The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-03-08


 noted with interest the interview pub 1ished in yesterdays issue of The Age Herald had by your representative, MT. Perkine, with one Scout (Cole) Younger at Ensley and, while it was good reading the story is not borne out by facts.
 I knew cousin of the Younger brothers personally, an estimable old lady, the widow of Rev. pr. Coleman, who when I knew her resided at 144O South Second avenue, Louisville. If still living she would be about S5 years of age. She. with her husband resided at Kearney, Mo, during and following the war, and l have often discussed tue events that transpired in connection with her mo- torious cousins, the Younger brothers, as well as the James boys Contrary to the statement contained in MT. Perkins ar ticle, these two families were cousins.
 The Younger brothers consisted of Cole man, Robert, James and John, and grew up on a farm in Clay county, Missouri, adjacent to one owned by the father of the James boys. Cole and Bob, and later Jim, became members of QuantrelPs band of guerlas, or irregular soldiers who operated throughout Missouri, north ern Arkansas and eastern Kansas, princi- pally against the bushwhaekers on the other side. Cole Younger eventually be- came Quantrelrs trusted lieutenant and was with him at the last stand made by -.the band, in south Missouri, in 1865, at which battle Quantrel was supposed to z have been killed.
 After the close of hostilities, on the re fusa of the governor of Missouri to par oon the members of this guerilla ,band, .he Younger brothers became Gilembers of the outlaw band gotten together by Frank and Jesse James, and became the terror of that section4' of the country. Cole Younger participated in the raid of Quantrell on Lawgence, Kan, at which time the town, was sacked and burned and about 200 men, women and children ruth lessly shot down or sabered Cole Young CT rode at the head of the column of ir- regular cavalry, between Frank James and Quantrell, and it is alleged shot down Il persons with his own hand. However this statement was declared false by his cousin
 John Younger the younger brother, never actually belonged to the band of outlaws, and was killed by a deputy sheriff shortly after the war, 1t is claimed on account of his refusing to tell of the whereabouts of his brothers. He was never married, and neither were any of the other brothers
 .g The three remaining brothers were finally run to earth and captured in he running fight which followed the attempt ed hold up of the Northfeld (Minn.) Saw ings bank. They were tried for highway robbery and murder, growing out of the killing of the cashier of the Northfield bank, and were sentenced to life impris- thp Stilxyater Bob Younger died from the effects of wounds received at the time of their sur render at Northfeld: and Cole and Jim were rardoned in 19oo their release from Saltwater being mainly due to the influ- ence exerted by one of the present United States senators from Missouri who was their school teacher before the war; and who they befrended during the war at time when he was the prisoner of Quantrell.
 Jim Younger committed suicide In Chi caeo about the beginning of 1907 by shoot ing himself through the head. Later Cole Younger joined Frank James in or ganizing the Cole YoungerFrank James Wild West circus, which was not, how ever, success financially, and became | stranded in town in West Virginia. I saw this circus in Knoxville Tenn and 1t was pretty good show
 After the Northfeld raid in 1879, the James boys lived in retirement, Jesse lv- ing with his wife and children under the assumed name of Howard in St. Joseph. Mo-, where he was shot dead on April .. 1882, by Bob Ford. A reward of S50,l00 had been offered for Jesse James dead or alive by Governor Crittenden of Missouri, and Bob and Charley Ford, two of the gang, could not resist the temptation and made arrangements with Governor Crit tenden to bring Jesse in. The death of Jesse practically ended the gang, for those who could scattered, sand Frank, on promise of pardon by the governor, came in and surrendered the following September and retired from business. He is now u9i2 living on the old home stead near Kearney. Clay county, Mo. and is 67 years of age.
 Charley Ford finally committed suicide and Bob. after leading a wild and un- happy life. principally among the from tier towns of the west. was finally killed in a gun fight in his saloon at Creede Col, by kBlackie Kelly in 1893.
 Jesse James. Jr., is engaged in the dry goods business al Kansas City, Mo, and is respected and prosperous citizen.
 also note the mention made in Mir Perkins article of the Coffeeville, Kan. bank robbery pulled off by the Dalton boys, in the fall of 1891 This hold UT was participated in by Bill. Bob, Grat and Emmett Dalton. and two, other par ties. whose names l do not now recall Bill Dalton was at one time United States n1dTSHdl III the iSfiiioIN bl okft- homa, and later charged with rust ling cattle and became fugitive from justice. The Dalton family lived in south ern Kansas on ranch. Bill was the ring < Header of this bunch, and not Bob, and vas thoroughly bad man and gur fighter. The Coffeeville bank robbery oc- cured in September, 1891, the gang riding by ones and twos into the town from diff ferent directions and assembling near the bank, which was situated on the corner i of the principal street and an alley. the alley running down the side of the bank building. Diagonally across the stree was a hardware store, and nearby liv- cry stable. the latter being operated by MT. Henry sims
 Grat Dalton. with one of the men whose name l do not remember, remained seated on their horses, and held those "i Bill and Emmett at the mouth of the alley: while Bob and the other unknown was stationed about a block up the street Z Bill and Emmett did the actual robbing They entered the bank during the noor hour, and throwing their guns in tne hheeo of the cashier and paying teller, or