The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-01-19
FRANK JAMEs,s CAREER
Not a Hero of Romance, but Criminal Ever
Hiding from the Laws Vengeance.


of the earth, Nobody knew better than he did
when he surrendered that he had run his race.
The hardships of the life he chose for himself in
preference to a life of industry could have but
one result, and that is about reached. His
spirit was completely broken, or he would never
have surrendered. 1t was not with any hope of
being able to become good citizen; it was not
with any idea of doing one single stroke o hon
est labor for a livelihood. A beast of prey nat
urally, he shrewdly calculated ON continuing
SUCH simply changing his methods Formerly
his method was to swoop down upon the
defenseless and take what he wanted;
latterly he has endeavored to figure
as martyr and accept the contributions of silly,
sentimental, mush-brained hero-worshippers.
When first placed behind the bars at Independ-
ence, the curious crowd focked to the Jail from
all over the State; his Jail quarters were con
verified into comfortable apartments; furniture of
elaborate and costly pattern adorned his cell, and
he was treated like a demi-god This lasted for
many months. Then came his trial at Gallatin
for murder. Nobody ever expected him to be
convicted for everybody who knows ANYTHING
killed the stone-mason on the train at Winston.
Jesse being dead there was danger to any
body in that case. But the trial was disastrous
to Frank, for, at its conclusion, when he was re-
turned to Independence jail, his feelings
shocked by the change that had taken
place there. The Brussels carpet was gone, also
the elegant bedroom furniture, ditto the pic
lures and books, and he was treated as any other
d
board table, a stool, and rough bunk.
During his career outlaw the strain on
his nerves and the tax on his mental powers in
lodging the n-hunters served as much as did
his physical hardShipS to wear him out He
hoped for relaxation when once out of the sad
die, but it did not come. Vigilance was just as
necessary in fighting in the courts in the field
As an evidence of the fact that he has been
steadily guard against himself, it is said that
no man can be found to whom he ever admitted
that he had committed or was concerned
in any one of the robberies murders
charged against him. An illustration of
this occurred during the trial at Gallatn
Frank the witness stand, said that he
passed a certain mans house on certain
date, and that on the next day this same man
gave him letter which contained news of the
Winston robbery. In this he blundered, and
after the trial he admitted laughngly that he
saw instantly after making the statement that
he had blundered for why should he ride ten
miles past mans house, to whom he had or
dered his letters addressed, and wait for letters
to be brought to himl He saw his mistake be-
fore the lawyer did, and when Mr. Wallace, see
ing the vulnerable point in the abb, started to
frame question: Frank James said: please
wait, Mr. Wallace until conclude my reply to
your former question" and then he proceeded:
Il did this because on the day passed Mr.
Blanks house | saw that he had several visitors,
and as [ was not just at that time running for
Office or counting publicity deemed it best to
ride right by, knowing that Mr.. Blank would see
first learned of the Winston robbery"
1t is said by his lawyers and those who have
been associated with him since his surrender
that he has maintained the same constant vigi-
lance over himself and over events and people
around him that he exercised while at large.
The secret of his success in escaping the laws
clutches so long, while so many who from time
to time belonged to the famous band were cap
tured, is that he was always on guard. Before
he went into any robbery he planned way out
He always laid train of circumstances by
which he could establish an alibi. After com
hitting crime he strained every nerve to get
as far away from the scene as possible in the
quickest possible time. While the rest were
figuring ON their profits he was figuring on the
chances of escape. Despite his record for bravery
aid daring, he has always been in dread of the
law He had sense enough to know that sooner or
later he would be run down, and while it is CON
sdered certain that jesse would never have been
taken alive, Frank, who was less reckless, pre-
ferred taking every method to lengthen out his
days.
In the heydey of their career it wasIno difficult
thing to locate all the members of the gang, ex-
cept Frank james. He has been lost sight of for
weeks and months, and even year at time
1t is also said by members of the band that
Frank never seemed to be heart and soul in their
operations, as did Jesse. While planning an
attack and carrying the plans into effect he was
always head and shoulders to the front, and his
judgment was always relied upon; but after it
was all over he would never discuss it, never
almost as cautious among his confederates as
he was among entire strangers, and never adj
mitted to them that he was concerned in their
doings. So it has been since he surren-
dered. His attorneys say that while
discussing his defense under the various indict
ments he has never admitted that he was guilty
of any of the crimes charged against him. He
has always treated matters though he was
one of the lawyers not the defendant; always
talked of the cases as purely hypothetical. Of
fad 81 nj
exercise of will, and thus it is that the relaxa-
ton he hoped for when no longer in hiding has
not come. This strain has aggravated his dis
ease Consumption and reduced him to his pres
ent deplorable condition He has to the keen
observer evinced fear, almost horror of dy
ing behind prison bars He has felt pretty safe
as long as he could be kept in this State, but he
has dreaded the Minnesota indictments and the
charges the United States holds against him.
He has always thought that should he be taken
to Minnesota he would be hanged or sent to the
penitentiary with very little delay.
Frank James gave up his fight against society
on Oct. g. 1852 He Immediately taken to
independence, and in December was called into
court in Kansas City to answer for what is com
monty known as the Glendale robbery. 1t was
found though no doubts were entertained that
he planned and executed the robbery, that he
had covered his tracks so skilfully that no legal
evidence could be produceA against him. Then
he was taken to Gallatin to be tried for what is
called the Winston train robbery. This trial
ended in an acquittal Other indictments were
held against him at Gallatin, one for bank rob
berry, and one for the murder of Cashier Sheets,
of the Gaatin Bank but it was decided to give
Jackson county another chance at him, and he
was taken back to Independence to answer for
the Blue Cut robbery
AT this time plans began to be laid by his
wife's family and their friends to get him out of
Jail 1t was an easy matter to get bail, but
Frank objected to being taken out, as he knew
that Minnesota and government officers were
waiting for an opportunity to swoop down upon
him. Efforts were made to come to some UNI
derstanding whereby he should not be taken out
of the State, but without success At length,
his condition in Jail becoming so bad, it was de-
bail. Sure enough, United States deputy
marshal and Minnesota official both clapped
their claws upon him, but Daviess county
official stepped up and claimed him for the Gal
latin rohhe1sv and IN indictments for ,o,,rdar