Fergus County argus., 1902-10-22

| TO his bed with sickness and could moi
be seen tonight by reporters. TIL,
difference between them is reported
10 have been over money matters. Tn,
body was viewed by the coroner. who
decided that an inquest was not nee
essary, II is not yet known what dis
| position will be made OF the remains
some doubt arising rs 10 whether un
der the terms OF the parole the body
can be removed from the state.
James Younger was the Youngest
OF three brothers, Robert Coleman and
James Younger who between the
years 1866 and 1876 gained great no.
/ toriety through their association with
Jesse and Frank James. The gang
headed by Jesse James was charged
with innumerable ly.Jeries Oi banks
and railway trains in execution OF
which many desperate encounters tool,
| place and a number OF men were kill.
ed. The men had served through the
civil war. fighting on the side of the
coniederaCy. Fighting with QuantrclI
and his guerillas. The scenes OF most
ol their alleged deprcdations was inc
state OF Missouri and those adjacent
thereto, but in September 1876. tho
band entered Minnesota. travCfsing
the state as far as the little town of
Northtcld, in Rice county. and there.
on September lth. after terrurizing
the people on the street, an attempt
was made to loot the First National
Bank Cashier ]. +. Haywood, who
was In charge OF the bank, made a
plucky fight "a preserve the funds OF
The institution from the robbers. and
was shot and killed. not however, un-
tilhe had wounded one or more of the
raiders. The CltiZens OF NOrthfeld.
quickly recovering from the panic In
which the advent OF the raiders had
thrown them, armed themselves and
started in pursuit OF the desperadoes.
who, baifled at the resistance they had
encountered had mounted their horses
and were attempting to escape. A
week was spent in their desperate es-
cape. the pursuing posse Of citizens.
time and again coming into contact
wnn the bandits and exchanging
shots with them. The raiders were
handicapped in their retreat by the
wounded they were endeavoring to
carry along with them, and finally, in
thick woods, the posse succeeded in
surrounding them. A battle ensued
in which three of the members of the
gang were killed and the three Young
ers were captured.
Jesse James and the remainder OF
the outlaws succeeded in making good
their escape.
All three of the Younger brothers
had been wounded in the series of bat
ties that had marked their retreat and
to this day carry bullets fired at them
by the plucky citizens.
The prisoners were brought speedily
to trial and on November 2lst. 1876.
pleaded guilty to the charge of muir
der in the first degree, this plea. II
Is said. having been entered in order
to escape conviction by jury that
would have involved the infiiction Of
the death penalty.
The brothers were sentenced TO the
Saltwater penitentiary to serve life
sentences.
In 1899 an effort was made to secure
unconditional pardons for the broth
, ers, 1t being pleaded In support of
this effort that II had been proved that
either of the brothers had fired the
shot that killed Cashier Haywood. and
a further plea for mercy was based
upon the ground that Bob" Younger
was dying of consumption.
Superintendent of Census William
II. Merriam, who then occupied the
gubernatorial chair. refused to accede
to the request for pardon. there still
being very strong sentiment against
the brothers in Mortified and Rice
county. Shortly after this Robert
Younger died in prison.
Frequent attempts were made to So.
cure pardons for the remaining broth
ers, the petitions being signed by
leading men in all walks of life. both
citizens of this state and Missouri
Among those who made especial ef-
forts 10 secure the granting of pardon.
was Senator Stephen B. Elkins of
West Virginia, who. II Is said. had
known the brothers well in days be-
fore the war. II is also related that
the senator's life was saved during
the civil war through the efforts Of
Cole Younger. Elkins had been cap
tured by Quantrell's guerillas and had
been sentenced to be shot. but Young
er connived at his escape from the
gang. and succeeded in restoring him
TO his regiment All efforts at secur.
ing unconditional pardon having fail.
ed, bill was passed by the state
legislature. in 1901, empowering the
state board Of pardons to grant pa
roles to life prisoners who had served
25 years or more. The bill was fought
hard, but finally passed both branches
of the legislature and was sent Ia Gov.
ernor Van SAINT for his signature The
governor had three days in which to
sign or veto the bill. failing which the
act would become law without his
signature. Before the three days ex.
pired. they recalled the bill and did
not return ii to the governor until the