Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1902-10-21
BY OWN HAND.
The Celebrated Outlaw James
Younger Commits Suicide.
Was Formerly One Of the Notorious
James Boys Gang.
Was Paroled in 1901 from Prison
Serving Life Sentence.


Younger. formerly member of the no.
torious James band Of outlaws, which
infested the Western country a quar-
ter Of a century ago. committed sui
eide. Sunday. by shooting. He left a,
letter to the press in which he gives as
a reason for his act, dependency over
continued i'll health and separation
from his friends. When he did not
make his appearance as usual, today
search was made for him. The door OF
his room was broken into, late Sunday
afternoon. 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.
had led an exemplary life. He was d
years of age. The coroner decided that
an inquest was not necoss-;y-
On bureau in the room was FOUND
a long Manila envelope, on one side OF
which was written:
ITO all that is good and true. love
and bid farewell. Jim Younger"
On the other side Of the envelope
We're these words:
ooh. Iassie, goodbye. And relatives
Just stay away from me. No crocodile
tears wanted. Reporters-Be my
friends. Burn me up. Jim Younger
The envelope contained a package OF
letters that had passed between
Younger and n lady with whom he is
said to have been much in love. The
lady. who il prominently connected. IS
said to have reciprocated his affection
and II was reported at one time that
they were to be married the ladE
relatives raised strenuous objections TO
the marriage and "A further obstacle
was the fact that it was pointed "ut
that a paroled prisoner could not l"-
gally contract marriage.
The couple determined to disregard
the objections of relatives and an "f-
fort was made TO overcome the other
obstacles to their marriage. by securing
from the state board full pardon ana
restoration to citizenship. This eitort
failed and. it is thought. had much 70
do with Younger's determination 70
end his life.
The lady is said to be now in Boise,
Idaho. for her health. 1t is also Saih
that the relations between James ana
Coleman Younger were very much
strained, in fact. that the brothers had
not been on speaking terms for the
past six months.
Coleman Younger is confined 10 ms
bed by Illness. The differences between
the brothers is reported 20 have been
over money matters.
n Is not yet known what disposition
viii be made of the remains. some
doubt arising under the terms of parole
as TO whether the body can be removed
from the state.
ON another sheet of paper Younger
had written this message. evidently MS
last words before committing suicide:
October 16 Last night on earth. 80
goodbye. lassie. for | still think OF thee
A. 4. g.. forgive me. for this Is my
only chance. | have done nothlng
wrong But politics is all That var
SAINT, Wolfcr and others Of their strip"
care for. Let the people judge. Treat
me right and fair reporters, for am
= square man. a Socialist and decd
adly in favor of woman's rights. Bry"h
is the brightest man these nlted
States has ever produced. Ills on"
mistake was in no coming out f1r all
the people and absolute Socialism.
Come out Bryan. There is no iuch
thing as a personal God. God is an
versal and / know Him we'll and an
not afraid. I have pity for me pdruHn-
ing board they do not stop to cons'iFf
their wives or to think of the man VINO
knows how to love and appreciat" a
friend i'm truth. Goodbye, sweet laSSie
Younger was recently paroled from
the saltwater penitentiary where ne
ana his brother Coleman We're serving
life sentences for participation III the
Northneld bank raid in 1876.
James Younger was the youngest OF
three brothers, Robert. Coleman ANA
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 IN
Vulnerable robberies of banks and rail-
road trains. IN the execution of which
many desperate encounters took place
and many were killed. The members
of the band had served through the
civil war. fighting on the side of the
confederacy with Quantrlee and his
guerillas.
The scene OF most of their alleged
post belum depredations was the states
Of Missouri and those adjacent there
10. but in September. 1876. the band en-
Tered Minnesota and. Sept. I. after ter
,'orZing the people If Mortified mn at
tempt WAS made To loot the First Ma
tional Rank Cashier Haywood. VINO
was in charge of the hank. was shot
and killed not. however. until he had
wounded one or more of the raiders.
The citizens armed themselves and
after II weeks pursuit a battle ensued
IN which three members of the gang
We're killed and the three Younger
brothers were captured. Jesse james
and the other outlaws succeeded IL
making good their escape.
The prisoners We're brought to trial