The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1897-01-01
A MEMORY OF JsssEs JAMES
his Dramatic Interview with Dick Stapr
Across Missouri bay.

his Dramatic Interview With Dick Stnpf
Across IL Missouri bay.
The suicide of Tobe Stapp at Webb
City, Mo-, the other day recalls to
State Auditor Van B. Prathcr n rcc0l
lection Of the suicides brother, Il. h.
Stapp, notorious twenty years ago as
Dick Stapp. For Il number of years
Dick Stapp lived in the Short Greek
Lad mining regions, In Cherokee
County, which is the home of Mr.
prathcr. Stapp became notorious IL
connection with the Jesse James gang
ana livcI at CRANKY, Mo, where he
kept saloon. 1he James gang had
designed to raid the money vaults OF
The Cranky Mining Company, and
they took Stapp into the enterprise.
At the same time they planned the
Ottorville train robbery. Stapp. who
was II great coward, weakened ut the
last mouent and told the officers OF
the plot.
Afterwards, at the trial of the only
one of the Ottcrviile robbers who wiia
arrested, Stapp was the principal wit
ness for the State, and the man was
sent to the pcnltcntiary. Stapp was
compelled to leave Granny by fear Of
assassination at the hands of his for
mcr confedcratcs, and went to Shorl
Gre. k, where he opened n slloon at
Ghlcna. Here one night, when hc was
on watch alone, II man wearing blue
goggles and slOuch hat we'll down
over his face appeared ana called for
a drink. 1t was given to him, and as
he paid for it he said: "Your name IL
Dick Stapp. Do you know who l am|
u believe 1 do" r,piicd Stupp, at tho
same time reaching for his pistol be
h.ni the bar. IL am quicker than you
are, rs you ought to know" exclaimed
the stranger, producing ~ Colt from
his ovcrcoat pocket "Isut l have not
come 10 shoot This l. II mission 0f
peace. l want you to be out OF the
way when we give ourselves up TO
the authorities. III you are not some
Of us will put You out Of the way
"All right" said Stapp. With that the
stranger walked out OF the house. 1t
WAS Jesse James.
Soon after that Stapp went ont Of
the saloon business ana engaged N
mining, hut he was conSumptNr
and Il short time before Frank James
surrendered he went to California.
where he died, thus drmiving the
State of Missouri of the only wilnCSs
NitV Nb'Nu N''i
the QtltrYillc affair II orreSpI Iudri'c'
to the KaDsas City Times
SMS Well or ssrpcntE."
Tnrr" r. n horseshoe shaped ,ooin
ain - In Manitoba which htcrll,
.wa;ns with snakes twice every ywIr
n ~" early fa'l Ihcw ,'lippIy cus;o
nrrS glII"r hnrc from nil directions
mostly from NE prairie county to tht
south. In one side of the mountain
here Is II circular hole, about Gftccn
irrt deep, and as smooth rs If II had
uccn fashioned with well augrr
where tens OF thousands Of reptile
Snrhcr to spend The cold winter
months Persons who have tried 10
Nplurc this. immense snake den dur
ng the summer. when the regular ten
ants were absent, say that dozens Of
MbtcITan'nn passages lead ont under
he moNntalnS In all directions from
he bottom OF the we'll, Capt SllvciS.
inyal Engineers, estimates that he has
,sa as many as 300OC0 snakes Of all
ives knattcj tcscihoy' and plcL up IN
. i,nii torpid HtatV In this wei! OF ser
.'"niN," as II IN called In 'Ns Ncnfb
R,.t. 81. Louis Republic