Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1884-09-26
MisfellamenMs.
A BUCKEYE JESSE JAMES.

In letter from Hillsboro, Ohio, to
the New York Sun, the history of a no.
torious criminal is given as follows:
Frank Messmer, young man serving
a ten years term in the penitentiary for
robbery, has been pardoned. Mcssmer
was the pal of Bob McKimmie. the Jesse
James of Southern Ohio. Since Mess
mer has been out of Jail he has made
many disclosures which, with the known
history of McKimmie, make up tale
equal to those told of the Younger and
James criminals McKimmie was born
thirty years ago near Rainsboro He
began stealing when schoolboy, aud at
fourteen joined the regular army at Co
lumbus. lie went to fight Indians, and
deserted in two years. lie became a
road agent in Utah, and with compan-
ions robbed and murdered stage passen-
gers and express agents. He, with 9th
ers, was captured and sentenced to if
teen years in the Mormon penitentiary.
In nine months he escaped with Jack
Williamson, fellow convict. The guard
was killed to effect the escape. From
Utah McKimmic went to the Black Hills.
In February, 1877, he robbed the Chey-
emo stage He had organized a gang
of cut-throats who robbed the mail ex-
press aud passengers. In March, the
gang attempted to rob another stage,
and McKimmie killed Johnny Slaugh-
ter, the driver. The horses ran away,
and the eleven passengers escaped :
Later, at the Cheyenne crossing, the
Same gang robbed three coaches, and
soon had over $40 600 A woman
dressed in boys clothes followed McKim-
mic in his depredations, and overheard
hia-comrades plotting to kill and rob him.
She warned him, and McKimmie, with
one companion, took the entire booty
aud went to Texas.
From Texas, McKimmic came to Hills
boro in September, 1877. He was we'll
dressed, had abundance of money, and
said he had been successful in cattle
hcrding in Texas He became peace
full citizen of Rainsboro, and married
Clara Ferguson, an orphan girl, against
her uncle's wish Mcl<immie bought n
store, and was soon a merchant in good
standing.
A few months later, NJ. II. Leach, of
Ogalla, Mo, came here after Union
Pacific train-robber. He had suspected
McKimmie, bnt was mistaken, as the
latter had come here the mouth before
the robbery in question. Leach after.
ward met Detective Bullock, Of Dead
wood, and told him about McKimmio's
new start in life. Bullock knew the
robber from experience, and had been
trying 10 trace him for some time. lie
came here at once and visited McKim-
mics store. Getting him outside he ar
rested McKimmie on charges of robbery
and murder. Mechanics lawyers got
him out of jail in an hour, but he was
Immediately rcarrested After much
legal fighting the case was carried to the
Supreme Court, and McKimmie went to
Jail. . An attempt to release him by
forged kilograms from Columbus was
made by bis friends, but failed. la Jan
uary, 1878, while his case was pending,
he escaped from Jail by shooting the
Sheriff and sowing the guards with a re-
volver. An old man seized gun load
ed with shot and fred at tue fugitive.
The shot struck his cigar-case and his
life was saved
He eluded capture, and was secreted
with friends near here for weeks. lie
even bad friend arrange to bring De-
tective Norris into certain Chillicotbe
saloon that he might see him for future
recognition He saw tho detective
through knothole. He then went 10
Virginia, met his wife in Richmond, aud
lived with her in Raleigh, Charleston,
Savannah, and at Nassau, N. II. There
he became bankrupt and was imprisoned
forty-one days for a board debt. lie
worked bis way TO New York, leaving
bis wife at Nassau Coming to Ohio be
failed TO get money from his lawyers,
and plotted with Messmer to rob a
farmer named Roads, living near here.
They got eighty dollars from Roads.
With this money the bandit went back
to his wife, and came here again ia Oc-
tober, and planned TO rob the cambridge
baDkwith New York Charley, another
noted robber
Meanwhile Messmcr had been SEN
fenced to ten years imprisonment for
rohhery With other nala Max ;mu,io