Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1916-03-23
DEATH Of COLE
YOUNGER, LAST OF
MISSOURI BANDITS
Was the Sole Survivor of the
Famous Jesse James Out
law Gang of Border
Days.

Lees Summit. Mo, March 2L--cole
ounger. notorious outlaw OF border days.
put of late years dcvout church at
endant and peaceful citizen. Gied at his
ONE here tonight after a lingering i'll
'ess. lie was 12 years of age and UNI
narrled.
Cole Younger was ono Of the last mem
'crs Of the notorious robber hands that
infested western Missouri during and
fter tho Civil War. He was member Of
he Quantrell band Of guerrillas and with
his two brothers took part with the
James boys in bank and train robbie r'ics
n Missouri and neighboring States that
'etted the hooters more than hundred
thousand dollars. The leading members
pr these bands are dead. some at the
lands OF the law, some by suicide and
'thers from natural causes. Younger
rfter long term in the penitcntiary be-
anne law abiding Missouri citizen.
Cole was the oldest of the three Young
Re hoys."
The father, Col. Harry w. Younger,
rame to Missouri from kentucky before
lie war. He was strong union man,
hough a Shareholder. He settled near
ees Summit. - miles from Kansas City,
where Cole was born in 1911 Colonel
Younger was murdered by one of the
hands Of lawless gucrrillas that infested
he Missouri Kansas border in war times.
The sons said their father was slain by
f<ansans for the purpose of robbery. They
Immediately took up arms against the
horth. They joined Quantrell's guirrellas
end had their part i'm the memorable sack
ng of Lawrence, Kansas
Many sensational robberies for which
he Younger and James boys were blamed
were carried out successfully before tn,
three Younger brothers were captured il
Minnesota after raid on bank al
Northf1eld. Mimi. in 1876, in the course
uf which Cashier Haywood was killed
lThe Youngers were shot many times ir
battles with a posse. but finally were
taken alive after battle al Shields
WILLIE MINI.
Cole and his brothers pleaded guilt,
hnd were sentenced to prison for life
They entered the penitentiary at Still
water, MINI, and became model pris
pners. Bob died in the pententiary II
rss9. Cole and James Younger wer
raroled in 1901. The next year Jane
F1ot himself leaving a note ascribln'
his action to a refusal of the paro
hoard to permit him to marry the cir
he loved.
After Cole was paroled he was force
NY Minnesota law to live in that Stat
for three years. Then he returned Z
Missouri and settled down in a vine GOV
cred cottage, which he bought for
niece in Lees Summit. the scene Of hi
boyhood days. For time he was con
nected with n show and later went Of
he lecture platform, and became a goo
citizen.
In August. 1913. Younger was convert
ed to religion at revival meeting an
became an active church worker
i've led an adventurous, turbulen
l'fe' he said The war brought o
tate and strife and killing around here
b have been blamed for lot of it Wit
(which I had nothing to do. They nun
dered my father and | was launche
Into a life of shooting and reprisals an
rough riding. winding up with . year
IN the penitentiary. I was brought II
1n a. Christian home. Now I'm an oil
man and I've come by Gods mercy bac
70 the place of my childhood to end m
days