Greenbrier independent. [volume] (Lewisburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1980, 1895-12-05

determined and discreet men.
Within sixty days after the issu-
ance of the proclamation Dick Lid
die began to make overtures for sur
render to Timberlake and Craig
through his sweetheart, Matte Col
Inns, who also had an interview with
Governor Crittendon. The result
was that Liddle surrendered to Sher.
if Timberlake on terms which re-
quired him to assist in the capture
of the rest of the gang.
Later, Bob Ford, who was living
in Ray county with his uncle, Cap
tain Ford, went to Sheriff Timber
lake and informed him he believed
Jesse James was hiding in North
west Missouri somewhere, but he
did not know where. He said his
brother, Charlie Ford, was with Jesse
James, and said Ford: Il believe
Jesse will be after me before long
to help him hold up something.'
Timberlake well knew that Bob
Ford had been with Jesse James on
more than one expedition, and for
that reason he placed great deal of
reliance OH what Ford said, espe-
cially as Ford seemed anxious to
earn the reward. He instructed
Ford to go with Jesse if he came af.
ter him. He was to keep Timber.
lake posted on everything that hap.
pened, and when he had Jesse James
located, he was to notify Timber
lake by telegram or mail, so that a
posse could be formed for his cap
ture.
Nothing was said about the killing
OF Jesse James, nor was it thought of.
On the night of April 1st, 1882,
Jesse James rode up to the house of
Captain Ford, in Ray county, and
called Bob outside. He told hin, 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 a moments no.
tIce, and kept a Hannibal engine i'm
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
berlake that he would be the first
man to enter house for jesse
But We'll never take Jesse alive;
he'll shoot with both hands as long
as he can stand up said Liddle to
the Sheriff. Governor Crittendon
was kept Informed of every move
made by Sheriff Timberlake.
Several days went by and no wor d
came from Ford, and then, on April
3rd, at about ten O'Clock. kilograms
were received by Sheriff Timberlake
at the executive mansion in Jeffer.
son City, announcing that Ford had
shot and killed Jesse James. [ was
alone in the governors Office when
the telegram came. 1t was addressed
to the governor, but he was in st.
Louis on business, and l opened it,
as l did all his letters and kilograms
In his absence. The telegram read:
Il have killed Jesse James,
st. Joseph. Bob Ford.'
l Immediately telegraphed the au-
thorities at st. Joseph for particulars
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. Gov
ernor Crittendon reached Jefferson
City from st Louis on the noon train
and | met him at the depot. When
he stepped off the train I shook
hands with him and said:
Governor, they've captured Jesse
James,
Have they indeed? Did Tim
berlake get him?'
mo. Bob and Charlie Ford killed
him this morning.
handed the Governor the tele-
grams, and after he had read them,
we walked to the executive mansion,
discussing as we went the probable
reason for the killing and how 1t
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 Governor
in my presence the story of the kill
ing. He related it In a dramatic
manner, with carefulness as to de-
tail which convinced US he was tell
ing Us the truth. This was his story
when Jesse came to me at my
uncle'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
his house in the suburbs of st. Jo-
seph he seemed suspicious of me for
some reason and never allowed me
He had me sleep in the same room
with him, and he even followed me
when would go out to the stable.
He seemed to pay no attention to
Charlie, but watched me so closely
that had no chance TO commune
cate with Timberlake. Each morn
ing before breakfast he would take
me down town with him to get the
mOrningipapers, which he read every
day. He would buy the st. Louis
and st. Joseph papers, and wanted
the Kansas City papers, and after
we had read them we would ex-
change. Timberlake had told me
that must keep the papers from
Jesse If l could, as the reporters
were on to the fact that something
was in the wind, and it might leak
out and be published that Dick Lid
die had surrendered, which fact, up
to that time, had been kept out Of
the papers.
Soon after my arrival in st. Jo-
seph, Jesse questioned me closely
ok IL l. n