The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1902-10-20

traVerSlng the state as Tar as the lit
tie town of Northheld in Rice county.
There. on Sept. Z. after terrorizing the
people on the streets. an attempt was
made 20 loot the First National bank.
Cashier J. L. Haywood, who was in
charge OF the bank, made a plucky
fight 10 preserve the funds of the in
stitution from the robbers. and during
the encounter was shot and killed.
Not, however. until he had wounded
one or more of the raiders.
Pursued by Posse.
The citizens of Northheld. quickly
recovering from the panic in which the
advent of the raiders had thrown them,
armed themselves and started in pur-
suit OF the desperadces. who. baffled at
the resistance they had encountered,
had mounted their horses and were
attempting to escape. A week was
spent in their desperate retreat, the
pursuing posse OF citizens now and
again coming in contact with the BAN
dts and exchanging 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 a thick wood. the
posse surrounded them. A battle en-
OF the gang were Killed and the three
Younger brothers were captured. Jesse
James and the remainder of the out
laws succeeded In making good their
escape.
All OF the three Younger brothers
had been wounded in the series of
battles that had marked their re-
treat, and to this day carry the bull
lets fired at them by the citizens. The
prisoners were brought speedily to
trial and on Nov. q, 1876. pleaded
guilty to the charge of murder in the
first degree, this plea, il is said, hav-
ing been entered in order TO escape
conviction by a jury, which would
have involved the inhiction of the
death penalty. The brothers were SEN
| fenced to the Saltwater penitentiary
to serve a life sentence.
Effort to Secure Pardon.
In 1889 an effort was made to secure
an unconditional pardon for the broth
ers, IL being pleaded in support Of this
effort that il had not been proved that
either of the brother had fired the
shot which killed Cashier Haywood,
and a further plea for mercy was
based upon the ground that Bob
Younger was dying of consumption.
Superintendent of the Census William
| r. Merriam, who then occupied the
gubernatorial chair, refused TO accede
TO the request for a pardon. there still
being a very strong sentiment against
the brothers in Mortified and Rice
county Shortly after this Robert
Younger died in prison.
Frequently attempts were made to
| secure pardOns for the remaining
brothers, petitions being signed by
leading men in all walks Of life. both
citiZsn OF this state and OF Missouri
Among those who made special EFFORT
to secure the granting Of pardon was
Senator Stephen b. Elkins Of West
Virginia, who. il is said, had known
the brothers well in the days before
the war. 1t IS also related that the
senator's life was saved during the
civil war through the efforts of Cole
Younger. EIkins had been captured
by QuantrelTs guerrillas and had been
sentenced TO be shot. but Younger con-
nived at his escape from the gang and
succeeded in restoring him TO his regi-
ment.
Out on Parole.
All efforts at securing an uncondi-
tional pardon having failed, bill was
! introduced III the state legislature IN
1901 empowering the state board of par
dons TO grant paroles to life prisoners
who had served twenty-seven years or
more. The bill was hard fought, but
/ finally passed both branches of the
| legislature and was sent to Governor
] Van SAINT for his signature. The gov
| ernor had three days within which TO
sign or veto the bill. failing which the
act would become a law without his
sigma ture. Before the three days had
expired the house recalled the bill and
did not return it 10 the governor until
the time for approval had elapsed. The
state pardoning board. however. de-
| cided that the bill had become law
without the signature of the governor,
and on July 10. 1901. upon recommends
/ ton Of the board of prison commission
! ers, parole was granted TO Coleman and
James Younger. and on July IA they
/ were released.
Under the terms OF the parole the
brothers were not to leave the state.
and since their release they have been
/ engaged in business of various sorts.
James Younger has suffered much from
old wounds, and several months ago
an operation was performed for the
removal OF a rifle ball from his neck.