The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1883-11-24
Frank James Said to be Dying.
THE NOTED BANDIT TELLING THE STORY o
HOW He GAINED HIS WIFE.

HOW He GAINED HIS WIFE.
A st. Louis (Aio.) telegram says: Frank
James, the noted outlaw, is In very low
health. and Charles Z. Johnson, one OF his
attorneys, to-day SAID that in all probability
before the courts settled the case the dis
tinguished defendant would be called be-
fore higher tribunal. What makes the
situation for Frank all the more gloomy is
that his finances are very low, and that he
Is forced to change his once luxurious mode
Of living. In strange contrast are his pre-
sent surroundings when compared with
those Of a year ago. There is no strip OF Brus-
sels carpet on the floor OF his cell now. The
paintings and bric-a-brac have disappeared
from the walls; the mahogany bedstead,
the writing-desk, and most Of the books
have gone. When the outlaw was brought
back from Gallatin three weeks ago to the
Independence Jail he was assigned to one
OF the small cells, six by six, not alone, but
to share 1t with another prisoner. The
furnishing consists Of Il pine board for a
table, two rough hunks, and two stools.
Frank looks nothing like the man Of a year
ago. The clearness OF the eye and the
brightness OF the complexion have gone.
He is little more stopped than he was.
The cheeks are sallow and thinner. The
loss Of fifty pounds tells on q figure not
burdened with too much flesh. He looks
grave when he talks about his health, and
saws il is doubtful II another November
will find him prisoner, no matter what
the course OF the courts.
The faithful wife. once pretty Annie
RalstOn, comes every day five miles from
her fathers home to sit awhile IN the after
noon with her husband. Chatting sociably
with your correspondent, they told the
story Of their courtship. Portions of it
will be entirely new to the public. The
first meeting between them took place over
ten years ago. Annie Ralston was school
girl. On her way home one evening she
had stopped TO play croquet with COM
panion. Two young men rode up, both
armed. as was no uncommon thing in Jack
son county in those days. One wasthe son
OF nelghbor, the other an entire stranger
TO the girls. The neighbor's son intro
duced his companion under fictitious
name, and both OF the men engaged in the
came. The romance of the meeting went
home TO the girlisb hearts, and other meet
ings followed. Colonel RalstOn at length
discovered ihe identity OF bis daughters
visitor, and sternly forbade him from COM
ing to the house again. The young man
and maiden still met occasionally at the
houses Of neighbors until Annie went some
miles from home to teach country school.
Then Frank James met her almost nightly,
and they were betrothed. Finishing the
term CT her teaching engagement she went
home, only to leave again after brief stay
on the plea Of going TO visit relatives in
Nebraska. A year passed without news OF
Annie. The story OF visit to Nebraska
had been merely ruse.
One night Frank James rode up to the
Ralston farmhouse, announced that Annie
and he were married, and suggested that
the proper thing for the old folks to do
was TO forgive and permit Annie to make
a visit home. The Colonel, man not used
TO having his wishes thwarted, answered
by bidding the outlaw to get away from his
cate at once. Frank only fingered to say
that they would not hear from their daugh-
ter again for ten years and then galloped
away. The threat was wellnigh' fulfilled.
for IL was not till eight years had passed
that the Ralstons heard from the lost one.
About IL o'clock one gloomy night two
wears ago there was knocking ut the farm
house door, and when il was opened there
stood Annie James with her little boy, five
wears old. Frank is now waiting trial for
the Blue-Cut robbery.