The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1908-04-23

nal course, Jesse had with him Bill An
derson, the Centralia butcher, and four
of the Younger brothers, as well as
some others, including his own brother
Frank. Frank has been for many years
now reputable, law-abiding individ-
ual. He always lacked initiative, and
never had a 1.-THE Of the singular abil-
ity of Jesse. The first act known to
have been committed by the gang was
the robbery Of a bank at Corydon, Iowa,
bold and open raid, which the per-
petratorS announced to a gathering Of
citizens as they rode away, firing their
pistols. In July, 1873 they robbed Il
train on the G. r. l. & P. near Council
Bluffs, numbering an unarmed engi-
neer At intervals followed a robbery
on the Iron Mountain, netting $4,000;
one on the Union Pacific where the
loot was $55,OO0 and another with
1900 haul on the Missouri Pacific. In
each instance there was displayed ut
ter Indifference as to the killing of
trainmen or passengers, although pos
sibly an inclination to leave a few dead
to lend impressiveness to the occasion.
With sporadic outbreaks the James
gang did nothing especially notable
after the Missouri Pacific robbery I'M
til September, 1876, when they under
took to rob bank at Mortified, MINI.
The citizens fought a good fight upon
learning that the bank cashier had been
killed. Bill Caldwell, Clell Miller and
Charley Pitts were shot to death and
Bob and Jim Younger, with Jesse
James, were wounded The wounded
YOungers, together with their brother
Cole, were captured and sentenced to
prison for life Bob died In prison,
Cole and Jim were pardoned in 1901,
and year later Cole committed sui
eide. Frank James managed to get the
injured Jesse into Dakota and away.
Killed by Treachery.
Such a life as Jesse James led was
bound to eliminate in tragedy. Gov
ernOr Crittenden, of Missouri, disguised
at the futile efforts Of officers and de-
tectiveS to take him, offered a reward
Of $4,000 for his capture. One Bob"
Ford, with his brother Charles, deter
mined to secure this sum. They had
won the confidence of the outlaw, the
solitary instance, perhaps, in which his
judgment of men led him astray. These
boys had the freedom of the James
home. They were both there one warm
day in 1882. Because Of the heat Jesse
had removed coat and vest and then laid
aside his arms, a lack Of precaution he
had never before been known to eXhib-
It, Observing that a picture on the
wall was askew, he mounted chair
to adjust 1t. This gave the Fords their
chance. They had edged between Jesse
James and the bed on which lay his
pistols Bob then shot him in the back
Of the head There were a few gasps
and Jesse James, bandit and outlaw,
was dead. He lived just long enough
to be gathered into the arms of his
wife. The revolver that was used for
his undoing had been his own gift to
the man who used It The FOrds got
their money, a pardon from the Gov
ernor and the detestation of even the
enemies of Jesse James. Thereafter
they knew no peace. There was none
so mean as to extend a hand to them.
Charles Ford committed suicide In
Richmond. There were no mourners
Bob Ford drifted to Colorado, became
an unwelcome habitue Of gambling
halls and was shot In q drunken brawl.
For long there has hung IN the Sam
uels home a framed scroll bearing this
inscription:
In Loving Remembrance of my Beloved
Son
JESSE w. JAMES