Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1901-08-08
BILITIFS

first Of these notable crimes was the rob-
tery Of the bank at Liberty. Mo, wncre
S72 90 was taken. J he complete success
Of this exploit and the ease with which it
was accomplished soon led TO others
Banks were robbed within the next few
months at Lexington, Savannah. Rich
mond Russellvillc and Gallatiu Mo. and
in each case II considerable booty was ob-
tanned. Tion, broadening the score Of
thor operations the outlaws proceeded to
rob banks in Cofydcn. Ia: Columbia. Ky.
Ste. Genevievc, Mo. and other Places
Some of these crimes may have boon cont
mittcd by imitatorS, but at that time such
was the terror inspired by the uun'a of
James and Younger that every undertake
Ing Of this kind was laid at their door.
INVENTED TRAIN ROBBERY.
Train robbery was a new departure in
the history Of crime. the first enterprise Of
the kind being managed by the James and
Younger party on the Chicago Rock Is
land and Pacific Railroad, near Council
Bluffs. The train was wrecked. the ex-
press car and the passengers were robbed.
but less than 5000 was secured hy tho
bandits. instead Of the Sc 900 they had
expected. Their Information had been mis-
leading. the train they had wrecked was
not the treasure train. which, however
with $4,000 in gold. passed over the road
the following day 4 hot pursuit was at
was followed south to a point where they
crossed the Missouri river by swimming
but after that the band seems to have sep
grated and none were overtaken. Tho roo
berry occurred on July q, 1873. and made n
profound sensation throughout the ot.tIre
country. Next came the Hot Springs
stage robbery. the Ciads Hill robbery aud
the Missouri Pacific train robbery al otter
Fridge, July Z 1916 in all of which tho
foungers are supposed to have participant
ed.
TIE FAMOUS NORTHFIELD CRIME.
Their last undertaking was the robbery
Of the bank of Northheld MINI. One Of
the recruits Of the party formerly ivcd IN
Minnesota and gave so glowing an &C
count of the wealth of the country. the
abundance Of money in the small banks
and the case with which an escape could
hc effected that, after some consideration,
tho enterprise was resolved upon Eight
mon participated the two James brothers,
the three foungers, Charles Pitts Clau
Miller and Iiil Caldwell. They went 10
Minnesota separately by train, purchased
horses IN diff arent places. and on Sept TOM
Der :, 1876 made their last raid Tuclr
usual tactics were followed. Some f the
rarty entered the bank, others remained
on the streets. firing irdiscriminat ..- ut
all passers-by to intimdate the citiz
The men OF Mortified, however wore
made of stern stun. Hastily secl:iur
arms. they opened a fusilade Chad Ill
and Miller were killed and all the Others
we're more or less wounded. Jim You --
er was shot and fell from his horse. .e
returned and took him on behind 4
vigorous pursuit was at once orSaniz'l
the fugitlves were overtaken. Pitts killed
the three YounGers being surrounded At
the same time and captured. after all had
been so badly wounded that ther could
fiGht no longer. Jesse and Frank James
escaped. both wounded and riding on cn..
horse. They were heard OF at various
points as they made their way back To
Missouri, but were not taken nor indeed
did any serious effort seem TO be made to
apprehend them, for every sheriff along
the line Of their probable retreat reeeiN@l
letters, most Of them from Missouri.
threatening ASSASSIN alton in case of the
arrest of the fueitives. They returned in
safety to their old haunts in the western
part Of the state.
The YcunEers were put On trial. clar-e
with the murder OF Haywood, the bank
cashier and of n Norwegian. who VS. s..ot
in the street. rhe former was II IT, said,
ncsses TO prove that cole shot the 'orei;I-
err and. on the advice of their cou"s T. I'LL
three of the brothers pleaded su..ty ii
were sentenced to the peritenti1ry for lie.
Jesse James remained tn otsruritv LIS
hiding place being uudiVulged until Tire
day of his murder by his confederate. Ttn
youngest of the brothers diel a few years
ago in the pcritentiary, and tho other .Vp
arc said to have conducted themselves i'm
a manner which has Won for thou t.c
esteem of their guards and made man,
| friends even in the State where their 50
crime was committed