Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1883-12-04

THE NOTED BANDIT TELLING THE STORY
OF HOW HE GAINED HIS WIFE.
A st. Louis dispatch to the New York
Times says: Crank James, the noted out
law, is in very low health, and Charles 2.
Johnston, one of his attorneys, on Thurs
day, said that in all probability before the
courts settled the case the distinguished
defendant would be called before a higher
tribunal. What makes the situation for
Frank all the mere gloomy is that his finan-
ees are very low, and that he is forced to
change his once luxurious mode of living.
In strange contrast are his present surround
ings when compared with those of a year
ago. There is no strip of Brussels carpet
on the floor of his cell now. The paint
ings 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 indie
pendence Jail he was assigned to one of the
small cells, by 6, not alone, but to share
it with another prisoner. The furnishing
consists of pine board for a table, two
rough hunks and two stools. Frank looks
nothing like the man of 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 a figure not burdened with
| too much flesh. He looks grave when he
talks about his health, and saysit is doubt
full if another November will find him a
prisoner, no matter what the course of the
courts.
''The faithful wife, once pretty Annie
Ralston, comes every day from her father s
home to sit while in the afternoon with
her husband Chatting socially with your
correspondent, they told the story Of their
courtship. Portions of it will be entirely
new to the public. The first meeting be-
tween them took place over ten years ago.
Annie Ralston was schoolgirl. On her
way home one evening she had stopped to
play croquet with companion. Two
young men rode up, both armed, as was no
uncommon thing in Jackson county in those
days. One was the son of a neighbor, the
other an entire stranger to the girls. The
neighbours son introduced his companion
under fictitious name. The romance of
the meeting went home to the girlish hearts,
and other meetings followed. Col. Ralston
at length discovered the identity of his
daughters visitor and sternly forbade him
from coming to the house again. The
Young man and maiden still met occasion
ally at the houses of neighbors until Annie
went some miles from homo to teach a
country school. Then Frank James met
her almost nightly, and they were be rothed.
Finishing the term of her teaching engage
ment, she went home, only to leave again
after a brief stay, on the plea of going to
visit relatives in Nebraska. A year passed
without news of Annie. The story of a
visit to Nebraska had been merely a ruse
t'One night Frank James rode up to the
Ralston farmhouse, announced that Annie
and he were married. and suggested that
the proper thing fer the old folks Il do was
to forgive, and permit Annie to make visit
home The Colonel. a man not used to
having his wishes thwarted, answered by
bidding the outlaw get away from his gate
at once Frank only fingered to say that
they would not hear from their daughter
again fer ten years, and then galloped away,
The threat was well-nigh fulfilled, for it was
not till eight years had passed that the
Ralstons heard from the lost one. About
II o'clock one gloomy night two years ago
there was knocking at the farmhouse door,
and when it was opened there stood Annie
James with her little boy, five years old
Frank is now waiting trial for the Blue cut
robbery"