pressed AGAINST him.
number OF other States are watching for n
favorabie opportunity to put in their requsi
tons. Kentucky wants TO hear what he has to
March. 1863. and about the transactions in the
Adair county town Of Columbia. in April. 1872,
S y With f the The cash drawer Of f1 the
Deposit Bank. after shooting Cashier Martin
through the brain Tor refusing to give up the
A bank robbery at Huntington. in April,
1876. carses the authorities OF West Virginia TO
feel u certain interest in the ex-bandit, and the
cash at Gaines's Place. on the stage route from
MalySr a,s to not Springs in January 1874
the horse iiddl.r7 who mulcted them to such q
robbers who 20, $4,000 in gold dust and bull
Railroad at Muncie. in December. 1875.
Trained In the same school ~ wer ,s- the land
wH2 Bank Of large S sM
weeks later ditched the locomotive Of train
on the Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific road. in
passengers 4 very dangerous reGuisition is
likely to come lfrom Minnesota. The robbers
got nothing but bullets by their raid on the
bank at Northneld in that State on Sept. 7.
1876. when they killed Cashier Haywood,
wounded Assistant Cashier Bunker, and killed
Charlie Pitts and Bill Caldwell were shot
dead in front Of the bank by infnr rated citizens.
h.Nt ra,,it Of Wall
and the three noted iounGcrs were surrounded
in a, thicket and fire opened upon them by
the You1gers were captured more dead than
alive, and are now serving life terms in the
saltwater penitentiary. Frank and Jesse James
made good their escape Possibly no compe-
that Frank james took part in that disastrous
days work. and he might even produce unim-
peaehahls witnesses to prove an abb.
Drd Frank Sa me really take Part IN all the
Of them. possibly in even q smaller number
than is GENERALLY supposed Among border DIES;
peradoes the Jameses and Youngsrs have had
From first to last their work Is Enthusiastically
stamped with their own trade mark. But no
in lust what exploits individual member. Of
the band bore hand. Frank James probably
weighed all the chances closely before .surren-
dering h himself into the clutches Of the law. He
talks little but i is evident that he trusts main
ly to tho inability Of the prosecution to pro-
men who knew him as coinrade
or leador. are dead or in the penitentiary. And
berries that none except trusted aceomnlices
| ever knew OF their movements. and few other
persons know the men by sight except under
an alias. Their. robberics wore generally done
| in some sort OF disguise. and when the booty
! was divided they returned to their families in
some small city or country neighborhood to
| resume the usual routine Of existence as Mr..
| Jackson or Mr.. Howard. Franks lawyers hope
to weary out the law by repeated failures Of the
prosecution to make out a clear case. When
| the contest In shown to be hopeless, they say,
| Justice will lay down her sword. They may
| succeed In doing this. But Frank James must
| be u man Of phenomenal nerve SO boldly to face
] the law he has 80 long defiel.