The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1895-10-17
JESSE JAMES, SON.
Unknown to Gov. Crittenden He Was
Given Employment.

Unknown to Gov. Crittenden He Was
Given Employment.
There was a curious little page in
the history of Jesse James, or rather
that of his family" said Representa-
tive Hall, of Missouri, recently,
(which was never written. Gov. Crit
tenden, now consul general to Mex
leo, was, as you recollect, the chief ex-
ecutive of Missouri at the time the re-
doubtable Jesse James was killed.
Bob Ford, who shot Jesse and after
ward pleaded guilty to a charge of
murder in the first degree, and was
sentenced to be hanged by the st. Joe
court, was Immediately pardoned by
Gov. Crittenden.
This, of course, was an agreement
made long before to cover just such a
contingency, and excited neither sur
prise nor comment at the time. Why
did Ford plead guilty? Because he
wanted record of once in jeopardy
as a bar to any future Indictment
which might have been preferred after
| Crittenden had ceased to be governor,
and when a chief executive might not
have been so prompt with his pardon
But about the curious page in the
| James history to which l referred.
| Jesse James had a son about thirteen
years old. After Crittenden had ceased
to be governor, he opened law offices
in Kansas city. After organizing for
business he needed an Office boy, and
put an advertisement in one of the
local papers. In response we'll
dressed, handsome, very intelligent
boy put in an appearance. There had
been a score of responses, but Gov.
Crittenden was very much attracted to
this particular boy-he seemed SO
quick and bright and frank. After
talking with him a bit, Gov. Critten-
den decided to employ him. The boy
said he lived on Seventeenth street in
Kansas City with his mother, who was
a widow.
"'What is your name?' said Gov
Crittenden.
"'James, replied the boy.
''At this point somebody came in to
distract Crittenden's attention, and he
simply adopted the boy into his bust
ness without further inquiry. The boy
turned out to be very energetic and
valuable youth, and the governor was
delighted with his choice. He sup
posed all the time that the name
James given him by the boy was his
first name. At the end OF week Gov.
Crittenden had occasion to draw q
check for his Office boys salary.
"'What did you say your name was?
asked Gov. Crittenden, as he dipped his
pen in the ink bottle.
flames, replied the boy.
"'Is that your last name?' inquired
Crittenden.
Yes
"'Well, what is your first name,
them asked the governor. somewha.
surprised.
jesse answered the boy. MY
name is Jesse James,
ITO say that Crittenden was aston
ished would be mild way to tell it.
He began an inquiry into his Office
boys antecedents, which developed the
tact that he was the oldest son Of the
dead outlaw, and bore his fathers
name. No, there was no plot in it
The whole thing was one of those acct
dents which now and then astonisf
men. 1t did seem strange that the
Office boy whom Crittenden selected
,, as it were, in the dark, should be tn.
son of that celebrated robber, whose
bloody taking off the energy of Crit
tenden had brought about. No, Crit
tenden didn't keep the boy, but he die
, what was better still He hunted hin
up situation where he got better
; chance to expand and received twice a,
much salary. "-Washington Star.