The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1902-11-30
YOUNGER WAS
Re- lily insane
When He Killed Himself Over
Love Affairs.
WEAKENED BY WOUND
Which He Received in the
Mortified Raid.
WEAKENED BY WOUND

OF Jim Younger The man who for twenty
,rs was an outlaw and a king of out
laws. sharing the leadership of the grea-
test gang of bandits this country has
ever known, a man who passed a quar-
ter of a century in prison, endured in
the last few months of his life greater
misery than he had ever known before.
And all because Of his worship for a
good woman who returned his love.
He had endured without a complaint
ne quarter of century which he passed
IN convict stripes in the. Minnesota peni-
tentary, but when his release came his
whole being throbbed with JOY, not simply
because he was free 10 walk the streets,
to breath the pure air, TO feel the caresses
of the sunlight, to meet men face to face.
but more because he believed that he was
at last free to marry the devoted woman
who had opened the doors of the prison
for him.
But he found that freedom granted him
was an empty thing. The memorable law
still held him in chains. Justice, perso-
nifled in the Acknowledgement of Mime
sofa. sternly declared that Jim Younger
was legally dead and that he could not
marry
He left the woman who had done so
much for him to fight on alone. Miss Alix
Mueller bore the sentence more bravely
than did the man. She was in Boise
City, idaho, when the news reached her
that her lover had killed himself. She
had gone there in the hope the climate
would check the ravages Of consumption
which had fastened its grip upon her.
She seemed to be not surprised. He had
given her a hint of his desperate state
Of mind When the telegraph Of his
suicide was placed in her hands she said:
Jim wrote me on October Is saying
he had given up all hope He was out of
work and utterly respondent. On Satur-
day he telegraphed me two words: Don't
write"
,"He was driven to this act by persecu-
zion"
I am his wife spiritually. Before God
De is mine and mine alone. Ny life work
will be to place him right before the
world
While she spoke she was preparing to
return TO St Paul TO carry out the last
wishes Of the man for whom she made
ouch tremendous sacrifices.
And this was the end OF the romance
which began six years before when Miss
Alix bdueller visited Saltwater prison and
was permitted o crafty a curiosity COM
mon TO all visitors TO that institution, 10
see the Younger brothers. the only sur
vivors of the James and Younger gang OF
train robbers. outlaws and bandits.
IF ~,
parents. from whom she inherited suffi-
Gent fortune TO enable her TO live com
fortably. She was ambitious and 3 life
OF ease and inactivity did not please her.
Newspaper work proved an attraction and
she started upon it in ST. Paul. She has
also worked as reporter in Denver and
iE Salt Lake City. For time she edited
g weekly newspaper in a small Minnesota
town.
When Miss Mueller first visited the
Saltwater penitentary she had no greater
interest in the Youngers than had thou
sands OF other visitors The things she
had read had not aroused any sentiment
OF alteration.
But the personality Of Jim Younger
interested her Indeed. this was the case
with most people with whom he came in
contact. lie was always a good-looking
man and he had force. It was not long
before Miss Mueller again visited the
prison. this time solely to visit jim
Younger.
He was then fifty years old. She was
just twenty-four. Neither had ever had
q love affair. Almost from the very start
these two recognized the affections each
bore the other. but it was long before
they spoke of il. Others suspected st
because Of the frequency OF her visits TO
the prison.
Miss Mueller determined 20 secure the
release Of her convict lover ana that. of
course meant the release OF Cole his
older brother. She planned a campaign
worthy OF an experienced politician. So
long as il was possible TO do so she
worked quietly. enllsting the aid OF those
having influence and power
Tor two years Miss Mueller managed to
keep her plans secret and when they
were divulged the storm broke forth. The
relatives Of those who had been killed by
the outlaws in their raid on the North
field Bank and some OF these who had
In the fight protested bitterly against
there were others who were just as bitter
Since 1889 at least three efforts were
made 20 secure the release % the Young
ers before Miss Mueller disclosed the re-
suits II her Ions planning and working
The sentiment against the brothers was
siin powerful But Miss Mueller was the
stronger and she secured from the legis-
latur the passage Of q special act which
resulted In the release Of tho Younger
brothers on psrole
The lovers thought that their troubles
were over and their happiness knew ne
bounds.
jim Younger went directly 20 the home
Of Edward Schuernever in ST. Paul. with
Nhom Miss Mueller made her home. Rut
when the uncle discovered that his niece
vas engaged 10 marry Jim Younger ne
was furious and ordered The paroled
coma out ~ his home
Jim Younger. worked With yigor and
enthusiasm 70 make enough MONEY TO
support his wife. for they had PLANNED
70 marry very soon Miss Niue .er had
spent considerable part of her iuhe~l-
lance In securing her lovers parole, bur
she stin had enough left 20 keep them
from want But Younger dla uss want TO
touch her money.
Other friends and relatives OF che young
woman shared The indignation II the
uncle when they discovered that Miss
Mueller was engaged to marry Jim
Younger. They set about 10 prevent the !
marriage. They made an appeal 70 the !
lie decided that the /
Youngers We're legally dead They had /
not been restored 70 citizenship IN the |
ewes Of the Law they were as much pris-