The weekly chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Craig County, Okla.) 1905-1913, 1912-08-23
THE LIFE STORY
OF AL JENNINGS
n Was a Good Robber And l viii Be
Good officer," Was the Former
Desperado's Platform.

was a train robber an doutlaw ! was
good train robber and outlaw. II
you chose me as prosecuting attorney
l will be a good prosecuting attor-
ney."
That was the platform upon which
Al jennings. notorious desperate of
the bad man" days In Oklahoma, and
once sentenced to life Imprisonment
for mail robbery, ran for the demo
cratic nomination for prosecutor of
Oklahoma county, the mos g-.'-.o.,s
county in the state. Preachers, law
yers and representative business men
took Jennings at his word and in the
primaries the ex-bandit received the
nomination by large majority. And
the democratic nomination being
equivalent to election, AL Jennings
win be the peace officer in the terri
tory he once terrorized as bandit
While the democrats OF Oklahoma
county were nominating Jennings for
prosecutor the republicans of Musko-
gee county were naming Bud" Led
better, former hunter of bad men,"
and deputy United States marshal, as
their candidate for sheriff Jennings
and Ledbetter met fifteen years ago
when Ledbetter, at the head of a
posse, captured the outlaw. They now
are good friends.
Jennings Life Story.
Jennings told the story of his life in
his campaign. keeping back only the
details OF some of the robberies in
which others besides himself were in
volved. This is the story as giveR
by him:
Il was born in Virginia in 1868 and
spent my early youth in the west. |
went back to Virginia later, where
was educated in the common schools
and studied law in the state univer-
sity. | came to Oklahoma in 1889 to
practice law. found, though. that
the older men got all the practice. ]
settled at El Reno, in Canadian coun-
ty, and was elected county attorney
in 1892.
After my term OF office was over
went on visit to my father at Wood
ward. | became involved there in a
Qurrel with Temple Houston, son of
Sam Houston OF early Texas fame
After Houston and | had been separt-
ed | went home and 1t was agreed be-
tween my father. my brother, Ed Jen-
nings and myself. that the matter
should so over unit 1.-The following
morning and that should then go to
Houston, hoping that he would be
sober and apologize for his action.
About midnight there was loud
repping at the door and somebody
called out to father;
Judge jennings, get us quick
Two OF your boys have been killed.
Spirit Of Revenge Started Him.
mo one can imagine the sick feel.
ing that came over me. dressed
hastily and ran out of the gate. where
met my brother, John. who was sore
ly wounded He told me Ed was dead
Il knelt there beside my brother.
taking his head in my lap. He died
in my arms. found two bullet Wounds
one in the back of the head and one
over the left ear, both OF them rang
ing forward.
I knew then that he had been as
sassinated, ana all of the ambition of
life wea$ out Of me The future. which
had seemed so bright to me as a young
lawyer in new country, died there
with my brother when he drew his last
breath. admit here and now that
reverted to the primitive man that was
within me, There on my knees on the
floor. with my dead brothers head in
my lap, swore to Kill the man who
had murdered him.
"The trial day came and through the
perfidy of the county attorney the two
men charged with the murder were ac-
quilted. Then telegraphed for my
other brother. Frank Jennings, who
was living at Denver, and when he ar
rived We arranger to avenge the muir
der
Falsely Accused Of Robbery.
"One evening I went to my fathers
home at Tecumset, where he was then
living, and he told me was accused
of train robbery. He was greatly dis
tressed, but / CONVINCED him of my
innocence. He insisted that / face my
accusers. but I had to tell him that
it would be impossible for me to prove
an alibi. We had some heated words
and rode away again
i slept out in the open that night |
and the next morning went to Seminole
to get some breakfast Standing