The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-07-04

blast along the Missouri and Kansas line. In
1868 l went to Texas by way of Louisiana.
and from that time on l considered Texas
my home until 1 came 10 this prison, nearly
twenty-one years ago. While in Texas we
traded in horses and cattle and gathered
cattle for Col. Pas Taylor. Retta, jim and
John were with me.
In 1873 we were stopping at Monagua
Springs, Mo-, and were preparing to return
to Texas to re-eugage in the cattle business
when a train was robbed in Iowa. On the
day Of the robbery John and attended serv-
ice there and Jim and Bob went to Jackson
City, but came back to Monagua Springs
the next morning. When the papers came out
from st. Louis and Chicago they connected
the James and Younger boys with the rob-
berry and that was the first time our name
had ever been associated with that OF the
James boys. The newspapers connected US
with all bank robberies that had occurred
for years and detectives were stationed eV-
erywhere, so we were afraid TO return TO
Texas. We could stay in Missouri, for we
knew every one there, and could prove that
we had not been away from Monagua
Springs on that day. We stayed in Mis-
souri, all that summer, and friends ADVISED
me to keep quiet, and the legislature would
pass an amnesty law, covering all offenses
committed during the war, and L agreed to
stand trial for anything since that time. NO
one had teen permitted to stand trial there
for sbank robberies because OF mob law. II
any one was accused by detectives he would
be mobbed before given an opportunity to
defend himself. Well, as you know the
because Of Jesse James name, and 1t was
defeated. Now, my friend, l can truthfully
say, as hope never to get out OF this prison
if l don't, that 1 nor any of my brothers
were ever connected with bank robbery in
Missouri. If l had surrendered and gone to
Iowa they wouldnEt have let me live twenty
four hours.
MIXED THEM IN.
We had lived down everything from the
war and had hoped to return to Texas when
4lo tn occurred That brought
out every robbery in that part OF the coun-
try, and sensation mongers prepared highly
colored literature and associated us with ev-
erything that was bad, and as a result re-
ward was offered for capture.
In the winter Of IA there was train rob
berry at Gads Hill, Mo-, and Jim and John
went up to- Managua Springs. l remained in
Louisiana. Jim and John heard they were
wanted for the robbery, SO they went out to
meet the officers and encountered them near
old man Shutters place Both said good
John. The bullet passed through him, but
he pulled his gun and shot Hull and fell
low named Daniels Jim's horse SHE'D and he
fell to the ground John chased the third
officer then returned and fell dead Jim
didn't fire a shot. AS soon as Jim found that
John was dead he got on his horse and came
south to where we We're, at Bill Dickerson S
place in Carroll Parish La. Jim then went
to California, and Bob and I went to Florida.
We were hunted everywhere and found no
peace 1 can say this, that 1 never resisted
a civil authority until captured for the North
field robbery.
l have been accused of setting fourteen men
up in line and shooting them 4all with a
Springfield rifle, but I believe that such
thing never occurred. At least I had no init
nation Of, the report until after the Iowa
train robbery. l didn't do that kind of
work, but dunng the war there was no
Confederate but would say that I did my
duty, and no federal will say but that I
fought them hard
AS you know, my name has been associated
with that of the James boys. Frank James
and soldiered together, but Jesse and
never soldiered together. Jesse never had
a great deal of time for me. My intention
after the Mortified robbery was to
GO TO CUBA,
South America OF Australia to settle down.