The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-05-26
FRANK JAMES,
An Alleged Editors Plea in Behalf of q
Red-Handed Murderer and Kobber.

Sedalia (Mo.) Democrat.
Within few weeks Daviess county Jury
will be called upon to hear the evidence ad-
duced in the celebrated case of the State of
Missouri against Frank James. For the
honor honesty and the retrieval of the
States good name, we hope the jury will be
an unprejudiced one, fully competent to sit
in judgment upon a man whose career has
passed from the realms OF fabulous romance
into that of history. Perhaps Frank James
was night rider in those perilous times
when Southern blood in Missouri was hunted
down. prescribed and bedeviled by the hell
hounds of Kansas; perhaps Frank James was
a daring leader amidst a band of guerillas
whose names were terror to the military
thieves and cut-throats who plundered the
border for the pleasures of ill-gotten gains;
perhaps Frank James was foremost i'll every
dashing charge that meant death to an armed
enemy and scattered the bones of misled
militia to bleach upon the broad prairies of
the West Possibly he was associated with
QuantrelPs black flag and all the attendant
horrors of the border warfare, and perhaps
he glories in the wild rides that carried VEN
geaDce and slaughter in their frightful train.
But that was warfare. The time-has now ar
rived when amnesty should be granted;
when the whte-winged dove Of peace should
fly across the troubled waters and proclaim a
landing-place for the bitter memories of the
past. Everybody has been forgiven and for
ROLLcn except Tduk JdUleS VINO mas come
at last to seek rest and refuge within
the confines of a magnanimous Common
wealth. trusting all to the honor
and honesty of people for whom he has ten
thousand times imperiled his life. 1t must
be remembered that Frank James was not
compelled to surrender. In his seclusion he
remained as secure and invncible as ever he
was upon the open prairie, when he de6ed an
army of gallant soldiers. But he came at
the instigation of friends, who promised him
justice and fair play; promised him that no
court of to-day would seek to wreak venge-
ance on him for the conspicuous part he oc-
cupied in the annals of border warfare;
promised him that no jury would now con-
vict him OH general principles under the
guse of an impartial and legal trial. Pos
sibly he had tired of the race for life; pos
sibly he was weary of the nght-riding and
the constant perils of his existence; but
he could have quietly remained in
years without the formality and
the added vexations of trusting to
the minions of the law. With his brother
murdered in cold blood, at the connivance of
legal authority, and with the added peril to
all who bore his name, he determined to be-
lieve the promises of his friends and yield
his case to the judgment Of ar honest jury.
The return OF Frank James was happy day
for his wife and child; a glorious day for the
State of Missouri But it should be remem-
bered that Frank James has returned under
the honor OF flag OF truce, and is entitled
to an impartial hearing. Let the grave cover
the resentinents of the past, and ''let not
Cesar's servile minions mock the lion thus
laid low" 1t is time to quit. 1t is time to
hush the rankings invoked by memorable
struggle. 1t is time TO draw the veil of
charity over the terrible past, and to deal
honorably and fairly with Frank James
the last remaining link of warfare that has
no equal in the history of the world.