Virginia citizen. (Irvington, Va.) 1891-1921, 1901-07-19
BROTHERS PARoLED.

1
The Minnesota Pardon Board ha
approved the parole of Coleman an
James Younger, who have been in tn
Saltwater Penitentiary % years fo
completely In a robbery and murde
during the raid of the James gan,
on the Nortbfield (Minn.) Bank.
Coleman, James and "Bob'
Younger were sent to the Stillwate
Peniten,iary in 1876 for the North
field (Minn-) Bank robbery and
murder committed during that raid
which was participated in by Jess
and Frank James, both of whom
however, escaped to Missouri. Bob
Younger died iu prison of consump
ton in 1889.
The Youngers were captured
through remaining behind to take
care of one of their partners who
was mortally wounded.
For six years attempts have beer
made during every session of thc
Legislature to secure the enactment
of law permitting the parole OF
life prisoners. Last winter bill
to that effect passed both houses.
The raid on the Mortified Bank
proved the Waterloo of the Young.
ers. 1t was at noon September =
1876, that Coleman, James and
Robert Younger, Frank and Jesse
James, "Clell' Miller, Charles Pitts
and William Chadwell drove into
the town and ordered everybody of
the streets. Three of the men ran
into the First National Bank and
Cashier Haywood closed the safe.
The watchers outside were being
fired on by residents who had re-
gained their nerve aud they shouted
to the Others to hurry. The men
inside ran out, after wounding two
clerks. Meanwhile Haywood was seen
to take something out of drawer
and supposing it to be a weapon
one of the bandits, fred killing the
cashier instantly. 1t has always
been alleged Jesse James did the
shooting. OF the robbers Caldwell
and Miller were killed.
The others escaped, but were cor
nered September IL. Coleman and
James Younger were wounded and
"Bob" stayed at their side. How
ever, all managed to escape until
two days later, when the three
Youngers surrendered, Pitts, another
of the gang. having been killed in
the fight.
The three brothers pleaded guilty
and were sentenced for life, there
being no capital punishment in
Minnesota.
The record of the Youngers in
prison has been good. Coleman
has been student of theology for
the past 10 years. "Jim" has been
the prison librarian. Coleman
CThomas Coleman) Younger is 81
years old and has a captivating man
ner. He has been wounded 20 times,
IL the result of the Northfield affair.
James is 81 years old. He is a
man of fine physique and attractive
manner. He has been wounded six
times. Four were received in the
Northfield affair. Neither ever mar
ried.
Briefly stated their life history
may be put thus:
Born in jackson county, Missouri.
Father, judge, legislator, wealthy
farmer. In the beginning of the
Civil War Kansas jayhaw kers raided
their farm and killed the stock.
Coleman, IL years old, embittered,
Joined Quantrell, who made him a
lieutenant.
After Quantrel's death Gen. K.
Kirby Smith sent Coleman to Louis
lana to command forces there: 1865,
commissioned by Confederate Gov.
ernment to raise a regiment in Cali
fornia- While so engaged Lee sur
rendered.
"Jim" joined Quantrell's flag after
Coleman, and he and Robert, who
was also Quantrell raider, remained
with Coleman to the end. That is,
until all were captured near North
field.
On the return of Coleman from
California he found a price had
been set upon his head. Then
ne. with his brothers and others
began a guerrilla warfare on the
border and system of looting
banks, railroad trains and stage
coaches, which has no parallel in
the history of any country. In
many instances their daring and
many of their acts distanced any
thing in the field of that fiction
which throws a glamour about the
lives of bandits.