The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-07-07
FAVORED BY O'BRIEN
He VIII Recommend the Pardon of
the YOunEers

ST. LOUIS, July 6.-EX-State SEN
ator James S. O'Brien, the distinguish
ed Minnesota statesman and turfman,
was called to his home at Saltwater,
Mimi, Saturday night. The senator
is the chairman of the state prison
board of his state, and as such has
supervision of the state penitentiary
at Saltwater. The two Younger. boys,
Cole and Jim, have been confined there
for the last twenty years The Young
ers were given life sentences for their
connection with the celebrated North
field bank robbery, in which Cashier
Haywood was killed. One of the
Youngers, Bob, died in prison of con-
sumption,
The remaining two brothers have
made excellent records as prisoners
and the movement started some years
ago to secure their pardon seems to be
on the verge of success Senator
O'Brien is authority for the statement
that the prison board will recommend
to the pardon board that the Youngers
be released. The pardon board is COM
posed of three members. Two of them
have gone on record as being favor
able to the Youngers. The third has
not as yet expressed an opinion rela-
tive to the matter.
The friends of the Younger boys,
who have been working for their re-
lease. are DESTROYS of having the unan-
imous consent of the pardon board,
and every effort will be made to secure
a favorable vote from the trio. Sem
ator O'Brien has known Frank James
for many years, having met him off
and on through the Western racing
circuit Frank and his brother, Jesse,
were with the Younger boys at the
time of the Mortified bank robbery.
An army of a thousand Minnesota
farmers chased the bandits after the
raid and the YounSers were only
caught after the three brothers were
nearly shot to pieces.
Senator O'Brien, in his capacity as a
member of the prison board, came in
contact with the Youngers frequently.
He was favorably struck with their
conduct from the first. They never
gave the prison officials any trouble,
and their good behavior could not help
but make friends for them. me reel
ing against them in the state of Min
nesota, which was very strong at one
time, has died cut completely ana ut
tie or no opposition is expected Wheh
the state pardon board takes up the
request Of their friends for their par
don. In view of the fact that the
prison board will recommend that the
brothers be turned loose, 1t IS general
" believed that the pardon board VIII
release them.
TIE Youngers are native MissousTans
and are expecter to spend the remain
der of their days with friends IN the
western part of this state. Cole
Younger was one of the most daring
members of the celebrated Quantrell
band of guerrillas during the civil war.
He and his brothers have always ue-
MED having had hand in the klil-ls
of Cashier Haywood. At the time 81
ror1I1
them was exceedingly Bitter and the
brothers were advised to plead guilty
and escape with life sentences IN the
penitentiary.
The general opinion is that all three
of them would have been hangeo IL
they had been tried. AT the tne
there was a law in force in Minnesota
providing for the life imprlsonm1Ve men OF
murderers who pleaded guilty. trainer
John Burns, who handles senator
O'Brien's stable at the fair grounds
is a Minnesota man and was at home
at the time if the NOrthfield bank
robbery. He is thof6ugfily familiar
with the affair." fsftltG.
although an army o. "a thousand
chased the bandits" SAID Jack, yester-
day, seven men effectedIithe capture
Of the Youngers, They were corTalled
at Sylvan lake, and only gave up
when covered with Winchesters. The
seven that effected the:f capture al
died with their boots on, having drifted
west after the Youngers were sent 20
prison.
"The Youngers, I understand, al
ways claimed that the Nor,ht affair
was the first raid they had ever par
ticipated in. l have also been told that
it was the first time Clell Miller and
Tom Caldwell took a hand at the
game. One thing is certain, and that
is it was their last effort in this line
as both were killed in the chase from
the bank.
II knew Clell Miller and shot against
him in a trap tournament shortly be-
fore the raid He had a keen eye and
was a dead sure shot. They tell me
that Charlie Pitts was one of the most
desperate members of the gang. He
was with the Youngers at the time
they were captured and died with his
boots on, bfore the brothers surren-
dered
when the Youngers were brought
back to Mortified each one of them
carried a bullet with him. Cole,
think, was shot in the eye. 1t was
thought for some time that he would
lose his sight, but the prison physi-
clans finally saved it. Jim Younger
had been shot through the cheek,
which was torn through, ana Fob car