Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1883-11-26
FRANK JAMES REPORTED DY-
ING.
The Noted Bandit Telling the Story OF
How He Gained His Wife.


ST. Louis Special to NeaC York. Times.
Frank James, the noted outlaw, is in
very low health, and Charles =. Johnson,
one of his attorneys, to-day said that in
all probability before the courts settled
the case the distinguished defendant
would be called before 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 present sur
roundings when compared with those
of a year ago. There is no strip of
Brussels 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, = by d,
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 complex
ion have gone. He is a 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.
health, and says it is doubtful if 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 a while in the af-
ternOon with her husband. Chatting So
ciably with your correspondent, they told
the story of their courtship. Portions oft
will be entirely new to the public The first
meeting between them took place over 10
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
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 a fic-
titious name, and both of the
men engaged in the game. The ro-
nance of the meeting went home to
the girlish hearts, and other meetings fol-
lowed. 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 occasionally at the houses of
neighbors until Annie went some miles
from home to teach country school.
Then Frank James met her almost night
ly, and they were betrOthed. Finishing
the term Of 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 a
visit to Nebraska had been merely ruse.
One night Frank James rode up to the
Ralston farm house, announced that An
ME and he were married. and suggested
that the proper thing for the old folks to
do was to forgive and permit Annie to
make visit home. The Colonel, man
not used to having his wishes thwartcd,
answered by bidding the outlaw get away
from his gate at once. Frank only ling
cred to say that they would not hear
from their daughter again for 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. AbOnt II O'Clock one
gloomy night two years ago, there was
knocking at the farm house door, and
when it was opened there stood Annie
James with her little boy, ) years old.
Frank is now waiting trial for the Blue
Cut robbery.