Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-07-27
JESSE JAMES son.
Unknown to Gov. Crfttenden, He Was
Given EmDlOyment.


Given Employment.
There was curious little page in the
history of Jesse James, or rather that of
his family" said Representative Hall of
Missouri to Star writer when the former
was recently in the city, (which was never
written. Governor Crittenden, now consul
general to Mexico. was, as you recollect,
the chief executive of Missouri at the time
the redoubtable Jesse James was killed.
Bob Ford, who shot Jesse and afterward
plead guilty to a charge of murder in the
first degree, and was sentenced to be hung
by the ST. Joe court. was Immediately
pardoned by Governor Crittenden.
This. OF course, was by agreement made
long before to cover just such a contin-
gency, and excited neither surprise nor
comment at the time. Why did Ford plead
guilty? Because he wanted record of
once in Jeopardy as bar to any future in
dictment which might have been pre-
ferred after Crittenden had ceased to be
governor, and when chief executive
might not have been SO prompt with his
pardon.
But about the curious page in the james
history to which I referred. Jesse James
had soa ekout thirteen years old. After
Crittenden lad ceased TO be governor he
opened law .ff1ces in Kansas City. After
n';;aE:Zirr for business be needed an Office
bay. mud put an advertisement in o.e CT
the local papers, In response well-dress-
ed, handsome, very intelligent boy put in
an appearance. There had been a score of
responses. but Governor Csittenden was
very much attracted to this particular
boy, he seemed quick and bright and
frank. After talking with him bit Gov
ernor Crittenden decided to employ him.
The boy said he lived on 18th street in
Kansas City with his mother. who was a
widow
What is your Nance said Governor
Crittenden.
James replied the boy.
"At this point somebody came in to dis
tract Crittenden's attention, and he simply
adopted the boy into his business without
further inquiry. The boy turned out to
be very energetic and valuable youth,
and the governor was delighted with his
choice. He supposed all the time that the
his first name. At the end of a week Gov
ernor Crittenden had occasion to draw a
check for his office boys salary.
What did you say your last name was?
his pen in the ink bottle.
James, replied the boy.
Is that your last name?' inquired Crit
tenden.
"'Well, what is your first name them
asked the executive, somewhat surprised.
Jesse answered the boy. My name is
Jesse James
ITO say that Crittenden was astonished
would be mild way to tell it. He began
an inquiry into his office boys antecedents
which developed the fact 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
accidents which now and then astonish
men. 1t did seem strange that the Office
boy whom Crittenden selected, as it were,
in the dark, should be the son of that
celebrated robber whose bloody taking off
the energy of Crittenden had brought
about No, Crittenden didn't keep the
boy. but he did what was better still. He
hunted MIN up a situation where he got
better chance to expand and received
twice as much salary"