Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-01-11


James never had taken off his
L gun belt since he first Joined the
guerrillas under Quantrell. He
had even learned to sleep. it was said,
so that if awakened in the night his
hand would be on the grip of his gun
as his eyes opened. That belt meant
more to me than John L. Sullivan's
would have.
It is needless to say that We little
boys regarded Jesse James as a great
hero. I guess most boys did. had
big advantage, though, in that played
with Bob Palmer, the little son OF Mrs
Allen Palmer, the sister OF Jesse and
Frank James. Our yards were just
across the street from each other.
Little Bob had assured me that the
report of his uncle never taking off the
belt was correct. He had peeked
through the keyhole to watch him go to
bed.
Jesse Quick on the Trigger.
On one occasion, we were told land
place and sneaked up to the door. which
he found unlocked. A ray of moonlight
flashed on the blue steel of his gun as
he drew it to shoot the outlaw sleeping.
Before he could pull the trigger there
was fash from Jesse's bed. The first
bullet shot the gun from the mans
hand and the next went through his
heart In 10 minutes Jesse and his
gang were riding to another town.
The virtues of Jesse James were
openly extolled in our town. There
was much sympathy for him, many
people believing that he had been
wronged and forced into banditry. He
made a point of never raiding in
Texas. When he stopped at a farm
house or ranch he always gave the
woman $40 gold piece and paid well
for everything he got. These people
would not only hide him, but would
try to throw the sheriff's posse OF the
trail.
I remember his virtues being pointed
out one time In gang OF cattlemen.
Like all little boys I listened. The
James gang had just held up and
robbed q train. In going through the
passenger coach one of the bandits
had found jug of corn whisky. He
called the attention Of the others to It,
prop that!" ordered Jesse, the
leader.
with that he fired "A bullet
through the Jug, shattering it and scat
tering whisky all over. The business
of holding up the frightened passengers
then proceeded, the fumes of whisky
filling the car.
"If YOU want to drink, do it when
4 tell YOU" Jesse told the man. But
never let drop of whisky pass your
lips during business hours!"
story Went the Rounds.
That story went the rounds, the idea
being to impress upon folks how Jesse
James was pointing out the evils OF
As I have said, my eyes were riveted
on his belt that night. Yes, there IL
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 Ford, he had gone to MS otner
sisters home in Missouri. Feeling par
ticulariy good, Jesse had offered 10 neIp
his sister Ak up the house. They were
all in the dining room, Bob Ford sltIlng
at the table. A picture on the wall
was not right.
'sWait1l straighten it." said Jesse;
The outlaw got on chair to hang the
picture, He found his belt in the way.
Forgetting for once, he unold 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. 1t was the nfst
dime anybody ever had seen Jesse
James with his hands up. BOD Foro
Saueht the idea in flash. Reaching
i,r Jesse's belt he pulled one OF the SIX
hooters and shot his leader dead,
A big reward had been o1ereo ios
Jesse James, dead or alive. toro
thought of that reward. Though he had
rid the country of its most dangerous
outlaw. nobody ever spoke OF his oeeo
except with scorn. ~,
Jesse James, you know, lived as clGl-
zen under the name of Howard.
In those days every kid sang song
that ran like this:
1.-THE dirty little coward
That shot Mister Howard
And laid poor Jesse in his grave,
Gangs Evil Effect Felt.
AS grew up into a man the deeds OF
the James gang still were discussed.
The evil effect of their adventurous
deeds was to lead many young men ln1o
a wrong way of thinking. For long
tine-lO wears or more-there was
spell of train robbing and other out
lawry.
I had a Job of line riding for a big
ranch That means it was my duty TO
ride along the border OF a ranch ana
see that the cattle kept to their own
range. Another cowboy, Crawford Fos-
ter. worked with me. He rode from one
end and I from the other. We would
meet at night and camp together. Rare
Nv did a night pass but Foster would peg
me to 20 into scheme With MIN 10 rop
a bank. He had his hold-up all planned
and would point out very carefully now
it could be worked out. Luckily I had
enough sense not to be Influenced. AT
that, his talk was alluring.
So strong did the idea stay In Fos-
ter's mind that he finally got another
young cowboy in with him, and tney
actually did rob the bank at Wlcnlta
Falls, shooting the cashier.
They were both caught and hanged
to pole directly in front OF the nank
they had robbed. Those dangling ng-
ures cured lot of outlaw ideas tnen
cropping up in youngsters.
A little later on l lnteno 10 IeiaCe
an incident of the famous drive we
made in taking a herd all the way
from Texas to Montana for grazing
AT this moment, though, 1t recalls an
other bit of train robbing.
In our outfit there were three young
cowboys-Billy Newberry, Matt SnaW
and Newt Gibson. Occasionally IN
camp they would sit around and discuss
the advantage of train robbery ana o.
organizing another gang like that o.
Jesse James. Again was wise enough
to listen, but keep my own counsel; -.
The rest of us thought it all talk
and forgot it when we finally brought
the herd into Montana.
A little later was sent on to Kansas
City and Chicago with the cattle train
and then given pass back to Texas
While was gone those boys actually
did organize an outlaw band.
Robbed Train Of 100000.
train and robbed the express rnessen
ger Of 100000 in gold. They did no