Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1895-10-04
THE oUlcKNEss OF AN OUTLAW.


Frank James Display of Skill When He
Surrendered to Governor Crit.onden.
While Thomas y. Critleuden, consul
general to Mexico, was in thu city re-
Gently, some new details were related
Of the great event Of his term as govern
or. the death Of Jesse James, the outlaw,
and the disruption Of the gang. Finis
c. Farr, who was Governor Crittenden s
private. secretary and is now an attor-
ney in the city, was present when Frank
James surrendered, and it was in con-
nection with the surrender that one story
was told. Governor Crittenden has al
WAYS been very proud Of the fact th9t
he was the means Of Kidding the state Of
the James gang After be had arranged
for the surrender Of Frank he invited
several gentlemen to be present to wit
ness the scene.
Negotiations for the surrender Of the
outlaw had been made by Colonel John
Edwards, who was at that time editor
Of the Kansas City Times The guests
assembled at the appointed time in the
reception room Of the governors man
sion. Promptly at the hour designated
Colonel Edwards appeared via. Frank
James. The two walked arm in arm,
and Colonel Edwards advanced and in
troduced the governor to James. With
the guests standing about him, James
ACKNOWLEDGED the introduction and said
that he had come in to surrender and to
become once more a citizen who observed
the laws of the state In token Of his
surrender he unbuckled his belt, on
which swung two large reyolvers, and
laid the weapons on the table in front
Of Governor Crittenden, remarking that
as a citizen he would have no further
need Of them.
The surrender was acknowledged by
the governor in a few words pleasantly
spoken, and then the guests and the out
law were all introduced and seated.
Conversation did not proceed very brisk
", for cOnstraint was felt on both sides.
james was seated in front Of the door
and sat with his eyes at all times direct
ed toward it. Every noise in the hall
attracted his attention and caused him
TO watch the door more closely. He was
evidently uneasy without the pistols
that had so long been his constant COM
panions.
Finally, after some time had passed
in that manner, one Of the guests made
bold to say to the outlaw that for years
it had been common report that no man
in the country could draw a gun and
get ready for defense so quickly as
Frank James Then he asked James to
snow how quickly such work could be
done. Evidently the proposition pleased
James, for he smiled and said he would
do so if the gentlemen wished it.
"James sat about six feet from the
table, on which lay the weapons he had
put aside, " said Mr.. FAIR in telling the
story. "While all were watching his ac
tons he suddenly arose, sprang toward
the table, seized the belt and swung it
around his waist, as he brushed his long
coat aside, and in the shortest time i'm
aglnable he snapped the fastening, his
bands crossed on his body, and then
from the belt he brought forth two pis
soils and stood with them presented. All
snis was done in a second, it seemed to
Inc. was watching him as closely as
possible, and it surely did not seem to
he more than a second from the moment
he rose from his chair until he stood
with two pistols presented, ready for
war OF defense. 1t was so marvellous an
exhibition that the gentlemen present
were all astonished and congratulated
the man on his skill and dexterity.
1.-THE compliments appeared to please
him greatly, for he smiled as he heard !
them and bowed his Acknowledgements
to the men who were talking. He soon
changed the conversation to another sub
ject and the matter was not mentioned |
again. "
Another point brought out is that de-
spite the fact that Governor Crittenden |
arranged with the Ford boys to Stay /
Jesse James at his home in st. Joseph |
friendship has always existed between
Governor Crittenden and Frank James
After his acquittal Frank James pre-
scented Governor Crittenden with Jesse |
James favorite pistol, which he had just
laid aside when Bob Ford shot him in
the back. Governor Crittenden still has
the weapon and carries it with him in
his travels. He had it with him during
his visit here and showed it to many Of
his friends. 1t is the weapon that was
used when Billy Westfall, the Rock Is
land conductor, was shot and killed at
during train robbery. kan
sas City Letter in New York Sun.