The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1902-10-24

01Iye the Iunuo ~ WV ss'""'~""~
from the robbers. and during the en-
counter was shot and killed. noss
however. until he had wounded one o.
more Of the raiders.
Pursuis % the Raiders.
The citizens Of Mortified, Quickly
recovering from the panic into which
the advent Of the raiders had thrown
them, armed themselves and started
In pursuit Of the desperadocs who'
baffled ut the resistance they had en-
couptered, had mounted their horses
and we're attempting to escape. a
week was spent in their desperate re-
treat the pursuing posse OF citizens
time and again coming into contact
with the bandits and exchanging shots
with them. The raiders were handi-
capped in their retreat by the wound
ed whom they were endeavoring 70
carry along with them, and, hnaiiy,
in thick wood. the posse succeeded
in surrounding them. A battle en-
sued. in which three of the members
~ the gang were killed and the three
Younger brothers were captured.
Jesse James and the remainder OF the
outlaws succeeded in making good
their escape.
The younsers All Wounded.
All of the three Younger boys had
been wounded in the series of battles
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 FL, 1876,
pleaded guilty to the charge of MUIR
der in the first degree, this plea. it is
said, having been entered into in or
der to escape conviction by jury.
which would have involved the in
Fiction of the death penalty. The
brothers we're sentenced to the Still
water penitentiary to serve a life sem
tence.
Futile Effort for Pardon.
In 1889 an effort was made to Sc
, cure an unconditional pardon for the
brothers, it being pleaded in support
of this effort that it had not been
proven that either Of the brothers
had fred the shot that killed Cashier
Haywood and further plea for mer'
CIV was based upon the ground that
e Bob" Younger was dying of con
S | sumption. Superintendent of Census
a William X. Merriam, who then occu
E pied the gubernatorial chair, refused
: to accede to the request for pardon
:, there still being very strong senti
= ment against the brothers in North
y field and Rice county. Shortly aftel
n this Robert Younger died in prison.
le stilI FURTHER Enorts.
le Frequent attempts were made to sc
'e cure pardons for the remaining broth
ers, the petition being signed by lead
"a ing men in all walks of life, boil
u citizens of this state and Of Missouri
Among those who made especial ef
fort to secure the granting of par
= don was Senator Stephen Il. Elkins
of West Virginia, who, ii is said, ha
known the brothers well in the day
pc before the war. II is also relate
that the senator's life was savet
during the civil war, through the e.
m forts of Cole Younger. Elkins ha
been captured by Quantrell's gueri
las and had been sentenced to be sho
- but Younger connived at his escar
from the gang and succeeded in =
p storing him to his regiment.
= Their Parole Finally Secured.
he All efforts at securing an uncond
is tional pardon having failed, a bill Wa
IN. introduced in the state legislature
,at 1901, empowering the state board (
pardons to grant paroles to life pri
oners who had served IS years
more. The bill was hard fought, b.
. finally passed both branches Of Il
w legislature aud was sent to Gov. Va
=. SAINT f.. ais signature. The go
~ ernor had three days within which
,ue sign or veto the bill, falling whis
lei the act would become a law witho
-. his signature. Before the three da.
=. had expired the house recalled Il
bill and did not return it to the GO
e. ernor until the time for approval hi
- elapsed The state pardoning boar
~. however, of which the chief justice
- the state is member, decided tn
-, the bill had become law without I
,ch signature of the governor, and,
mi July 10, 1901, upon recomnendati
am Of the board of prison commissic
ar ers, a parole was granted to Colem
tn and James Younger, and on July
Of they were released.
md Suffered Much From Old wounds
Under the terms of the parole, I
me. brothers were not to leave the sta
,rt- and since their release they have be
engaged in business of various sor
e, James Younger has suffered mu
sic, from old wounds, and several mont
ago an operation was performed
;" the removal Of rife ball from
n. back.