The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1903-03-19
A YOUNGER LETT
Cole Younger Writes Letter Stating
His Connection With Show He
Will be Associated With.
Says He Will Keep Every Promise
nade to Board Of Pardons--Ef-
fort to flake Honest Living.

Shortly after Cole Younger returned
to his old home in Missouri, it was re-
ported in the newspapers that he in
tended to go into the show businessin
company with Frank James. Mr.. Dunn
wrote Mr.. Younger and called his at
tention to the newspaper stories, and
in reply received the following straight
forward letter, which we take the lib.
erty of reproducing:
Lees Summit, Mo-, Mar. Is, 1903.
Hon. r. G. Dunn, st. Paul, MINI. 50
My Dear Sir: Your letter of recent
date was received in due time and 7
must apologize to you for not having
answered it before. I have, however,
been considerably under the weather
since my return home, having had a
very severe attack of grip and have
had very little ambition to get around
or to attend to business. I have care
fully considered the substance of your
letter and would certainly feel very
sorry if [ thought that you believed for
a moment that I intended to break any
promise made to the authorities in Min
nesota, or to any one else. assure you
that shall keep every promise that I
have made, and my friends in Mime
sofa will have no reason to complain of
any action which I may take. [ do not
intend to exhibit myself as an actor or
participant in any public entertainment
nor do intend to allow myself to be so
exhibited. This is the promise which
l made and will keep it. I do not be-
lieve, however, that the State officials
in your State, or anybody in Minnesota
want to prevent me from making an
honest living. The show with which I
shall be connected will in no way refer
to my life Or the life of any of my asso-
clates, but will be of an educational and
moral order, very much like Buffalo
BilFs wild west show, which, as you.
know, is in every way unobiectionable
and has always been patronized by good
people. i
I When [ returned to my home in
Missouri [ found myself broken in
health and old age rapidly coming on
and without any trade or occupation.
This was not the worst of it, as have
aged women relatives who have been
looking to me to support them, but in
stead OF being source of support to
| them it looked as if I would become to
them source of expense and burden.
While l have no occupation or trade,
you will realize that my experience
with horses and my long army expert
ence in handling bodies of men have in
some way fitted me to be manager of
such a show as I have described and in
this way enables me to make an honor
able, and honest living and properly
support those who are dependent on
me. It was with this intention that [
have made the business arrangement
which has been spoken of in the news
papers. Il is distinctly stipulated in
my contract that I shall do nothing to
break the conditions of my pardon and
the people with whom have connected
myself would be the last ones in the
world to ask me to break any agree
ment which I have made. I shall not:
in any way be paraded or exhibited in
public and shall have nothing to do
with the giving of the entertainment.
There are many other things which [
would like to say to you, but it is hard
to express myself in letter of this
kind. Of one thing you may be very
sure: have never since 1877 taken
drink of intoxicating liquors and
never expect to do so as long as live. :.
In addition to being a man of temper
ance I shall endeavor to SO conduct
myself in every other way that the
people of Minnesota and in particular
men like you, who have always helped
me, will have no reason to blush for me
in the future. desire to again thank
you for your many acts of personal kind
ness to me and to remain
z-"Your true and sincere friend ri.
..-.. COLE YOUNGER.
P. S.-My very best wishes and kind
est regards to your family not forget
ing any friend in the State of Mime
sofa. D.. ...- -.&- s..-s COLE.
! Death of Mrs Victoria Lafontisee.
! Mrs. Victoria Lafontisee who for
| L, l..