The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1915-03-04
"A REAL REFORMATION.
Frank James Kept The Faith and
Died a Most Highly RESPECT
ed Citizen.

Frank James is dead. The noted
character, the most noted reformed
outlaw the world has ever known,
succumbed to an attack OF apoplexy
at the old Samuels homestead in
Clay county, Missouri, within thirty
miles Of Kansas City. The public is
well versed in the career OF the
James boys, but suffice to say that
not all the crimes laid at their door
did they commit. After the tragic
assassination of Jesse James by Bob
Ford, one of his gang, Frank James,
who had been living, quietly in Texas
for some time, surrendered his pls-
tolls to Gov. Crittenden and after his
acquittal on the charge of murder
settled down to quiet useful life.
The reformation was actual and real
and friends and former enemies
alike were filled with sadness at the
announcement of his death.
1t was his personal request that
his body be cremated and his ashes
placed in safety vault, and that Ex-
United States Judge John F. Phillips,
who defended him in his only trial,
deliver the funeral address. His wish
es were complied with.
Judge John F. Phillips, in his fun
eral address, said in part:
"The last time saw Frank James
in life was a year ago at the Balti-
more Hotel in Kansas City. After
some conversation he took me to one
side and said:
"'You and l are growing old, and
probably soon the end will come to
both of us. l know no man whom |
would prefer to speak at my funeral
such words as your heart may
prompt, and now and here | want
you to promise that if go first you
will deliver my funeral Grafton
II promised and L am here to full
fill that promise.
at is a matter of history that in
the early sos Frank James was
hunted man. | had never met him.
He had no other claims on me than
the bonds of common humanity. A
mutual friend, John N. Edwards,
came to my Office and told me that
Frank James was ready to come IN
and surrender, and he wanted me
to defend him against any otfcnse
that might be charged against him.
He hadn't dollar to offer me. 1t was
not in my nature to turn deaf ear
to that appeal, no matter what the
consequences to me might be. There
was an indictment then against him
in Jackson county, but he was taken
to Daviess county, there to be tried
for the crime of murder.
"My first meeting with Frank
James, was in the Jail in Independ-
ence. He told me that the reason
for his surrender was that he would
rather be hanged and known to the
world as a public malefactor than to
have his own conscience burdened
with the knowledge that he was a
fugitive from justice.
1--WE went to Daviess county and
met the prosecution on its chosen
battlefield, and before tribunal by
no means friendly he was acquitted.
After, the excitment of his acquittal
has subsidized, Frank made his way
through the crowded courtroom,
grasped me by the hand and with
tears in his wonderful eyes said, Il
can never compensate you for what
you have spoken and done In my be-
half"
g Yes you cam answered. i
have been much criticised for espOus-
ing your cause and will be much crit
icised in the future Take your wife
and boy and make for them happy
home, acquit yourself like the man
you are and will be rewarded
''And have received my reward.
No event of my life do l look back
upon with more gratitude and pride
than the service then rendered him.
Since then have followed with solic-
itude and marked his course. When
we met, which was often, | never
failed to warn him against the bats
and spells thrown out by fakirs to
coin money out of his necessities.
warned him against going into garish
shows and exhibiting himself to the
rabble crowd. l told him to refuse
all such offers as the Savior did the
devil on the mount.
with his impaired health, little
able to earn a living by the sweat OF
his face, there were times when he
felt the pinch of poverty. At one
time he entered into contract with
a show and one day he came into my
office and handed me the contract
and said, Look this over and see II
I can break it. l am going to quit
those men,.
II asked him what was the matter,
and he said that he had discovered
tile vendor of tickets with that show
was swindling it's patrons by not Civ
ing back the right change and
Frank James told me then that he
would not be a party, even indirectly
to. a thing of that kind, and although
he needed the money he was going
to give it up and 60 back to the farm,
where he could earn bread that was
not cankered by fraud.
''He made homestead entry in
Oklahoma, built little home there,
and took his wife and lived there.
His mother died and he came back
here to the old homestead where we
are assembled today, and here he
spent the remnant of his life. living
honestly and unafraid, and now he is
gone and his dust and ashes have
found that surcease which the world
did not give him.
aside from the remarkable career
of this man, he had traits of charac-
ter that were admirable. He possess
ed remarkable mentality and his