Press and daily Dakotaian. (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1880-1889, 1883-09-03
THE JAMES FAMILY.


st. Louis, Aug. 3l-In the James trial
at Gallatin to- day Mrs. Zerelda Samuels,
mother of the James boys, testified
She had lived in Clay county, near Kear-
ney, forty years, and was the mother of
the prisoner. He is forty-one years old.
Being asked as to the date of Jesse's
death she showed much feeling, and
answered in a sobbing and choked voice:
"Jesse was at my house in May, 1881,
and he was accompanied by Dick Liddle
and l asked Jesse where Frank was, and
he told me he left him in Kentucky in
bad health. l commenced crying. and
said: Son, you know he is dead, and
you might as we'll tell me- He said: NO,
he is alive and in Kentucky, and then
Dick Liddle spoke up and said some
thing. Jesse was in and out of the
house with Dick Liddle and the Hites
until after the winter robbery. The last
time saw my son Frank before I met
him at Independence was seven years
ago this fall, when Sheriff Broom came
to my house and shot at him.
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES suiu eho ulu uOI
see Iuuh oaucS uuEluS Tue summer OF
1881 did not know where he was; thought
him dead. Witness spoke of the depar.
ture of a wagon in August, and admitted
that she had furnished dress, bonnet
and apron outfit.
"Why did you do that ?" asked Prose-
cutting Attorney Wallace.
"Because they wanted to pass off as
gentleman and lady, SO you folks could
not catch them," was the smiling reply,
given without emotion.
Allen d. Palmer, brother-in.law of
Frank James, stock raiser of Wichita,
Kan, said in August, 1881, Frank James
was at his house with his sister, the wit
ness wife, and he found him there on his
return from trip to Texas. Next saw
him yesterday in Jail. Witness was rig
idly cross-examined and he did not make
good witness.
| Recess.
Mrs. Susan Palmer, sister of Frank
James, and wife of the preceding wit
ness, testified that in 1881 she resided in
Clay county. That her brother spent
three months of the summer with her.
4 A rigid cross-examination failed to
shake the testimony.
After the evidence of Mrs. Palmer,
Bud Harrison, o neighbor of Mrs. Bolton,
testified that he had seen four men
about her house during May, 1881. The
prisoner was not one of them. He was
on the coroner's jury at the Hite inquest
anything at that time about Frank
James.
After recess of fifteen minutes the
prisoner took the witness stand. He
showed not the least trepidatlon, but
looking the jury squareIy in the face,
spoke in clear distinct voice substan-
TALLY as follows: Gam the defendant in
this case. In the winter of 1876 1 went
into Tennessee. Came to Nashville in
July, 1877; rented farm in the White
Creek neighborhood. In 1850 was log
ging for the Indian lumber company. It
was hard work, and my health becoming
impaired 1 moved into Nashville to 90
into other business. First met Jesse
after went to Nashville, it was IN a
store, and spoke but called no names.
He said he was living in Hampburn
county, Tenn, and buying grain.
Saw Bill Ryan in 1879.
Didn't see Dick Liddle, Ryan and Jesse
together very often. I left Nashville,
firstly, to look for livelihood for my
family; secondly, to get away from these
parties. We wanted to go to Hite's, a
relative in Kentucky. Regarding the
officers appearance near Hlte's: Three
men approached aud Jesse said: "They
i are after u.s." said: "No they can't
be after u.s." when Dick Liddle said
: "Jesse and borrowed couple of horses
a at Nashville and they are after u.s.
+ The officers passed and didn't come back
+ Wood Hite followed them q short dis
tance. 1t was said there was strong
q resemblance between Wood Hlte anc
!. myself. We went from Hite's to Logar
county, Kentucky, and Jessie and Dicl
went away. Don't know where. No ar
rangement was made between them ant
me to rob the express at Kansas City
On the contrary, 1 tried to dissuad
them from going to Missouri as it wa
is unsafe. Advised Dick togo to work. Be
n tween the 10th aud 18th of May. 1881.
went to Lanesville, and thence to Cla,
f" county, Texas. Went to Mrs. Palmer
g in June and stayed five or six weeks
r Went from there into Indiana, q distanc
!. tof 12O miles. I returned to Mrs. Pal
mer's when heard of the Winston rob
% berry. l supposed 1 would be looked 70
as having hand in that transaction
e While away on that trip, heard Of tn
q Blue Cut robbery. When left Tennes
It see instructed my wife to 90 to Ger
X Shelby's and see if anything could b
p done for me, az l wanted to surrender