The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1888-10-17
FRANK JAMES LIFE.
The Fierce Ex-Bsndit Selling
Clothing in Missouri.


Kansas City speessI 10 New Yozk World.
Here Is a society item clipped the
other day from newspaper OF Kansas
City's principal suburb. Independ-
ence.
Mrs- Frank James. Of Dallas. Tex. Il
visiting her psrenfs, NJ. and Mr.. Samuel
Kalsf9n- Prank. mother. Mrs sanueis Of
Clay county, 4 also visitor 81 the same
place On Wednesday dining party as
given By Col samuel Ralston and lady,
where the following friends attended. Mrs..
Jesse James. Mrs Caroline cssAntrili, Mr.
AID Mrs fgEuk James and others
The old town of Independence was
once a hottei OF war and the principal
scene OF the operations OF the james
boys. the guerilla Qnanfrili ard their
iik. Frank and Jesse lived only few
miles away, across the river in Clay
county, and they had many friends.
relatives and companions in ouiiawry
in and about Independence. Frank
married the daughter OF Col Samuel
Ralston, who lived and IS living vet
about two miles vest of Independence.
The old colonel i visited annually By
Frank and his wife and the little boy
who live at Dallas, Tex. The ex-
bandit as private and to some extent
respectable citizen usually dresses in a
suit of gray, and wears 10 jewelry
save watch and chain. His sloneh
hat IS OF grayish color, his shoes
neatly polished and his white stand
ing collar sets of an attractive creyat.
He has in no degree the appearance Of
the ideal bandit. although his ewes are
still sharp. He does not weigh over
80 pounds. and Is ) feet 5 inches tail.
His nose is long and his lips thin. and
his features are so aftenuatea, his
temple and checks 80 sHnken, that he
might readily be taken for CON
suInptiye. He Il very unpFetentious
and shxns notoriety
In boarding the train 10 90 TO INDIE
pendence the other dav he attracted
much attention from the passengers
and depot loungers. TO whom he gave
no notice whatever. That's Frank
James, some one whispered. and the
crowd stared, open-moathed. As he
seated himself in the car there was a
look of deep disgust on his face. He
soon forgot his tormentors, however,
in conversation. There had been a
political convention in Kansas City
that day, in which he had taken much
interest. Frank is Democrat and
warm for Cleveland. He never gets
enthusiastic, but he is as near ii on
the subject Of Cleveland as be ever
gets on anything.
During the course of conversation
he began chewing gum and explained
that he had quit using tobacco. In
deed, Frank i now a model in resnect
to "gentlemanly habits" for he does
not drink, swear or gamble. lie is not
in favor OF prohibition, but personally
he has always been a temperance man,
notwithstanding the old stereotyped
reports that he was a drunkard As
an illustration Of his temperance prin-
ciples, Joseph Basbv. long a friend OF
Franks, tells this story:
at was just after his acquittal at
Gallatin, Mo-, said Mr.. Bagby. that
the United States authorities laid for
him TO take him to Alabama, to
answer to another charge OF robbery.
They expected to surprise him as he
stepped from the Gallatin train here
in Kansas City, but Frank was one
who didn't surprise much, and he
stepped oil the train Just as it had
crossed the Missouri bridge. as it was
small station in the eastern suburbs
where he boarded a train for his father
in-law's at Independence. When he
got there he telegraphed the authori-
ties that he would call on them in
the morning. When he went up the
next dav number OF Us were with
him to 90 on his bond, and alter that
was satisfactorily fixed we drove down
-. Eolaa.4 sAthle ftf h.sr
Frank three or four asked at once.
Il don't want anything he replied
What refuse to drink with us, your
best friends?' we cried. Yes he re-
turned. and though we insisted for
nearly halt an hour he would take
nothing but 4 cigar He said he never
drank and he WAS as firm as rock. y
Frank was very cautious in his ac-
tiuns in those days and is vet. for that
matter. About six months after he
became free man, and while he was
STAYING at Col Raistonis recovering
his health, a man OF the name of
Robert Zuei, who was an ex-Federai
soldier and an Ohio man, lately moved
to johnson county, Kan, come to In
dependence TO hire Frank TO kill man
for him. lie ran across Joseph Bagby,
lated that he had been swindlel By
one benjamin Reeder, and he wanted
the said Reeder ''put oat Of the way :"
Bagby saw some fun, and he began to
20 play him Xuel wanted to give
Frank $50 for the Job, hut finally
agreed 20 give 500, and Bagby went
out to Ralston's to bring Frank in 70
arrange the affair in detail. The ex-
No. -
oblige his friend and 10 enjoy the Joke
he hesitated about SEEING Zuel. bat
finally agreed. and the tWo men met
the Kansas man and arranged the bar
gain Later Zuel paid over the money
TO Bagby and some friends. whom the
later had let into the secret. Every
body had several drinks and then the
remaining amount was refunded, and
Zuel was instructed TO pun his
freight or he would he handel over
70 the grand jury
Frank i IN q clothing store at Dallas
lie said there were 10 ex-Confederate
soldiers Ia Dallas county, AM that nc
gets all their trade. The sales last year
Amounted altogether t. SiG00. Frank
receives oae-thiFd OF the profits
Mrs. Quantrii, mentioned IN the
Quantrir. the notorious guerilla. She
came To jackson county last May
from Canal Dover, o. May II, at BiGe
Springs. Ne. the ole lady held a re-
union of her son ; old command, and
nearly q score OF gTizzled old-timerS.
whose homes are scattered in three or
. four counties. sere present u recite
their adventures o{ bloody war times
The hest known vas W. II Gregg, who
was second in command 81 the guerii-
1 las 80 Quiutril Mss Q1intriil is a
vigorous woman 81 81, who has no
money. and i now being cared for By
her sou odd friends Mr.. Jesse
James live here in kaasas City, and
her son. Jesse, Jr. 3 employed in q
real estate Office Bob Ford, who hot
Jesse James. j. a professional gambler
and lives at waisenbarg. Col. accord
ing 70 reliable private information.
/ He dresses iashsoushlyI an,s j. said 70
be making money
- q =
LETTER FROM THIS GRAND Old MAN
OF The NORTH PACIFIC. ENMANOR
NEsLEE.
SEATTLE. sept. T., ISss,
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