The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-10-20

sofa, tfaversing the state as far as the
little town of Northf1eld, in Rice county.
There, on September Z, after terrorizins
the people on the streets, an attemtp
was made to loot the First National
bank Cashier ]. L. Haywood. who was
IN charge of the bank. made n nlticIxv
/ fight to preserve the funds of the insti-.
tuition from the robbers, and during the
encounter was shot and killed. not.
however, until he had wounded one or
more of the raiders.
The citizens of NorthfieId quickly re-
covered from the panic into which the
advent of the raiders had thrown them,
armed themselves and started in pur-
suit of the desperadoes, who baffied at
the resistance they had encountered.
had mounted their horses and were at
tempting 10 escape. week was spent
IN their desperate retreat the pursuing
posse of citizens time and again comma
into contact with the bandits and ex-
changing shots with them The raiders
were handicapped IN their retreat by the
wounded, whom they were endeavoring
to carry along with them, and finally,
IN thick wood, the posse succeeded in
surrounding them. A battle ensued in
which three OF the members of the gang
were Killed and the three Younger
brothers We're captured. Jesse James
and the remainder of the outlaws sue
ce s7si in making good their escape
The prisoners were brought sDeedlty TO
trial, and on November p, 1876, pleaded
guilty to the charge of murder in the first
degree. this plea. 1t is said, having been
jury which would have involved the mite
ton Of the death penalty. The brothers
We're sentenced to the Saltwater peniten-
tiary to serve a life sentence
In 1889 an effort was made, to secure an
unconditional pardon for the brothers, Il
being pleaded in support of his effort that
it had not vet been proved that either Of
the brothers had fired the shot that killed
mercy was based upon the ground that
Bob Younger was dying of consumption.
Superintendent of Census William r. Mer-
riman, who then occupied the guberna-
/ torial chair. refused to accede to the re-
quest for pardon, there still being a very
strong sentiment against the brothers in
Mortified and. Rice county Shortly after
this Robert Younger died in prison
Frequent attempts We're made to secure
pardons for the remaining brothers, the
petitions being signed by leading men of
all walks of life, both citizens of this state
especial effort to secure the granting of
pardon was Senator Stephen B. Elkins OF
/ West Virginia. who, il IS said had known
! the brothers we'll in days before the war.
4 1t is also related that the senator's life
was saved during the civil war through
the efforts of Cole Younger. Ellzins had
/ been captured by Quantrell's guerrillas
had been sentenced to be shot but Y ouns
1 er connived at his escape from the gang
and succeeded in restoring him tc his reg
iment.
All efforts at securing an unconditional
pardon having failed. a bill was intro
duced in the state legislature ir 1902 ~em-
towering the state board of rardonyAto
/ grant parole TO Ire prisoners VINO mao
/ served Is years or more TIE bill. was hard
fought, but finally passed both branches
| CT the legislature and was sent to Gov.
Van SAINT for his signature The governor
had three days within which to sign or
veto the bill. failing which the act would
become a law without his signature Be
fore the three days had expired the house
recalled the bill and did not return it to
the governor until the time for approval
had elapsed. The state pardoning board.
however of which the chief justice of the
state is a member, decided that the bill
! had a without the on
of the governor, and on July 10, 1901, upon
recommendation of the board of prison
commissioners parole was granted 20
| Coleman and James Younger, and on July
Il they were released.