Evening star., 1924-01-22
CHAPTER IV.
A Bigger Belt Than John l..
Suliivan's.
BY TEX RICHARD.

THERE was.a constantly discuss
ed report i'll our section that
Jesse James, the leader OF the gang,
had never taken off his gun belt
since he first joined the gucrrillas
under Quantrell He had even learn
ed 10 sleep, it was said, so that if
awakened in tho, night his hand
would be on the grip OF his gun as
his eyes opened. That belt meant
more to ME than John /. Sullivan )
would have
1t Is needless to say that we little
boys regarded Jesse James a 5 great
hero, ] guess most boys did. / had
i big advantage. though, in that
played with Bob Palmer. the little
son OF Mrs. AileA Palmer. the sister
OF Jesse and Frank James. Our
Yards were lust across the street
from each other.
Little Bob had assured me that tho
report or his uncle never taking off
tne peit was correct. he had peeked
.hfousA the heyhole to watch him go
ON one occasion. we were told (apd
we believed) man found Jesse's
!Idlhs place and 3neaked up To the
noof' which he found unlocked A raw
OF moonlight flashed on the blue steel
vi ms sun As ne drew il to shoot the
outlaw sleeping. Before he could puII
the trigger there was flash from
Jesse bed. The first bullet shot the
gun from his mans hand and tho
next went through his heart. In ten
minutes Jesse and his gang were rid
ing on TO another town.
The virtues of Jesse James were
openly eAtolled in our town. There
was much sympathy for him. manv
people believing that he had been
TWronged and forced into his banditry
ne ~ made point of EeVerA raidiug in
Iexas. When he stopped at a farm
mousse or ranch he always gave the
woman twenty-dollar bold niece
ana paid well for everything he got.
hese people would not only hide him
nut would try to throw tho shcrilf'S
posse off the trail
1 remember his virtues being point
ed out one time in q gang of cattle
men. Like all little boys / listened
ne james gang had just held up and
ropDfd tram. In going through the
passenger coach one of the bandits
nad found jug OF corn whisky. He
called the attention of the others To
1t: yelpinf in elee.
leader.
bandit as Temperance Leader.
with that he fired a forty-four hui
Jet through the jug, shattering it and
sratterihS whisky all over. The bust
passengers then proceeded. the fumes
of whisky filing the car.
~ you want TO drink. do il when 7
tell you, Jesse told the man. But
never let a drop of whisky pass your
lips during business hours" -
Tfat story went the rounds. the idea
1elns TO impress upon folks how
Jesse James was pointing out the
evils of drinking.
As have said, my eyes were rivnted
on ms belt that night. Yes there it
was, even while he Kissed his sister.
The first time Jesse James removed
that belt he was killed
with several of the gang, including
Bob 3 Ford, he had gene TO his other
5 sisters - home In Missouri. Fseling
TO help his sister FIX up the house
They were all in the dining room.
Bob Ford sitting at. the table.
picture on the wall was not right.
Wait II | straiShten it," said
Jesse
The outlaw got on chair to hang
the picture. He found his belt. in the
way. Forgetting for once, he updId
the buckle and laid the belt, with
the pistols in it, on the table
Then he reached up with both
hands TO hang the picture IT was
the first time anybody ever had seen
Jesse James with his hands up. Bob
Ford caught the idea in fash.
Reaching for Jesse's belt he pulled
one of che six shooters and shot his
leader dead.
A big reward had been offered for
Jesse James dead or alive Ford
had rid the country of it's most
dangerous outlaw, nobody ever spoke
OF hss cowardly deed except with
scorn.
Jesse James, you know. lived as
citizen under. the name of Howard.
In those days every kid sang
song that ran like this:
The dirty little coward
That shot Mr.. Howard
And laid poor Jesse in his grave"
Pal Asks Him to Rob Bank.
As I grew up into a man the deeds
of the James gang were still dis
cussed. The evil effect of his adven-
turous deeds was to lead many
young men into wrong way of
For a long time-ten
years or more-there was a spell of
train robbing and other outIawry.
I had job of line riding for a
big ranch: That means it was my
duty to ride along the border of a
ranch and see that the cattle kent
TO their own range. Another cowbov.
Crawford Foster. worked with me.