Waterbury Democrat., 1902-10-20
FAM0USBANDT DEAD
James Younger, Freed From
 Prison, Takes His Life
ONE OF TIE JESSE JAMES GANG.
Had Been Serving Life Sentence In Q MinnesOta Penitentiary, but Was Recently ParoIed-Outs
 laws, Deeds Recalled.


 laws Deeds Recalled.
 ST. PAUL, AIinn., Oct. 2O.-James Younger, formerly a member of the notorious James band of outlaws, which infested the western country a quarter of century ago, has commit ted suicide by shooting. He left let ter to the press, in which he gives as reason for his act despondency over continued i'll health and separation from his friends. Death is supposed to have occurred early yesterday morn ing. Younger occupied a room in a downtown block, and when he did not make his appearance as usual search was made for him. The door of his room was broken in last night, and his dead body was found stretched on the floor beside the bed, a revolver clutched in his right hand.
 Younger since his parole from the state penitentiary in July of last year has led an exemplary life.
 James Younger was the youngest of three brothers-Rober Coleman and James-who between the years 1866 and 1873 gained great notOriety through their association with Jesse and Frank James. The band headed by Jesse James was charged with almost innu- merable robberies of banks and rail- road trains, in the execution of which many desperate encounters took place and many men were killed. The mem- bers of the band had served through the civil war, fighting on the side of the Confederacy with Quantrell and oF af their alleged post bellum depredations was the state os Missouri and those adjacent thereto, but In September, 1876, the band entered Minnesota, traversing the state as far as North field, in Rice county. There on Sept. ', after terrorizing the people on the street an attempt was made to loot the First National bank. Cashier J. b. Heywood, who was in charge of the bank, made a plucky fight to preserve the funds of the institution, and dur Is ing the encounter he was shot and killed, not, however. until he had wounded one or more of the raiders. The citizens of Northfeld, quickly re- covering froms the panic, armed them selves and started in pursuit of the desperadoes, who, baffled by the resist ance they had encountered, had mount ed their horses and were attempting to escape. A week was spent in their desperate retreat, the pursuing posse of citizens time and again coming into contact with the bandits and exchang- ing shots with them.
 The raiders were handicapped by the wounded, whom they were endeavor- ing to carry with them, and finally in thick wood the posse succeeded in surrounding them. A battle ensued, in 1 which three members of the gang were killed and the three Younger brothers were captured. Jesse James and the other outlaws succeeded in making good their escape.
 The prisoners were brought to trial and on Nov. 21, 1876, pleaded guilty to the charge of murder in the first de- gree, this plea, it is said, having been entered to avoid the infiction of the death penalty. The brothers were sem tenced to serve life sentences.
 In 1889 an effort was made to secure an unconditional pardon for the broth CTS, it being pleaded that it had not been proved that either of the brothers had fired the shot that killed Cashier Heywood, and further plea for mer- cy was based upon the ground that Bob Younger was dying of consump- ton. Superintendent of Census Will liam R. Merriam, who then occupied the gubernatorial chair, refused to grant pardon, there still being very strong sentiment against the brothers in Northfeld and Rice county. Soon after this Robert Younger died in 1 prison.
 All efforts at securing an uncondition- al pardon having failed, bill was in- troduced in the state legislature in 1901 empowering the state board of pardoDs 1 to grant paroles to life prisoners who had served twenty-five years or more. 1 The bill was opposed, but finally passed both branches of the legislature and was sent to Governor Van Sant for his signature. Upon recommendation of the board of prison commissioners a parole was granted to Coleman and James Younger and on July IA they were released.
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