The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1901-07-13
pAROLED AIT LAST
AFTER YEARS OF JsIPRIsoNMEyp
YOUNGERS WILL NE FREE.

Story Of the Mortified Raid ~ Told
BY Cole Younger In .@27, when
After Twenty Years Of Prison Life
He Broke the silence % warden
Version. '
The parole Of the Younger Brothers
was received with a degree Of satisfac-
tion throughout the northern part Of
the state. While there are no circum-
stances to excuse them for the crime
for which they were convicted, yet they
have suffered severe punishment, and
society will not suffer for their release.
The story Of the Younger raid on the
Northfield bank, in September, 1876, il
we'll known by almost every citizen in
the state. But few, however, have ever
heard Of the Younger's version Of It.
In 1897, latter twenty-one years of sill
ence, Cole Younger, in letter to the
warden Of the prison. told the full story
of the raid as follows: fs;~ rs
For the first time will now write out
and give the full facts Of the raid made
on Northf1eld, September Z, 1876. We
left Mankato September 2. for North-
field. We had been informed that ex.
Governor Anpes Of Mississippi and Gen.
Benjamin Butler Of Massachusetts, had
deposited $4,000 in the national bank
of that place, and it was the above in
formation that caused us to select the
kAaN aNH1H a~O1 r.
stated several times in the newspapers
that we were frightened away from
Mankato owing to the recognition Of
one of the members of our party, but
such was not the case, for If any one
thought they recognized any of Us 1T
that time we knew no.ning of it.
That we talked about the banks in that
part Of the state is true, but we came
to the conclusion that they had enough
to do to care for the farmers who had
already suffered too much from grass
hoppers to be troubled by us. therefore
we went to Northfield in expectation Of
getting the $4,000 belonging to ex-Gov-
ernor Ames and Gen. 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 GAINESVILLE, and
on the following morning we went to
Northfield where we met the other half
OF our party. We got dinner at differ,
sent pisces. isome inclu dinS naslsie q, 6.
] lat e ss.sst 90 y.
D river. 81 safIy III lse VI h. - r. j
back on the Janesv svilie road two otss
three miles to consult and arrange our
plank We agreed by majority vote to
rob the bank. Our plans as agreed on
by ALI the party. were to- get into the
bank and make our retreat before the
alarm was given, IL possible, but II We
failed and an alarm was given what
shooting was to be Gone should be for
the purpose Of frightening the people
from the streets, and in no case was
there to be an attempt TO kill. In order
to carry out the above plans the follow
ing agreement was made: Three were
to ride ahead and enter the bank as
soon as Clell Miller and myself had
crossed thu bridge leading into tha
square, provided too great a crowd was
not on the street. One-fourth Of q
mile behind the first three were Clell
Miller and myself who were to take our
position directly in front Of the bank In
order to call the three in the bank out
in case the alarm was given
Another quarter Of a mile behind rs
were the remaining three including Jim
Younger, who were to take up their
station near the bridge. In case no
alarm was given when the three mem
men in the bank came out, the men at
the bridge were to. mount their horses
and we were all to retreat on the
GAINESVILLE road, but, If the alarm was
given I was to signal those at the
bridge and they were to give the rebel
yell and fire their pistols in the air to
scare the people of the street. It was
understood that I was to remain in
front Of the bank during our stay In
town, so that in case the citizens began
to get together and arm themselves. I
was to call the men out Of the bank
and we were to Immediately retfeat, for
there was at no time any intention Of
making a fight Of it.
The first part Of our plan was carried
out up to going into the bank, but It
was at this point that the first mistake
was made, for as said above, II TOD
many people were on the street the at
tempt was not to be made and the
three men were to ride straight through
the town on the Dundas road. Whe.
Miller and myself crossed over the
bridge saw q crowd of citizens about
the corner, also our boys sitting there
on some boxes. remarked to Miller
about the crowd and said: Surely
the boys will not 90 into the bank with
so many people shout. wonder why
they did not ride on through town.
We were half way across the square
when we saw the three men arise and
walk up the sidewalk towards the bank.
Miller said: 'They .are going In"
and 80 Isreplied. II they do the alarm
will be given as sure as there is q hell.
30 you, had better take that pipe out Of
your mouth" The latter part OF my
remark was called out because Miller
was 80 sure that there could be Nd
trouble that he had lit his pipe just
before we crossed the bridge. saying 20
a,naSa 80 oxa 49,