Huntsville gazette., 1884-04-26
FRANK JAMES.
A VERDICT OF mot GUILTY" OF
THE MUSCLE SHOALS ROB-
BERY---RE-ARRES

ney, concluded the argument in the
James case about noon yesterday. An
hour was occupied by Judge Bruce
in clear, impartial and able charge
to the jury, which took the case at
l o'clock.
There was a rush for seats il the
Court room shortly after six o'clock
iu the evening when it became known
that the jury had agreed upon a YER
dict.
At half past six the prisoner, Frank
James, accompanied by Mrs. James
and two little children, took their
seats in the bar. The court was
wrapped to order, and was crowded
to its utmost capacity. Judge Bruce
directed the clerk to read the verdict.
He read: 1--WE, the jury, find the
defendant not guilty.
There was some applause in the
audience, which was soon qu'eted by
Deputy Marshal Murphy's prohibito-
ry command for silence.
During the excitement OF the brief
time Of the announcement Of the ac-
quittal there never once appeared any
visible emotion of JOY on the faces of
either the noted prisoner or his wife.
Possibly be knew what was awaiting
him. No sooner had the order Of
the court "The defendant, Frank
James, is discharged" been made, than
Sheriff Rodgers, of Cooper Co., Mo-,
stepped forward with the necessary
papers and arrested him to answer a
charge of train robbery in some por-
tion of Mi souri,.
An officer from Minnesota was also
on hand with requisition for James,
We give below synopsis of the
evidence Of two of the principal wit
nesses pro and con:
DICK LIDDIL
was next called to the stand. The defense
objected to his examination as witness,
on the ground that he had been convicted
of grand larceny in Missouri, and that the
infamous cri.Ae rendered him incompetent
The Government offered in evidence a par
don from tie Governor of Missouri The
Court decided to admit all evidence BEAR
ing on the conspiracy. Liddil testified that he
had lived in Kansas City for the past year,
and known defendant twelve or thirteen
years. He first met him in jackson coun-
ty, Missouri; was working at the place
where Jesse and Frank James made their
headquarters. They were lodging some
body; had known Bill Ryan five years, Jim
Cummins about the same time, the Hite
family about the same time.
Some little argument ensued relative to
witness understanding with the court as to
the question of his testifyipg. The Judge
ruled to admit the evidence and witness
continued.
The first agreement with Jesse was in
Missouri; Frank was not there; it was in
the fall of 1879 or 80; Bill Ryan, Hite,
Jesse and Frank James agreed to lob q
train; afterwards they separated The next
spring he met Jesse James in Clay county,
Mo. They crossed the river to Jackson
county and got Bill Ryan and then came
to Tennessee, where Frank lived Went
to Missouri in the fall and got with Jim
Cummins; returned to Tennessee; staid at
the residence of jesse and Frank James in
Edgefeld all that winter, and in the spring
Cummins suddenly disappeared. Witness
thought he intended to give the party
away. Frank, Jesse and Ryan decided to
90 south, and said they were looking for a
train to capture, and to select route back.
They told me to go to old man Hite's in
Kentucky. Early on the morning of March
9th Jesse and Ryan rode out from the
house in Edgefeld before daylight. Frank
followed about 7 o'clock. Next day, the
7th, left for old man Hite's place, near
Adairville. They did not say where they
were going. / stayed at Hite's eight or
ten days. Jesse James came up and stayed
dap or two and returned to Nashville.
Three days after l went to Nashville with
Wood Hite. and arrived at Nashville on the
oath of March 1881. had heard the James
boys and Ryan talk about a canal and
heard them read articles in the paper about
the work there and the number of men en-
ployed. While in Nashville Jesse James
went under tie name of J. d. Howard,
Frank as B. J. Woodson. Ryan as Thomas
HILL and myself as Joe Smith. Before they
left for Muscle Shoals Frank had long
sandy beard all over his face. He rode a
sorrel horse with roan hair and small star
on the forehead, one white foot, lump on
the back. frank bought horse from Ry-
an, gray. Jesse rode brown horse with
a star in the forehead. the hind feet white
Jesse and Frank had sandy beard Ryan a
black beard, When they returned from the