The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-07-11

Bill Reynolds and N. P. Hayes, were
killed. In October the Lexington bank
was robbed, and in March, 1867, the
Savannah bank was looted.
Peyton Jones headed the Il men that
rode into Richmond, Mo, robbed the
bank of Hughes & Mason of $4,000 and
then attempted to release prisoners
confined in the jail because of southern
sentiments. In the fight Jailer Griffin
and his son were killed.
The James brothers had Joined the
gang, and in the raid on the Davies
County Savings bank, at Gallatfn. Jesse
killed Cashier Skeets. Before this the
bank at Russellvflle. KY, had been rob-
bed of $4,000
It was the strategic mind of Cole
Younger that planned these raids. 1t
was he who had the surrounding coun-
try studied carefully and planned the
escape. The gang went northward. On
July 3, 1871, seven men descended upon
Corydon, Ia, and robbed the bank of
ObocOck Bros. of $4,000. The robbers
were not in the town ten minutes all
told.
So the gang went flying about, rob-
bling bank after bank and then retreat
ing to the Ozark mountains in Mis-
charged against them 1t was suppos-
ed that it was the Younger brothers
and the James brothers who held up
the treasurer of the Kansas City fair
The band went into the train robbery
business on July q, 1872, when seven
men took $4,000 from a Rock Island
train near Council Bluffs. The robbery
Of the Hot Springs stage and the Iron
Mountain train followed.
AS nearly as can be learned but five
men met death in the raids up to 1874
The country rang with the daring
deeds of the band but the man who
planned it all was not widely known.
OF all great leaders of outlaws Cole
Younger is. perhaps. the only one who
and drink to Jesse James, but Cole
Younger stunned it. Robbery with
Cole Younger was a business
The train robberies caused the Pink
ertons to be set upon the trail of the
gang Captain Lun. a former police
officer in Chicago, James Wright and Il
former deputy sheriff. E. D. Daniels,
traced the Youngers to their retreat
near Osceola, Mo
They had no sooner penetrated a set
Element which the Youngers freouente.l
than they were stopped by Jim and
John Younger, who had never played a
very important part in the history Of
the robberies. The detectives We're halt
ed Wright rode away Daniels ana
Lul We're made to drop their belts and
pistols. Lull drew a pistol from his
pocket and shot Jim Younger T.41I1,s
horse ran away. Jim Younger Jumped
on his horse-rode after Lull and wound
ed him mortaIly. Then he returned and
killed Daniels.
1t was Bill Chadwen who suggested
the Mortified bank raid. He had
formerly lived in Minnesota He knew
that the First National bank in the
peaceful country town in southern
Minnesota was crowded with money.
as are all the banks in the wheat
growing country at that time of the
year. to pay for the crops
Cole Younger weighed the matter in
his calm. judicial mind and advised
against It. The others all favored it,
and the leader permitted himself to be
persuaded against his better Judgment
1t may be that Cole Younger had
made uD his mind to retire from the
road He had saved a large sum of
money from the robberies. In Mis-
souri, he had made himself resoectabIe.
He cared for his brothers and sisters,
seeing that they were properly edu-
Gated, and that they wanted for moth
ing Possibly the longing for respecta-
bility was strong within him He was
only 80 years old, and for fifteen years
he had lived among bloodshed and