Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1883-04-28
BOB FORD,
The slayer Of Jesse James. Gives Him.
self TRny.


self Tnny.
PHILADELPHIA, April %.-Bob Ford 10
now in the city. His object in visiting the
city is TO rthearse In a piece called The
Outlaw Brothers" which will be produced
at the Grand Central Theater on the even.
ing OF Monday next. There is, at first
sight, nothing whatever in Fords appear
ance indicative of the possession OF iron
nerves or the tenacity OF parpose. He is Q
.lig' but neatly bull, young man, OF me-
dam height, with face rs yet innocent OF
beard or moustache, well dressed in dark
clothes and weariBga handsome diamond
cluster pin, q valuable gold watch and
chain ard q massive signct ring. He Is
modest and retiring in his demeanOr, by
no means ANXIOUS 10 talk, and would pass
muster any day where he Was unknown as
an eminently respectable drug clerk or
dry goods salesman. HIS fettures are mo.
bile ard uf pleasing cast. When 10 repose
the general expression is shrewd and good.
humored Once or twice, while speaking
in detail concerning the act that brought
his name prominently before the public,
his dark eyes elittered ominously and the
left corner Of the mouth dropped In an
look To his fcaIu'es,
II have been very severely criticised IN
certain quarters for the method adopted
In Killing Jrsse,"
said Ford. az he crossed his legs ard re.
moved deliCately carved meerschaum
cigar holder from his lips. lie talked as
compOsedly as though he were discussing
the shooting OF Caterwsuling feline.
every unjustly. too, think. The man
was curse 10 the State Of Missouri, and
the large reward offered for his apprehen.
siCn vas q sufficient inducement for my
brother end 10 try and accomplish what
Mcdaniel, Captain Lu!l, Whicher and Jack
Iadd bad failed 10 achieve. aye,
aud lost their lives In the at.
tempt. II ] bad not done what
Gid when ! did, our lives would
to Il certainty have been taken within
tvsr'y four hours. There Is no doubt
asout ~. for Charlie overheard Jessie and
ir vile Nh hour or two before killing him,
in which be sad 4e would sgectually dis
Io.t of us on the first opportunity. | did
not want 20 Kill the man: II would have
Ia.d III great dCE better 10 hand him
over IN the authorities ~ the reward for
h,m alone pas over 80. 90 while we re-
ceiyed but $1,000 fJr his corpse. It's oil
nonsense 10 talk about trasChrry toward Q
man like jesse James. lie vas true 70 no
one, not even
TO His Own Gang,
and the best proof OF what say Is tbatnot
one OF lis companions ever tried 10 syengs
bis dcsth. Nobody outside OF bis own fam
ily cared cent for him, dead or alive,
you can take my word for that. Why he
was not friendly with his own father at
the time Of his death. Now that year
snd more has passed away, see what .
char gs for the better the taking or OF
this nan has wrought In Missouri. Land
where frtguented has gone up fairly 10
per cent IN value and the president OF
the Chicsgo& Northwestern road told me
recently. in ChicigO IN 1t the traf'ic receipts
bad taken big upward jump
since safety from robbery and
possible murder while travelling
through Missouri was at last assured.
BY the by. should ike to correct m im.
preston that somehow or other got abroad,
ikat had been an OUTLAW and a member OF
recently from Richmond. Missouri. where
lived for years before uncs5tOok 70 cap.
ture Jesse, in reply 10 op' written 70 .
friend Of mine ssking hin 20 suggest q
numb+r OF residents there who would
st+Ak Of NV character, Is I taen medititei
tsking legal proceedings sgsinst some Of
my dSfsmey" The letter referred U gave
the names OF number Of citizens no we're
resdy ana willing 10 testify TO BIB PJrd's
YespfcisbiIity. Among the names men,
tiob cd we're those Of the sheriff the county
treasurer. the president OF the savings
hnnk. the city collector. and Colonel J. L.
Chiids, the editor Of the Richmond CJnser-
ystiye.