The Butler weekly times. (Butler, Mo.) 1881-1918, 1903-02-12

my appreciation. Ny best friends
are here and ] viii never forget them.
have expressed my sentiments to
hepeople ofthe state before. ldont
think can say much more. My life
has been one such as few men have
experienced. Ihave learned much by
drinking deep OF the dregs OF the cup
of life. Experience has taught me to
live as becomes a respectable citizen.
leave this state with q measure oil
regret. feel that here l have spent
the best years OF my life. Twenty
five OF them we're within the confines
OF the prison, yet the year and a hall
outside have shown me that friends
are dear to me here as in my old Mis-
souri, home"
NO GRUDGE AGAINST NoRTHFiELD.
ooh, don't think that | have any
ill.will against the people OF North
field. They have many OF them sign
ed my petition both for pardon and
parole. Some OF my warmest friends
are in Mortified and some have
stood Loyalty by me. A few have
seen fit to object and refuse to sign
the petition, but for them also lhave
no word Of disapproval.
"Thank all the people for me, said
Younger. 81 feel grateful to all.
Above all thank Governor Van SAINT
and Warden Wolier and the members
OF the pardon board. l want to
thank Mrs. Deming and the legisla-
ture for making the pardon possible.
Bob Dunn has also been my friend in
need, as have Chief 0'Connor and
Dick O'Connor. There are hundreds
more to name, but / am 80 over
whelmed | can't think OF them all
John O'Connor has been more than
a friend to me. He was more OF a
brother. Wolfe and his boys stood
by me in all times, and my heartgOes
out to them and will always be filled
with Joy at the remembrance OF their
work for me. | wish | could tell all
OF them how | feel. l also feel that
the papers have been loyal to me.
and thank them, too"
devoted HIS LIFE TO THE YouNGERs
Capt. WalterC. Bronaugh, OF Henry
county, Missouri, known throughout
the state and Minnesota as 'the
friend of the Youngers," is the man
to whom, above all others, Cole
Younger owes his liberty.
The efforts of Capt Bronaugh ir
behalf of the Youngers have no par
allel in history. For 10 years he hat
devoted his time, talents and meanl
towards the liberation OF the bandi
prisoners.
ut is the general supposition,
.aid Capt. Bronaugh in recent tall
with the Post-Dispatch, "that an
an old personal friend al the Young
ar boys. knowing them before the.
became outlaws. That is not true
I never met Jim Younger until SAY
him in the Minnesota prison, and
never saw Cole but once or twice bt
9 fore visited him in prison, and tina
$ was during the war, when both of u
we're in the Confederate army"
: "Why, then, have you worked S
hard for the release OF the Young
ers?" he vas asked.
j Because they we're Confedera'
t comrades" replied the old captain
; CHOSE men fought in the cause tha
J / fought in | know the condition
surrounding men in western Nilsson
in war times, and after, and l hay
r believed for many years that ii
IL Youngers had suffered enough an
II ought to have their liberty"
Il Capt. Bronaugh, who owns a fiji
# farm few miles from Clinton, Nc
10 began working for the release OF Co
O and Jim Younger in 1889, short
e. after Bob Younger died in prison
IA He has made no less than II tri
=. to Minnesota in his efforts to secu
ID the pardon OF the Youngers, psyil
20 his own expenses. He has travel
IT much in Missouri and Minnesot
"a securing letters and signatures
er petitions for pardon. He has cor
i'll sponded with thousands OF perso
10 with view to eDlisting them in t
struggle for the freedom OF the +
OF mer bandits.
10 Men have marveled at his persi
of ense. Some have laughed. 9th