Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1883-09-13
THE JAMES GANG.
observations on Frank lanes
Trial.
A STRANGE CONDITION OF SOCIETY.
How the Matter lmpr SEED a New Yorker
Fully Equal to Dick Turpin and
Claude 0uYal.
THE JAMES GANG.
A STRANGE CONDITION OF SOCIETY.
Nelr York Tribune.

Ne1r York Tribune.
The acquittal of Frank James could
not have caused surprise anywhere.
The announcement that the jury was
composed entirely of Democrats was
probably enough to determine in adj
vance the verdict that would be passed
upon a man who began his career of
robbery and murder as boy in Guam
trel's land Of rebel guerillas. The
Democrat, in that section Of Missouri at
least, was usually a rebel, and the
state became in some sense middle
ground, where there was a good deal Of
tushwhacking on both sides, and COM
paratively little organized warefare. 1t
was no cause for surprise, either, that
there seems to have been much SYM
PATTY with James The same social
conditions which aided to make an ac-
qu.tial possible would secure him an
ovation. There is no doubt that to
many of the people of that quarter Of
Western Missouri the trial has been
what the fashion writers hereabOuts
call "an interesting episode in society"
The court house at Gallatin was found
early in the trial to be too small to ac-
cOmmOdate the spectators, and the en-
taiument was adjourned to the opera
house, where is could be witnessed by
a larger number. Many persons came
in from the surrounding country, and
the town had all the excitement, If not
all the pleasure, of q country fair, wind
ing up with 3 joyful demonstration at
the verdict. Mr.. James seems to have
borne his hOnOrs mOdestIy. He told
the reporters that 1.-The people, were in
sympathy with him, and magnanim-
ouSly remarked that he had long since
forgotten "all war feeling" and asked
onIy TO be allowed TO lead u peaceful
life" The news that Mr.. James is now
thoroughly reconstructed certainly
marks an important step in national
reconciliation.
The careers of the James brothers
show q strange condition of society in
western Missouri. Their father was q
Baptist clergyman and college trustee,
| and is described as an eloquent peACher;
their strp.lather was i physician, said
TO have been "a respectable citizen"
Their mother had lived, during ali the
years they have been making busi-
ness Of robbery and murder, on COM
Portable farm not many miles from
Kansas City, which they have frequent
IN visited, and where attempts have been
made to capture them. The mother is
woman of coarse strength, from whom
her sous seem to have derived some
thing of their tendencies. Her pride in
her sons has always been great, aud
when they have achieved some bold
and daring crime, she has been in the
habit Of going to Kansas City to seek q
newspaper interview" in which she
would refer proudly to tiny boys" 1t
is another picturesque circumstance
that one Ofthe newspapers in that city
became popularity known as 1.-THE organ
of the James boys" and the editor be.
ing mySteriously summoned to the
street one night was presented by tue
brothers with a costly gold watch and
chain for his flair treatment" of them,
after which they dashed away on their
horses. Both of the brothers were able
10 marry intelligent, attractive women.
Jesse James cousin left position as
teacher in the Kansas City public
schools to marry him less than ten
years ago, and Frank James was mar
ried since then to the daughter of citi-
zen of Jackson, eight miles from Kan
sas City, who is described as beautiful
and intelligent, but sentimental girl,
who was carried away by her romantic
temperament. The brothers are said
to have made kind and affectionste
husbands, and theiI wives have shared
their dangers. The congratulations
that were given to Frank on his ac-
quittal we're not half so grOtesque as the
demonstrations at the funeral of jesse,
little more than a year ago. SYM
pathetic women listened to the mothers
eulogy upon her dead son, who, she
said, was better off in heaven to dry
than he would be here with US" A
clergyman volunteered his services and
preached a sermon which the telegraph
said was "full Of comfort for the mour-
ners," and all present joined in piously
singing: What q friend we have in
Jesus"
In fact, the James brothers seem to
have secured something of the same
hold upon the affections of certain
Claude Duyals had, according to tradi-
ton, in the old days when business was
lively on Hounslow heath. Yet they
do not appear to have shown any Of
those generous qualities which are said
to have made the highwaymen of the
old school the idols of the pOpul5ee.
They seem to have been cold-bloo1ed
and selfish, loving murder for its own
| sake. The stories that are told OF their
achievements in taking life are almost
| incredible, aud sound like the claims OF
| ardent admirers rather than records OF
/ fact. One of these stories, if true, dis
| plays their downright lust Of blood
shedding. When they were mere boys
OF nineteen and twenty. three, in 1854,
they helped Desperate to stop train
! III Centralia, Mo-, and after the paSSen-
/ gers had been robbed thirty-twO sick
soldiers on board were marched of one
by one and killed, the two James
boys loading the pistols and their
companion doing the shooting.
Tie total number of their murders on
that day is stated to have been over
eighty. The murders committed by
each Of these during his whole career
must number hundreds. Their deadly
seltishness was shown during the re-
treat from the disastrous raid on the
Mortified bank in Minnesota. One of
the party had been wounded, and Jesse
James wanted him killed because "the
blood made q plain trail ;" but the
wounded mans brother threatened to
kin the first one who laid q finger on
him.
They began their career as guerillss,
and enjoyed themselves too well to
stop. They were so much admired and
talked about that they probably feli
very much as IL they were in public
life. Public sentiment does not seem
i 10 ha In ErankIa favor nnur hnruauar