Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-02-24
THE BANDIT. FRANK JAMES.
His Crime in Alabama for Which He is
to be Tried.

II re- spectator.
THE BANDIT. FRANK JAMES.
His Crime in Alabama for which He is
TO be Tried.
81. Louis Post Dispatch
Notwithstanding kilograms which prom
i7ed his arrival here this morning. Frank
James is still in Kansas City. 1t is Ger
tain. however. that he will be required to
face a Federal court at Huntsville, Ala,
whiting cOGple of weeks. much to his
disgust. There is no installing the fact
that tue action of Circuit Attorney Wal
lace ia dsmissing all the cases against
BIT. James was III the nature of
a coup d'etat, for both he and his
counsel had confidently expected that
the Missouri courts would occupy his
time for many week again. They GER
lainly had no reason to believe that the
refusal Of the Governor TO do that which
would qualify Dick Liddil as witness
would have the effect of sweeping the
cases of the docket and bringing them
face to face with the issue which. next to
NOTti field, was more to be dreaded than
any other. The Mussel Shoals robbery.
on which the Indictment at Huntsville
was bas d, occurred early i'm the spring
of 1881, at which time Frank James, Jesse
James, Dick Liddil, Bill Ryan and Jim
street in Edgeiield, which Is
suburban part Of Nashville. The
robbers We're three in number and
were well mounted. The scene of the
robbery was about 30 miles south of
Nashville, where "a government contractor
was engaged in deepening a shallow
stretch Of twelve miles of the river, which
shadows were called "Mussel Shoals"
The contractor drew his cash supplies
for GARRY iraaf ON fhu WORK from, a l41fL .
Chattanooga, and on the date i'm question
the paymaster was proceeding on horse
back 10 the headquarters of the works.
carrying in a SaJchei $1,000, which mad
lust come from the Chattanooga Bank.
The men who planned the robbery were
well posted as to the customs that
prevailed at the works i'm the mat
ter Of drawing supplies and paying
of, as the outcome proved. AS the
paymaster was riding along the river
bank on q road which very few people
travelled he was OYertaken by three horse
men, who passed the time of day and
proved very sociable fellows indeed. They
We're in the stock business, and were SO
cOngenial that the paymaster was well
pleased with his good luck in falling in
with such company. They rode several
miles with him, and about dusk arrived at
a place where, in order 10 reach the river
wOihs. the paymaster had TO leave the
main road by a wagon gate and turn down
into the bottom land. He got of to Opeu
the gate, and happening TO look up at his
companions he was amazed To discover
three navy reY0lYers gazing on him with
an aspect that was most eloquent and per-
suading. One Of the riders instructed
aim quietly to remOunt and take ride
with them. He did SO, and for the next
three hours they rode through the dark
nes-, there being a conspicuous absence
Of tie Jokes and discussions which had
made pleasant the earlier part Of their
trip. They rode thus fun twenty miles,
the four men seeming TO he well acQuaint-
ed with the country. Hating finally in q
thiCbct, they relieved the paymaster of
every hing that was worth taking, in
Guiding bis horse and revolver, and with
some earnest advice as to the improperly
and futiiiJy of making any great fuss they
left him. He made his way to the nearest
house and reported his adventure, his
story being regarded suspiciOusly.
Little was done that night, and
next day pursuit was of no
avail. A few days later Bill Ryan.
mounted 9n a fine horse, rode out from
Nashville in a half-drunken state, and
S0i0g up one of the main roads for eight
or ten miles created something of a COM
motion by his drunken eXtravagauces,
during which he freely flouTished a re-
FOlVer, aud SWOre that the man didn't live
who could take him. A Justice Of the
Peace was notified, who waited for an
opportunity to catch the braggaTt mapping
sud succeeded in arresting and dIsarming
him. In his possession were found, be
sides a highwavman's outfit, about 81 $50
i'm currency, some of which bore the
wraps of the Chattanooga bank. This was
sn important clue, and made sure his char
aCter. The news reached Nashville, and
Frank and Jesse James and Dick Liddil
left that night on hOrs back for Kentucky.
Frank, who had lived there for four years
rs AN Industrious farmer and te1mster.
never went back again. and it is inferred
that he and Jesse and Bill Ryan were
the three who captured the 5000 satchel
Ryan was brought to Missouri and con
yicted OF completely in the Blue Cut rob
berry on the testimony Of Tucker Bas-
shaw, who was relieved of a ten years
sentence to enable him to testify. Dick
Liddil. after surrendering, was
taken 10 Huntsville and con-
yicJcd-n0t Of being present
at the robbery, but of having been of the
gang, and a party to the conspiracy of
which the robbery was the result. He was
sent mp TO Missouri to testify against
Frank James, but his testimony failed to
convict at Gallatin, and he could not be
permitted, under a late decision Of the
supreme Court, to testify at Kansas City.
4 Great effort is being made to procure
his pardon from the President, in which
event he VIII probably become a witness
i5r the government at Huntsville.