The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1899-01-19
JESSE JAMES. JR.


An Interesting Letter From Mrs, Simpson at
. Kansas oitEMo.
Kansas City, Mo.
Dear CoMET;-In my last letter I
promised to give your readers de-
scription of young Jesse James. the
alleged train robber,, who is the son of
Jesse James, deceased, the one time
terror, AS a'handit chief of all the wes-
tern country. Jesse James, Jr., is
soon to be tried in the criminal courts
here for the hold,up and robbery Of a
train near this place few months ago.
Not long since I was sitting on seat
enjoying the different sights to be seen
at the zoo, when my husband pointed
out two boys standing near us and said
the older looking one was Jesse James.
1 was filled with astonishment at his
presence; having read descriptions Of
him in different papers, was prepared
to find him young looking, but great
was my amazetnent!to see a mereslad,
as he appeared to me, just entering
upon young manhood, with a slim,
smooth face, scarcely looking toShe
seventeen years of age Chough It is
claimed he is past stwenty) )aslight Of
stature, with keen restless eyes, large
nose, and teeth wide apart in front. he
was certainly not prepossessing in APP
pearance, and yet as he stood talking
to his young friend, with all the free
dom anda a dandon, of a jolly school;
boy out for an evenings enjoyment.
felt spasm, of pity for him, whether
he be innocent or guilty, he has had
much to bear, born the SON of a,robber,
as notorious as his father Mas, and, it is
claimed, the only legacy the sonsre-
ceiyed, was the mantle of obliquyg and
romance that ever covers the name. 6f q
particularly daring, and brave man,
who is the chief of clan Of despera-
does. Rumor says young Jesse has
battled bravely against the cruel cir
cumstances of his birth, and has pro.
vided home, and Lying for his with
cred mother and sister ont of his earn.
ings at honest labor. Whether. the sud.
| den desire for more wealth took pos
session of his integrity and caused it to
succumb to. temptation, or whether he
had inherited the same longing for out
lawry that seemed to have possessed
his father which had lain dorment il
the sons soul like sleeping demon
all these years, is question Of interes
| in the minds of the people. E
scrutinized young James carefully
trying to discover some sign from hi
countenance, that he could be a daring
and reckless robber upon occasion a
he is charged with being, but I could
not see the slightest trace of the char
acterists, I should attribute to a maj
of that kind. His looks Of youth ant
affeminancy was burlesque upon the
mere term of "a robber bold" I fel
a decided feeling Of contempt, for th'
trainmen, who would permit themselye
to be robbed, by such boyish- -lookins
bandit, though he carried a who'll
arsenal buckled around him.
While I was thinking of these things
he nudged his companion and cried on
"Oh say" then burst into ga.
laugh as he pointed to an approaching
spectacle which proved to be
whole family, of husband and wife
with three or four little ones seated be
tween them taking ride upon tn
huge back of very large elephant.
roar Of laughter greeted this cavalcad
as it moved slowly along with the.littl
ones looking down at the spectator
with frightened, solemn looking faces
their sober, bullying eyes seeing moth
ing to arouse feeling of mirth in any
body's mind as they could understand
AS I heard the really mirthful laugh {
: young Jesse 1 could not but wonde
that he could be enjoying himself s
much, apparently indifferent and ur
conscious of the many eyes of tn
crowd gazing upon him, and .speculai
ing upon his guilt or innocence. H
looked around in his restless, ferre'
like way, once in awhile seeking, OF
something else to amuse him, with M
a trace of care upon his brow, seen
ingly utterly forgetful of the fact thu
only his friends mercy to him kept hi
from the horror and loneliness of spent
ing his time even at that very momeI
behind prison bars. The detective
claim they have strong chain OF ci
cumstantial evidence bound elosel
q about him, and some Of his closei
d friends are doubtless afraid he will |
1 convicted, but it is claimed he will G
free VIXEN his case is tried, and the
Z rumor says because of the noteriety I
I his parentage, his alleged crime, etc
he has been offered a good round su
to go upon the stage as soon as he
free of this business. A wise cou
may be able to show me soon the fail
cious reasoning I have indulged
I judging only from his physiognom
but should he indeed prove guilty,
shall never again be able to inve
/ 'rknights of the road" with the san
/ dagraa of nrowass and nhvsical snpe