The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-09-01
THE BANDITS BRIDE.
Trustful Mrs james and the Telegram She
Sent Before the Winston Robbery.


Sent Before the Winston Robbery.
Kansas City Journal
Early one summer morning, a neatly
dressed woman stepped into the telegraph
office at the Union Depot and, picking up a
Western Union blank, she took a small pen
Gil out OF her pocket and wrote out a brief
dispatch Being in hurry she asked me
the day of the month. and as she looked up
to make the inquiry | thought [ detected in
those handsome features the countenance of
former Independence belle, whom 1 knew
at sight from the fact that she had occasion
to use the wires before. My impression was
confirmed by the signature to the message,
which was simply Annie" This was Annie
Ralston James, wife of the most renowned
bandit of modern times, and the telegram
was addressed without any attempt at con-
cealment to no less a parsonage than Frank
James himself, then living at the pretty lit
tie town OF T not over thousand miles
from Kansas City.
Recent train robberies, especially the Glen
dale one, in which the name of Frank James
was conspicuously coupled, were live topics
of discussion, and the search for the outlaws
was still being prosecuted vigorously, al
though it had been some little time since the
last robbery was committed. Considering
the heavy rewards offered and the complete
failure of the pursuit in every conceivable
direction, the exact location of Frank James
at the time would be worth thousands of
dollars to the officers, and they would have
undoubtedly paid literally for the informa-
ton.
In view of these facts Mrs Frank James,
even though she considered her husband in
nocent, evinced what might be looked on as
remarkable degree of confidence in openly
sending a telegram to her noted husband
while the whole country was resounding
with the query: Where are they? meaning
Frank and jesse. | counted the words in
the message there were just nine. told
her the rate and, as she paid the charges,
L noticed that her features were calm
and unruff1ed indicating trustful
disposition. With me in the Office at the
time was Sam. Bigger who died six months
ago. l handed him the dispatch very I'M
concernedly, and he started to telegraph it to
the uptown office, all messages being repeat
ed there. When he got as far as the name of
the party addressed he abruptly stopped,
unconsciously turned his head in the direc-
ton of the counter to see if Mrs. James was
still there, and then looked over at me, ac-
companying the glance with a knowing wink,
and then finished the message. We talked
of the matter afterwards, and, although i'm
portant secrets were daily occurrence, SO
much so that they were seldom commented
on, Sam said that, considering the hue and
cry that was being raised, he naturally ex-
pected that if the great bandit received any
kilograms it would be under an assumed
name. Sam is now in his grave, and L can
say for him that the wealth of the Indies
would not have been sufficient inducement
for him to breathe word outside about this
or any other telegram.
l made the remark that if train robbery
should occur in the vicinity of Kansas City
within twenty-four hours Frank James would
be accused of participation beyond doubt
although too far away to make his connec-
ton with it a possibility, mentioning in
illnStrafIOn of the fart that a orinon waa cof11.
mitted several years before in which Jesse
was accused of having a hand, although she
had sent telegram from a town in Tenn
essee, far away from the scene of the robbery,
the day it was committed. Strangely enough,
the first thing that greeted my ears as l was
on my way to work the next morning after
Mrs. James's dispatch was sent was Here's
your morning Journal; all about Frank and
Jesse James robbing the Rock Island train at
Winston"