Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1897-07-05

until they were driven to life Of shame
and crime
The pardon of the Youngers, as inti-
mated. would be in line with equalizing
wealth. OF course, Il viii be understood
that il they are let out they must not rob
o. murder, the poor. unless forced to do so.
They must confne theiE, efforts TO- pluto
Gratis, rich people andaeorporatlons and in
doing so they must never kill men and
women OF average circun1st tarces. In this
way il is represepted that the 1oungers
can be in line IN the great work of regu-
lating and equalizipg things and can be-
come Of great value iT fBture' aniPaignS
Good Behavior ROnd 0Gered,
Many petitions accompany the applica-
tion for pardon signed hy hundreds OF the
leading citizens of Missouri and other
Southern states, the names including Unit
ed States senators. all the living ex-Gov-
ernors of Missouri, judges of the sup-eme
and other courts. members OF the state leg
islature attorneys, doctors, and in fact,
all classes Among the number are many
relatives and friends of the Youngers. who
are willing to put up bond In any amount
for the future good behavior OF the boys
II permitted TO do so, or required TO 90 so
by the state.
only hope now is that they will soon be
permitted 10 breathe the air of freedom,
and will be lie to return to their boydood
homes where circumstances occurred
which subsequently, drove them to a life
of crime. Their conduct in prison has
been such that Warden Wolfer is i'm
pressed with the belief that something
should be done for them and he will leave
no stone nnturned 70 assist them. He
is ably backed by the board Of prison man.
ayers and by hundreds of citizens of Still
water, who have known the boys for many
years and have been impressed with their
prison record.
pardon are a number OF papers, bearing
upon their lives and among them is the
following history of the Northfield raid.
prepared by Coleman Younger at the sug
gestion of Warden wolfer. 1t is the only
article OF the kind bearing on the North
field robbery that has emanated from any
Of the principals. Cole Younger's lips have
been sealed on this subject from the-daS
Of his arrest until now He breaks the
silence of twenty years 70 give for the first
time his own version OF the famous raid
and to tell what part he and his two BROTH
ers took in It. The statement is as follows:
Cole Younger's story.
Hon. Henry Wolfer. Warden State Pris-
on. saltwater, Mimi: Sir.-FOrs the first
time will now write out and give the facts
Of the raid made on Mortified. September
z 1875. We left Mankato September 2 for
Northheld. We had been informed that ex-
Governor Ames. of Mississippi. and General
Benjamin Butler. of Massachusetts had
deposited 5000 in the. national bank of
that place, and IL was the above informa-
ton that caused US to select the bank of
NorthneId. ] have seen g. stated several
times in the newspapers that We were
frightened away from AidUkAtO OWING to
the recognition OF one of. The members OF
our party, but such was not the ease. for.
IL anyone thought they recognized any Or
us al that time we knew nothing OF It, That
we talked about the banks I'm. thatsparf Of
the state is true. but We came TO thercon-
Clusion that they had-@AsuSh to do to
care for the farmers who -hsd already sui
fered too much from grasshoppers- 10 he
troubled by us. therefore we went 90 North
field in expectations of getting the $4,000
belonging to Ex-Governor Ames and Gen
eral Butler.
In going to our destination We went by
different routes. -Four. including Bob
Younger went the southern way; Jim
Younger. myself and the other two by the
northern route. on the 9Th Of September
We stayed at Janesville. and on the fol-
lowing morning We went to Mortified
where We met the other half OF our party.
We got our dinner in different places
some including myself, al a restaurant
on the west side Of the river. Early in
the afternoon we rode back on the James
Vile road two or three miles to consult
and arrange our plans. We agreed by
majority vote TO rob the bank. our plans
ms aRreed on by all the party were TO get
into the bank and make our retreat before
the alarm was given. II possible but IL we
failed end an alarm was given. what shoot
ing was 10 be done should be for the pur-
pose Of frightening the people from the
Streets. and in no case was there TO be an
attempt TO kill.
Plan for the Robbery.
In order to carry cut the above plans