Northwest enterprise. [volume] (Anacortes, Wash. Ter.) 1882-1887, 1883-01-27
A MURDERER'S FATE.


cination for many people. His cell
in the Independence Jail has been
transformed into regular drawing
room. Here he receives his visitors
like q prince. Had Frank James
been a great public benefactor he
could not have been treated with
more Difference. The people make a
lion of him. His name is upon every
body's lips. Women grow sentiment
al over him. Young girls carry MIN
bouquets of flowers, and the boys
imagine themselves a Frank James
in embryo and emulate his deeds in
miniature. II is sickly kind of sen
timent which pervades the air of In
dependence. 1t is anything but a
good lesson which is being taught
Young America. Instead of painting
Frank James as the murderer, assas-
sin, train robber and bandit that he
is, people sympathize with him, use
their influence with the Governor for
pardon, an talk about him as if he
had never been such very bad man
after all. Frank James is no longer
the dreaded outlaw with price upon
his head. He has been raised to the
rank of Colonel, and is spoken of now
as Colonel" James or MIR" James.
There is but little appearance of a
cell about Col. James place of resi-
dence. When he gave himself up to
Governor Crittenden he was treated
like common prisoner; but such
treatment was considered altogether
too barbarous for a gentleman of
Frank James standing in the com
munity. His friends got together
and subscribed a sum of money suf-
ficient to buy a beautiful Brussels
carpet. 1t was presented to him a
few days ago, and since then the cell
has been transformed into a regular
little palace. Entrance to the august
presence of the ex- bandit is only to
be obtained by card. For time he
allowed everybody to visit him, and
he liked to tell marvellous tales of
marvellous feats in the saddle. But
this got monotonous. Too many peo-
pie were anxious to shake the gentle
man by the hand, and so he hit upon
the card system. A visitor hands his
card to Jail official. 1t is taken to
Mr.. James, and if Mr.. James feels in
the humor he remarks, "Show the
gentleman in" If not, the visitor is
told that Mr.. James is reclining and
cannot see visitors. That settles it;
he is not disturbed.
A visitor to the Jail to-day found
the ex-bandit in very talkatiye
mood. 1t was just after dinner. He
was reclining in luxurious chair and
enjoying himself. The carpet on I'll Q
floor was soft and yielded to the
tread. Around the walls hung pic
lures, some of them paintings, the
gifts of admiring friends, There was
no iron bedstead, there was no roll OF
dirty blankets in the corner In their
place was a fine old mahogany bed
stead, and a mattress of soft, downy
feathers was covered with sheets of
snowy whiteness On table were
vases filled with freshly-cut flowers,
sent in by ladies. who seem to take a
great interest in the bandit king.
The place had the fragrance of a
floral establishment. Everything was
neat, everything was comfortable,
everything was in taste.
James was faultlessly dressed. He
spends great deal of time at his
toilet. His locks were nicely parted.
Not a hair went astray. His boots
shone like mirror. Such a fine
polish had he given them that his face
was reflected. His clothing was
tasty. Not "a speck of dust could be
found, for the bandit king is a very
particular gentleman. There was
nothing of the border ruffian about
him. He had every appearance OF a
we'll to. do man of the world receiving
friend in his own apartments. 1t
was hard to believe that this man was
Frank James, the noted desperate,
and this place prison cell. His man
ner was polite in the extreme. He
seemed to be we'll versed in the cour-
tesies of society. The fact is that
Frank James is not the ignorant out
law that most people believe him to
be. He is well-read, and it is his
boast that he has hosts of friends
with whom he was in the habit OF
staying when hunted by the officers
of the law. In their parlors he con-
sidered himself safe from detection
and pursuit. Then, too, he has spent
much time in the western cities, and
his conversation shows that he has
not always been outside the limits OF
good society.
There is nothing that Frank james
desires that he does not have. de
has lots of friends among the women
They call at the Jail and ask after his
health. They carry him flowers and
send him delicacies. In fact, MIR
Frank James is having very nice
time of it altogether. He is not al
lowed to dine off of the common fare
His meals are sent in to him by
friends on the outside, and they are
repasts which ought to satisfy any
one. They are entirely in keeping
with his Brussels carpet and his ma
hogany furniture. He is never il
want of company. All kinds of peo
pie call to see him. Young ladies
are as fond of his stories as the men
and his cell would be filled most Of
the time if he would allowit. Prom
inent men are among his visitors, in
cluding ex-Governors and members
of Congress. Mrs. Crittenden ha'
called with the Governor. But, aftel
all, James likes to see his old com
| papions tho host Old members @