The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1889-10-12
STORIES OF THE yoUNeERs.
Cole Was Active in Church Work Be-
fore he Became q Highwaymen.

From the Kansas City Times.
Bob Younger's death in the Minnesota
penitentiary brings back a flood of reminis-
cences TO people who have lived in jackson
county ten years or more.
During the earlier years of their opera
lions Cole Younger was Lying as peaceful
farmer at Lees Summit He was quite
active In church work, especially in what is
known as revival services. When it was
rumored at one time that certain arrests
would be made on account of crimes com
mitted during the war Cole Younger
moved to Texas, taking young Bob with
. nirn r Il, mere ne also engaged In the
wroK or the church, and among other offices
held that Of Sunday school superintendent.
1t is not definitely known just what infiu-
ences were brought to bear on Bob during
these years, but 1t Is likely he soon learned
his brothers true character, as Cole is
known to have been an inveterate gambler
among other things, notwithstanding his
relgions pretentAons, and it is generally be-
heved that he trained his brothers and
others for the life he was leading himself.
These brothers at various times showed a
most reckless regard for their safety.
Some or their exploits vera more humorous
than criminal, and many officers have been
lessened In their own and others estimation
by the clever tricks played upon them by
these accomplished highwaymen. At one
time the three brothers came to Kansas
City, accompanied by several members of
their gang, and while they were indoors on
one OF the lower streets of the city their
horses broke loose and strayed away. They
coolly went to the police headquarters and
secured the assistance of the officers there to
lind their property. 1t was not known until
after they had rie.ien away from the city
that they were the long wanted Younger
hOVS lS 81 leo
the best professional jokes on the officers
who thus entertained the robbers una
wares
Most OF the new recruits among the rob-
bers from time to time were very Young
men, The principal ones were the Tomp-
kins and the Media Iiel boys. The younger
OF the McDaniels was killed by his pur-
suers after the Huntington robbery. The
other brother was in jail accused of con-
splracy IN the Muncie robbery. While
awaiting trial he br Ike Jail and was shot in
the leg by the pursuing officers. He
eluded them, however, and hid in a corn
field near Lawrence. There he remained
until driven by thirst aud hunger to take
desperate chances. EARLY one morning he
dragged himself toward a farm house to
secure food, and there an old German farmer
shot him down like a dog. Dick Burns.
one OF the gang, was found in a haystack
near Independence with his head chopped
OFF. Payne Jones was killed at Independ-
ence by Jim Grow Childs Oh Shepard was
killed by posse that undertook to arrest
him after the Russellville robbery. The
grave OF John Younger may yet be seen by
the roadside near a place called Chalk
Level, IN st. Clair county, where he was
snot by Chicago detective.
The grim humor of tire outlaws is hest
illustrated by an incident of their capture
OF sheriff and his posse, sent out from
Appleton City to place called Monegaw
Springs In search of the Younger brothers.
The officers were completely surprised by
tbs robbers and easily captured. The man
who carried the warrant for the arrest was
made TO eat it, it is said, but another story
is that, alarmed on account of his possess
sion OF the paper, fearing instant death at
the hands Of the outlaws vine it should be
discovered, he ate the document to save
himself. The captives were taken to None
CAV and confined in the garrett of the hotel
while dinner was being prepared. When
their dinner was ready they were marched
down and ordered to eat their last meal
The men stood around them with dra yn
revolvers and commanded them to eat. as
they did not want to kill hungryaeaptives.
They were compelled to eat enough for four
ordinary meals, the captors meanwhile dis
cusSlng the CHASTITY processes of their exc
cutlon. OiLner over they were marched
into the yard and Cole Younger mounted
stump, which still stands on the hotel
premises at Monegaw Springs, and began an
address to the captives. He told them that
they had changed their minds and con-
cluded to let them live. Then he proceeded
to give rhem a general lecture on the dan
ger OF, and the proper use of, firearms
saying that they should not be handled OK
cept by those who thoroughly understood
them and were trained in using Them. He
said they would return their horses to them
to ride back to Appleton City, but that
their arms would be sent later. In this last
promise, as well as in the first, he kept his
word
1t is traditional that two propositions were
made by the Younger brothers to give
themselves up on the condition that the
governor Of the state would guarantee
them fair treatment, but that the governor
in ca b case refused. This Is one of the
claims of the fir lends of the brothers Thev
claim that they were thus compelled when
once fugitlves to fly from place to place and
to make their living in an unlawful way or
give up to the mercies of a prejudiced and
much imbittered people. Their nome after
the war was desolate aud their mother re-
duced to poverty. After that they as a
family had no abiding place.
Malaria