The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-04-01
JESSE JAMES SON.

There was q curious little page In
the history of Jesse James, or rather
that of his family" said Representa-
tive Hall. of Missouri. when the for
mer was recently in this city, which
was never written. Governor Critten-
den, now consul general to Mexico, was
chief executive of Missouri at the time
the redoubtable Jesse James was killed.
Bob Ford, who shot Jesse and after
ward plead guilty to a charge OF mur-
der In the first degree and was sem
fenced to be hanged by the st. Joe
court, was Immediately pardoned by
Governor Crittenden. This. of course,
was by agreement made long before to
cover just such contingency and ex-
cited neither surprise nor comment at
the time. Why did Ford plead guilty?
Because he wanted a record of once In
jeopardy as a bar to any future indict-
ments which might have been pre-
ferred. after Crittenden had ceased to
be governor, and when chief execu-
tive 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 son about 1S 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 u well dressed
handsome. intelligent boy put In an ap-
pearance. There had been y score of
responses. hat Governor Crttenden
was much attracted to this particular
boy. After talking with him bit
Governor Crittenden decided to en-
ploy him. The boy said he lived on
Seventeenth street in Kansas City with
his mother. who was u widow.
What is your name" asked Gov
ernor Crittenden.
James. replied the boy.
AT that point somebody came In to
distract Crittenden's attention. and he
simply adopted the boy into his busi-
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
ernor Crittenden had occasion to draw
| a check for his office boys salary.
what did you say your last name
was?' asked Governor Crittenden, as
he dipped his pen in the ink bottle.
James replied the boy.
"Is that your last name?' inquired
Crittenden.
Yes
"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 aston
ished would be q mild way to tell 1t.
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 1t. The
whole thing was one of those accidents
which now and then astonish men. 1t
did not 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 TAX
| ing off the energy of Crittenden had
brought about No, Crittenden didn't
keep the boy, but he did what was bet
| ter still. He hunted him up a situa-
| tion where he got a better chance to
expand and received twice as much
| salary"