The Ketchum keystone. [volume] (Ketchum, Idaho) 1885-1899, 1889-10-12
DEATH OF BOB YOUNGER.

"A dl8patCn from OLlllWateT, MAlu.,
gives the following graphic account
of the death of one Of the notorious
Younger brothers. Bob Younger is
dead. The famous Missouri bandit
who, for upward of a year has been
an inmate of the hospital ward in
the State prison under treatment
for consumption, drew his final
breath at 1O:3 o'clock tonight,
and his body, stripped of the black
and gray clothing worn by involun-
tary servants of the State, now lies
on a marble slab in the dead-house
attached to the prison.
At s o'clock tonight the convict,
realizing that the end was approach
ing, told his sister Retta, who came
from their old home in Missouri to
attend him, that he felt sure he
would not survive the night.
Miss Younger requested Warden
Randall to allow her brothers Cole
and Jim, to remain with the dying
man, instead of being locked in
their cells as usual. After consult
ing with the prison physician, who
gave as his opinion that Bob's life
was drawing to a close, Warden
Randall granted the request.
Surrounded by his faithful sister,
his two convict brothers, and e. few
hospital attendants, Bob gave in
structions as to where his remains
should be inferred, and also made
disposition of a few personal effects.
Then, with one hand clasped in that
of his sister and the other in that
of his two brothers, he bade them
good-by.
He had hardly ceased speaking
when the death rattle was heard.
The convict gave a slight gasp,
made a move to turn over on his
side and it was all over.
Cole and Jim Younger, one on
either side, and their sister, knelt
beside the cot on which the dead
man lay and moistened the sheet
which covered his body with their
tears. The attendants withdrew
and for an hour left them alone with
their dead.
1t was the first time during their
long Imprisonment of over thirteen
years that either Cole or Jim Young
er had shown any signs of emotion.
Shortly before midnight the pris-
on officers took charge of the body
which was removed to the dead
house. Tomorrow it will be ship
ped to Jackson county, Missouri,
the old home of the Youngers, and
there buried beside that of their
mother.
The crime for which the Youngers
were sentenced to imprisonment for
life was the wanton murder of Cash
ier Haywood Of the National Bank
of Northfeld, Minn., on September
Z, 1875. The three brothers-Cole,
Jim and Bob-at the head of the
band of outlaws, attacked the bank
at Mortified with the intention of
rifling the treasure box. Cashier
Haywood refused to surrender and
was shot down in cold blood. The
outlaws fed to the swamp of Made
liza, where they were surrounded by
Sheriff's posse numbering 300.
Three of the robbers were shot and
the three Youngers captured after q
desperate struggle, in which two of
the posse were killed. The Yeungers
were allowed to plead guilty and
were sentenced to imprisonment for
life. Recently a delegation of prom
inent Missourians interceded with
Governor Merriam to pardon Bob,
but the Executive refused to inter-
fere. Cole Younger is the librarian
of the State prison, Jim is post
master, and Bob, the baby Of the
family, was an assistant in the
library.