West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1895-11-14


Jesse James, and said Ford Il
believe Jesse will be after me be.
fore long to help him hold up
something
"TImberlake we'll knew that Bob
Ford had been with Jesse James on
more than one expedition, aud for
.hat reason he placed great deal
of reliance on what Ford said,
especially as Ford seemed anxious
TO earn the reward. lie instructed
Ford TO go with Jesse If lie came
after him. He was to keep Tim
berlake posted on everything that
happened, and when he had Jesse
James located, he was to notify
Timberlake by telegram or mail,
so that posse could be formed for
his capture.
Nothing was said about the
killing of Jesse James, nor was it
thought of
"On the night of April L, 1882,
Jesse James rode up to the house Of
Captain Ford, in Ray county, aud
called Bob outside. He told him
he had work for him to do, and the
two rode away together. The next
day Captain Ford notified Sheriff
Tim berlake that Bob had gone to st.
Joseph with Jesse James, and the
sheriff, acting on this information,
notified the members of his posse
TO be ready to go at moments
notice, aud kept Hannibal engine
in the round house with steam up
day and night TO carry the posse to
st. Joseph. Dick Liddle was TO
head the posse, and he assured
Sheriff Tim mberlake that he would
be the first man TO enter q house
for Jesse. But wen never take
Jesse alive; he'll shoot with both
hands as long as he can stand up
said Liddle to the sheriff. Gov
ernor Crittenden was kept informed
of every moYe made by Sheriff
Timberlake.
Several days went by and no
word came from Ford, and then, on
April 3, at about 10 o'clock, tele.
grams were received by Sheriff TIM
berlake at the executive mansion IN
Jefferson City, amounting that
Ford had shot and killed Jesse
James. / was alone in the gov.
ernor's Office when the telegram
came. 1t was addressed TO the
governor, but he was in st. Louis
on business, and i opened it, as
did all his letters and telegrams in
his absence. The telegram read
"'I have killed Jesse James
cost. Joseph. Bon FORD.
81 Immediately telegraphed the
authorities at ST. Joseph for par
ticulars, and in reply was informed
that Jesse James had been shot and
killed by Bob and Charlie Ford,
who had been arrested and were in
Jail. Governor Crittenden reached
Jefferson City from st. Louis on
the noon train, and | met him at
the depot. When he stepped of
the train shook hands with him
and said
'GoYernor, they've captured
Jesse James
Have they. indeed !? Did Tim
berlake get him p
"'No, Bob and Charlie Ford
killed him this morning.
81 handed the governor the teIe-
grams, and after he had read them,
we walked together to the executive
mansion, discussing as we went the
probable reason for the killing and
how it was done. The governor
said over and over again that he
regretted they did not capture him
alive.
"Later on, after Bob Ford had
pleaded guilty to murder and had
been pardoned, he told the gov
ernor in my presence the story Of
the killing. He related it in dra-
matte manner, with carefulness
as to detail which convinced ns he
was telling the truth. This was
his story
(" When Jesse came to me at my
unole's that night he told me that
my brother Charlie was with him
and that they had planned to rob
the Platte City bank. 1t would
take three men TO do the job, and
he needed my help. After we got
to bis house in the suburbs of St.
Joseph he seemed suspicious OF me
for some reason and meyer allowed
me out Of his sight for even q mo-
ment. lie had me sleep in the
same room with him, and he even
followed me when / would 90 out
TO the stable. lie seemed 10 pay
no attention to Charlie, but watched
me so closely that 1 had no chance
to communicate with Timberlake.
Each morning before breakfast he
would take me down town with him
to get the morning papers, which
he read every day. lie would bus
the st. Joseph and st. Louis papers,
aud / wanted the Kansas City pa.
pers, and after We had read them
we would exchange. Timberlakc
had told mo that | must keep tho
papers from jesse II I could, as the
reporters wore onto the fact that