The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1905-09-17

whereby they acquired, the makings
of goodly bank account at the ex-
pense OF the Adams Express Com
pany. Shortly before that they had
held up Hot Springs stage. and
diverted to their own personal
use the contents of the express safe
and the valuables OF the passengers.
At the instigation of the outraged
companies the Pinkerton people went
out after them. Being, perhaps, wise
in their own generation, they did
not undertake a personally conduct
ed campaign. They sent one JOSEPH
Whichers. habited as farm hand, to
get work in the neighborhood. He
came to the James home about dusk,
knocked on the door and asked for
work The boys mother received
him, asked him in and offered him q
chair He was chatting with her
quietly when in came Frank and
Jesse James with considerable fol-
lowing and accused Whichers of be-
ing a detective. He denied the accu-
sation with much earnestness and
feeling They DECIDED they didn't
like his looks any way, and bound
and gagged him, and set him on his
horse and took him over within a
few miles of Independence, Mo-.
where they shot him. Crossing the
old Blue Mill ferry, they added in
suit to injury by telling the ferry
man he was horse thief they were
taking over to give up to the authori-
ties.
About the same time one Captain
LulI went into St Clair county, after
the Youngers-he found them, to the
ultimate detriment of both parties
He killed John Younger, and wound
ed his brother, Jim. But he, in his
turn, was shot by Jim and died OF
his wounds 1t was war of ex-
termination, the express companies
and the Pinkertons VS.. the Jameses
and the Youngers; and-well the ex-
press companies and the Pinkertoas
are still doing business. Coleman
and Robert Younger were finally ar
rested and sentenced to life impris-
onment for the murder of Bank
Cashier Haywood, at Mortified,
Mimi. Jesse James was shot by
Robert Ford, the youngest member
of his gang. Robert and George Ford
were arrested, pleaded guilty of kill
ing Jesse James, were sentenced to
death, and promptly pardoned by
Governor Crittenden, as per contract,
and given the $1,000 reward offered
for the arrest of Jesse James dead
or alive. Frank James seems TO
have had about enough of the out
law business-the only train robber
on record who has ever known when
he had enough-for he surrendered,
and lived thereafter an honest, I'M
eventful life.
The case of the Collins brothers,
Sam Bass, ct al, attracted consider
able attention in its day. They held
I'D Union Pacific train and robbed
the Pacific Express Company Of
about 100000 in gold Two OF the
gang stopped the train and compell-
ed the crew to ai1ght. They went
through the safe, taking everything
in sight They relieved passengers
OF watches, jewelry, etc. But their
triumph was short lived Joel Col
Inns was shot and killed; a confed-
crate named Berry was shot and
killed near Moscow, Mo-, and all the
plumber was recovered Sam Bass
escaped to Denton county, Texas,
where he organized another gang OF
train robbers, and held up several
trains in Texas. Uncle Sam took a
hand in trapping them, and the trap
was baited with a national bank at
Round Rock, Tex, that seemed too
good a thing TO pass by. The bank,
however, was well covered with
armed men, and when the gang ar
rived a local officer nearly spoiled
the whole combination by trying to
arrest one of them for carrying fire
arms, As it was he precipitated
fight in which most of them were
killed and the rest captured
One Of the most remarkable OF
train robberies was that in which
Fred Wittrock, OF Leayenworth,
Kan, held up a train of the st. Louis
and San Francisco road only a few
miles out of ST. Louis, all by his lone
self He had planned it all most
carefully and taken a number OF
people whose cooperation he desir-
ed into his confidence. But when il
came to the point every one OF them
weakened and Wittrock had to go it
alone He boarded the express car
quite openly and presented the mes
senger an order purporting to be
from the express company's route
superintendent, telling him 10
break him in" Once in the car, he
plugged the bell cord, overcame and
gagged the messenger, riied the
cofa apd oo+ oma,- with abOr,r S50