Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1883-10-13
ADETEcTIvg,s DENISE.
How the Sole of 4 Farm Hand Did
Not Work with the Late Jesse
James.
An ex-uember OF the PinkertOn
Force Gives a History Of the
Murder OfJOe Whieher.
cor. Pitlsburr sunday Dl.paleh.


Twas seated in the library Of q
friend who resides in Uonnelsyille the
other day, when ! was startled by the
remark, Presents from the james
gang, accompanied by the production
Of four bullets. Two Of the leaden
messengers OF death were beaten out
Of shape, indicating that they had
been successfully used. snnmfa
ibid they back them With powder
when they presented then| inquired
your correspondent.
They did, and the poor lad who
played the part Of recipient did not
survive the hOrr0rft "a ffffI
TEL me about It said The scribe,
well, l will. 1t was just ten
years ago, when jesse James and his
gang had become such a terror to the
West, that a determined effort was
set aioot to captureor kill him and to
clean out the gang. | was then a
member of the Pinkerton detective
force, working under the Chicago
agency. One Of our boys, Joe
Whicher, . bright young fellow, full
Of nerve and daring, was detailed to
go down to Clay county to feel the
public pulse and reoonnoiter, and to
report daily all that he could discover
about the james gang and theil
movements This was the first efforI
on the part Of the Pinkertons, anc
the idea was to get well posted before
arousing any suspicious. They vert
aware Of the faot that the james boy
had many friends, and it was neces
sary to move with great caution.
w hichcr proved an efficient man
and for some days got along all right
but in an evil moment he heard tina
Jesse was at his mothers house, ant
Disgusting himself as a tramp h,
started for the james mansion. Ar
irving at the house he asked the lad,
for something to eat, offering to worl
for the same, saying he was farm
hand and out ct a job, The old lad,
gave him some cold victuals and with
drew. Shortly after Jesse Jane
strobe into the room, followed by hi
brother Frank and Jim Cummings
Accosting Whicher, Jesse said;
Il so, you're farm hand, are your
fWheher replied that he wa.
J esse caught him by the arms an
turned his palms up TO view. Unfor
tnnately for the rash detective the
were white and soft.
1T you are "a farmer its eviden
YOU haven't worked your trade late
ly,s observed jesse, and at his com
mand Frank and 0nmmings searche
the pseudo farmer, fnding in hi
pockets two Colt revolvefs. a1d .
memorandum uneOnsciously left i
his pockets that morning by WhicheI
Looking sterHly upon . him, jess
burst forth: You're one Of thos
DID detectives I've heard (
| you, young man. But We have yo
now and you won't tell any nor
tales The other two wanted to a
fer The execution OF Whicher, bu
Jesse was firm. Dead men 1 tell .
tales, he sagely observed. Say you
prayers, young man; you haven't lon
TO stay. 10 vain Whicher proteste
that he was not detectiTe; and III,
he carried the weapons for proteetiol
and that he had found tie scrAI, !,
paper on the road coming to Ii
house. Jesse was inexorable, and !,
q signal from him the three OUTLAW
simultaneously fred their revoIvei
into the body Of the ill-iated detet
tive, who fell on the floor bathed
his blood To make assurance dor
bly, sure Jesse fred fourth shot
/ his face a. be lay on the floor. IN
bullet struck the jawbone.s This ]
the one You may notice how Il W.
tiattened By striking the boheY'R { q
How came you in possession Of th
bullets2"
III was coming to thot, After the
had thus bntchefed Whicher the
took his body and left It exposed 3
the public road near the town d
Liberty Fitha placard pinnedto hi
bosom. aANt fNloNtlF A0Nl
/, ssoooooooo dooooo5oooooooooooooooooa
stoi 10 WIG NttAA o
9 Let sneakipg DETECTIVES BsgFeQfo
. inonl JESSE Jaass faagro
"a