The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1916-03-23
COLE YOUNGER DEAD
Was the Last of a Famous Gang O.
Eaudito,

Lees Summit, Mo-, March 21-Cole
Younger. notorious outlaw of border
days, but OF late years a devout church
attendant and peaceful citizen. died at
his home here tonight after a linger
ing illness. He was 72 years of age
and unmarried.
Cole Younger was one of the last
members of the notorious robber bands
that infested western Missouri during
and after the Civil war. He was a
member of the Quantrell band OF
guerrillas and with his two brothers
took part with the James boys" in
bank and train robberies in Missouri
and neighboring states that netted the
looters more than hundred thousand
dollars. The leading members OF
these bands are dead, some at the
hands of the law, some by suicide and
Others from natural causes. Younger
after a long term in the penitentiary
became law abiding Missouri citizen
Cole was the oldest of the three
Younger boys"
The father, Col Harry w. Younger
came to Missouri from Kentucky be-
fore the war He was strong unior
man, though a STAKEHOLDER. He settled
near Lees Summit, 20 miles from Kan
sas City, where Cole was born in 1874
Colonel Younger was murdered by one
of the bands of lawless guerrillas that
infested the Missouri-Kansas border il
war times. The sens said their father
was slain by kansans for the purpose
of robbery. They Immediately took ur
arms against the north. They Joined
Quantrelrs guerrillas and had their
part in the memorable sacking OF
Lawrence, Kansas.
Many sensational robberies for
which the Younger and James boys
were blamed were carried out sic
cessively before the three Younger
brothers were captured in Minnesota
after a raid on bank at Mortified
Minn., in 1876, in the course of which
Cashier Haywood was killed. The
Youngers were shot many times il
battles with posse, but finally were
taken alive after battle at Shields.
vile, MINI.
Cole and his brothers pleaded guilty
and were sentenced to prison for life
They entered the penitentiary at Still
water, Mimi, and became model pris
oners. Bob died in the penitentiary in
1889. Cole and James Younger were
paroled in 1901. The next year James
shot himself leaving note ascribino
his action to a refusal of the parole
board to permit him to marry the
girl he loved.
After Cole was paroled he was
forced by Minnesota law to live in that
state for three years. Then he re
turned to Missouri and settlet down
in a vine covered cottage, which he
bought for niece in Lees Summit
the scene of his boyhood days For a
time he was connected with show
and later went on the lecture platform
and became a good citizen.
In August. 1913, Younger was con.
verted to religion at revival meeting
and became an active church worker
''Pye led an adventurous, turbulent
life,' he said. The war brought or
hate and strife and killing around here
| have been blamed for lot of it with
which had nothing to do. They mur
dered my father and was launched
into life of shooting and reprisals
and rough riding, winding up with 25
years in the penitentiary. was
brought up in a Christian home. Now
Pm an old man and I've come by Gods
mercy back to the place of my child.
hood to end my days."