Volume 18 , Issue 17

1948 - 1882 James Gang Exploits Retold

It was in The Lawton Constitution, Lawton, Oklahoma, dated 19 May 1948, Wednesday, page 7, we found this headline: "1882 Magazine Tells of James Gang Exploits." Full account was chronicled in old paper with the editor's note: "In an effort to refresh the memory of readers not he numerous escapades credited to the James gang, The Constitution reprints the following story taken verbatim from the September, 1882, issue of "The Police Gazette," shortly after Jesse James was purportedly killed."

Under the caption of one of the photos entitled, "Dirty Coward" is an artist's conception how Robert Ford shot Jesse James while the latter was hinging a picture. The picture was copied from an 1882 issue of the Police Gazette. As it turns out that it was Charley Bigelow who was killed instead of Jesse James.

Found on Newspapers.com

The name of Jesse James was well known as that of our most distinguished soldiers and statesmen. The deeds of the James Brothers and their desperate companions had become part of the history of the country. They had been the theme of columns in the newspaper press, they had been the subject of debate in great legislative assemblies, and the governor of one of the sovereign states had become an active and conspicuous figure in the closing scenes of the wild and romantic career of the chief of the band. As faithful chroniclers of the times gave a brief sketch of this remarkable character, it was not their purpose to point a moral or adorn a tale. The left that to others a tad of analyzing the causes of the possibility in this age and this country of the outlawry and brigandage of which he was the central figure, of moralizing on the crimes of the dead robber, or weaving the dazzling threads of romance through the dark woof of his bold and desperate life.

Frank James was born in Kentucky in 1843; Jesse in Clay County, Missouri, in 1849. Their father was the Rev. Robert James, a prominent and eloquent baptist minister. A pleasant and courteous gentleman, possessed of more education than was common with the ministers of his church in the frontier days of 1843 in that State, when the James family moved from Kentucky to Clay county. He was one of the first trustees of William Jewell College, located at Liberty, and though a resident of that vicinity only from 1843 to 1849, he had left a kindly remembrance of himself among the old settlers. In the latter named year he went to California and there died in 1851.

Mrs. James, after remaining a widow for five years, married Dr. Reuben Samuel, and then lived with her husband at Kearney, on the Hannibal and St. Joseph Railroad,a bout thirty miles from Kansas City. The mother of the James Boys was a remarkable woman, and her life had been a strange and eventful one.

When the first news of the actual beginning of the conflict between the States reached Missouri, Frank James, then eighteen years old, joined Quantrell's band of guerrillas, in which he soon become noted for his daring and murderous ferocity. Jesse, only 14 years old, sought service at the same time, but was rejected as too young. Returning home he became serviceable as a spy for the guerrillas in Clay and adjoining counties. It was not long, however, before Jesse joined his brother.

Thus the lad of fifteen began a career of murder and crime, a career of daring and desperate deeds that had no parallel in history. Frank had already attained eminence in Quantrell's gang of murderers and cut-throats and Jesse, emulating his example, soon eclipsed him and became the leader in all expeditions where nerve, daring bravery and a reckless disregard for his own or others' lives was required.

In Quantrell's command they found congenial spirits in Cole and Jim Younger, Jarrette, Clell Miller, George Shepherd and others who became partners in their robberies after the war.

Toward the close of the war Missouri became too hot for the guerrillas and they scattered, many of them going to Texas. At the final overthrow of the rebellion these reckless spirits found ti difficult to return to the peaceful walks of life.

Discontented and revengeful they moodily met and planned schemes of vengeance, which resulted in acts of outlawry that soon made their names a terror int he South and West.

Bank robberies on a new plan became common. Instead of secretly entering the bank at night and working with dark lantern and cold chisel, in the good old way, the more modern method of getting a confiding board of directors to discount worthless notes, or the latest favorite scheme of getting elected e cashier and cleaning out the safe, the new departure was for a body of masked men to dash boldly into a town, ride to the bank in broad daylight and at the point of the pistol demand the money from the affrighted bank officials.

Thus the Clay County Savings Bank, at Liberty, Missouri was robbed of $70,000 on February14, 1866, the bank of Mitchell & Co., at Lexington, Missouri, of $2,000 on October 30, 1866; Judge McLain's bank at Savannah, Missouri, on March 2d, 1867, and a desperate attempt upon the bank Hughes & Co., at Richmond, Missouri, a short time after.

Whether the James Brothers were concerned in these robberies would probably never be known. It was certain that the Younger bothers, Jim White, J.F. Edmonton, Bill Chiles, O. Shepherd, Bud McDaniel, Sam Pope, Tom Liddle and other pals of the James Boys took part in some or all of them. The Boys were strongly suspected but they as strongly denied having anything to do with any of these raids and the proof was not brought forward.

The robbery of the Russell (KY) Bank on the 20th of March, 1868, appeared to be the first of the series in which the James Boys were positively known to have been engaged. On a bright spring morning the inhabitants of the quiet little Kentucky town were startled by the inroad of a band of mounted men, armed with revolvers and bowie knives who dashed along the streets shouting and yelling like so many Comanche indians.

Riding up in front of the bank two lines of men were placed across the street to guard against anyone interfering with those delegated to rob the bank.

Frank and Jesse James both dismounted and ran into the bank. Frank pointed his pistol at the cashier's head and commanded him to offer no resistance on density of instant death. Jess plundered the safe of many thousands of dollars and remounted his horse, and the whole party galloped away.

The suddenness with which the whole job had been done, coupled with the terror, their entry into the town had inspired, delayed any immediate pursuit. By the time the people and recovered their wits and resolved on following the robbers they were well on their way to a place of safety.

In December, 1869, they robbed the bank at Gallatin, Missouri. Not only did they rob the bank, but deliberately shot and killed Captain Sheetz, the cashier, after they had collected all the money in the bank. Frank and Jesse James and Cole Younger were the only ones concerned in the robbery. Frank guarded the avenue of approach while Cole Younger and Jesse James entered the bank and forced the tribute.

Then followed the robberies of the banks at corydon, Iowa, and at Columbia, Kentucky, in the latter of which Mr. Martin, the cashier, was brutally murdered while defending the vault. IN the following May a band rode into St. Genevieve, Missouri and after intimidating the citizens and bank officers escaped with all the funds the bank vault contained.

By this time the novelty of robbing banks appeared to have pretty well worn off among these desperadoes.

Until 1874 the outlaws were not heard of, except rumored accounts of their presence in Mexico and on the Rio Grand frontier.

About that time there began a number of daring stage and train robberies which were attributed to a gang under the leadership the James boys. In January a stage journeying from Malvern to the Hot Springs was stopped and the passengers robbed.

In the fall of that year Kansas City was for the first time visited by the outlaws in an official capacity. The county agricultural fair was in progress, and it was on Thursday, the big day, that three men not only might have been but were seen to ride up to the gate of the grounds. They were well mounted and wore linen dusters and the usual wide-brimmed slouched hat commonly affected by Missourians. On reaching the gate one dismounted, handing his bridle reins to his comrades. He approached the ticket office, and looking through the window, said to the cashier, "What if I was to say I was Jesse James, and told you to had out that tin box of money, what would you say?" "I'd say I'd see you in hell first," was the contemptuous reply. "Well, that's just who I am - Jesse James; and you had better hand it out pretty damned quick, or ..." and the rest of the sentence was finished by leveling a huge navy revolver at ht cashier. The box was handed out with its contents of $10,000, and the three desperadoes rode off unmolested.

A number of train robberies followed, all of which the gang were concerned in. They put a climax to the audacious career in this section the country by the robbery of an Iron Mountain Railroad train at Gad's Hill. They took possession the station, switched the train on a side track, and, at their leisure, Clell Miller, Jesse and Frank James, Jim and Cole Younger, stripped the passengers of their surplus wealth, and robbed the express car of $11,500.

So many robberies, following so fast upon numerous others, aroused the authorities, and especially the railroad and express companies, to do something to protect their large interests. Pinkerton's Detective Agency was employed to track down and bring these daring outlaws to justice.

During all these attempts to capture the desperadoes train robberies continued. One of the most daring of these took place on the 8th of December, 1874, at Muncie, a station about six miles west of Kansas City. The track was torn up, and passage was blocked by two rails being set on end and crossed against each other like the supports of a rail fence.

Five masked men seized the railroad station, gagged the station keeper, and then went, out some distance and signaled the outgoing train from Kansas City, which carried Wells, Fargo & Co.'s Express.

On the train coming to a stop one of the men jumped on board the locomotive, disconnected it from the engine, and putting a revolver at the engineer's head told him to run on. The locomotive was run forward until it reached the point of obstruction when, of course, it stopped.

In the meantime two men had jumped into the express car, while the other two stood outside and leveled their revolvers at the heads of any passengers that might be thrust out of the window. The express messenger was made a prisoner, his iron safe was unlocked and the money and valuables it contained, about $10,000 in cash and a large amount of valuable jewelry, taken out. The two men who had done this jumped out of the express car, and while their companions guarded them from pursuit mounted their horses which were hitched near the track.

Out of the Muncie robbery grew the sad tragedy enacted at the Home of Mrs. Samuels, in Clay County, on the night of January 27, 1875, which added one more to the fancied causes why the James boys should continue their career of brigandage.

The proffered reward of Kansas Pacific and Express officials for the arrestor the perpetrators of the Muncie outrage again brought Pinkerton's men into the filled, and one cold evening in January a special train, having on board a posse of eight heavily armed men, stopped near Kearney, Missouri, and, wagons being in waiting, they were quietly driven tot he neighborhood of the Samuels' home, and in a few moments had surrounded the house supposed to contain Jesse and Frank James.

Ignorer to light up the inside of the house to the view of those in the darkness, a prepared torch, consisting of a cast iron shell about three inches in diameter, filled with oil and supplied with a fuse, was hurled through the window into the kitchen. By its explosion Mrs.Samuels, the mother of the daring bandits of the border, had her right hand shattered from he wrist and her pet boy, as she called him, Archie, a bright faced ten year old, was almost instantly killed. Her husband was knocked down senseless, and an old negro, who had been a servant in the family for twenty-seven years was injured.

So hot and determined was the pursuit of the gang after the train robbery at Muncie, which resulted in "Bud" McDaniel's death, that the robbers separated, the James boys going to the Panhandle of Texas, where their brother-in-law, Allen Palmer, owned a fine ranch. Frank, however, soon went to Kentucky, where he was joined by Cole Younger, Thompson McDaniels and a man known as Keen, alias Webb, alias Hinds, and the Huntington, West Virginia, robbery was then planned and carried into execution.

The robbery occurred in September, 1876, and it had always been thought that Frank James and McDaniels entered the bank, leaving their companions as a guard outside. The cashier was compelled to deliver up what money he had, about $6,000, and with this booty the four men rode rapidly out of town, but in less than two hours a posse of over one hundred men started in pursuit.

In the mountains, nearly one hundred miles from Huntington, a fight took place between the officers and fleeing robbers, and Thompson McDaniels was killed, and Keen, alias Hinds, was captured; but, as usual, Cole Younger and Frank James escaped. Keen was sentenced to fourteen years in the Penitentiary, and was serving his time. He had never told his name or home, and steadfastly refused to open his mouth regarding his companions at Huntington.

The 7th of September, 1878, was a day long to be remembered by the good people of Northfields.

About two o'clock in the afternoon the band, composed of the James boys, Bill Chadwell, Clell Miller, and Cole and Jim Younger, mounted their horses and rode direct from their hiding place into town,a nd directly to the bank, the exact position which had been previously ascertained.

Stopping directly in front of the bank, Frank and Jesse James and Cole and Jim Younger dismounted, while the rest of the gang kept on their horses to guard against an attack by the citizens.

The leaders ran into the bank, and at once began business. Over the counter bounded all four, and confronted the cashier with a huge knife which they held at his breast, and commanded hims o open the safe instantly or become an angel.

The brave cashier peremptorily refused to comply with their demands,a nd to convince him that they were not triflers, but terribly earnest men, Cole Younger drew the knife gently across his throat, making only a skin deep scratch.

This did not avail, so far as scaring the cashier into a disclosure of the whereabouts of the bank's treasure. "Damn you!" exclaimed Jesse James, "we can't fool our time away parlaying with you. Take that for your obstinacy," and a ball went crashing into the brave cashier's skull. Without a groan he fell in his tracks, a dead man.

The inhabitants of Northfields were too matter of fact to be thrown into a panic by such demonstrations. The movement on the bank was at once noted and its object comprehended, and many citizens seized their weapons and started for the bank. They fired at the outlaws on guard, killing Pitts and Chadwell. Hurrying out of the bank the four leaders mounted their horses, and the six living bandits galloped away, leaving their unfortunate comrades in the hands of the enemy.

And they did not get away nay too quick, for already a band of fifty citizens, well mounted and armed were nearly ready to take the road in pursuit.

The chase was kept up for near three weeks and finally resulted in the capture of Jim, Cole and Bob Younger, after a desperate fight. Clell Miller was killed and all the other bandits severely wounded. Jesse and Frank James were wounded, but with their usual good luck, managed to escape.

By careful nursing the Youngers recovered from their wounds. In October they were arraigned before the Fairhault, Minnesota court on a charge of murder and robbery, but through skillful counsel escaped hanging.

The State prison at Stillwater was their present home and would be for the remainder of their lives.

The terrible result of the last raid of the gang, and the killing and the capturing of so many of their old partners in crime, had the effect for two or three years to retire the boys from public gaze, but the old spirit agains came upon them, and in the fall of 1879 they returned to their old haunts in Clay county, and very soon had about them a new gang read to follow wherever a rich haul was in sight. During the flight frank James received a wound in the hip which necessitated a surgical operation, which left him a cripple for life. But notwithstanding this misfortune did it not serve to cool his ardor for deeds deviltry.

It was some time after their return to the maternal roof in Kearney, Missouri, before they again attempted any further raids. In the meantime the brothers had come married men. Frank marrying Miss Annie Ralston, an accomplished and beautiful woman,of Independence, Missouri, and Jesse taking for better or worse his cousin, Miss Zerelda Mimms.

Among the recruits the boys gathered about them during their short sojourn at Kearney were Ed Miller, brother of Clell, killed at Northfild; Jim Cummings, a noted Clay county horse thief; Tucker Baasham, Ed Ryan and Dick Little. The last three were young farmer's sons, who, led on by the persuasive power of Jesse James, went blindly into the work.

Frank James, in consequence of the wounds received in Minnesota, for some time remained on the ranch of his brother-in-law, Allen Palmer, in Texas, and was not one of the gang who agains made Missouri soil obnoxious to persons from abroad.

After looking about for a few days, Glendale,a little station in Jackson county, seventeen miles from Kansas City, on the Chicago and Alton Railroad, was selected as the scene of their next exploit, and on the evening of October 8 the attack was made by Jesse James, Ed Miller, Jim Cummings, Ed Ryan, Tucker Baasham and Dick Little. Like all preceding train robberies, it was a success,a nd after battering down the door of the express car, Jesse James and Ed Miller entered with revolvers in their hands and compelled Grimes, the messenger, to unlock his safe and hand over the contents, variously estimated at from $25,000 to $30,000.

With this amount the gang was well pleased, so expressing themselves to the train hands, and then like a flash they left that section, and in less than twenty-four hours were scattered about Jacksona nd Clay counties. James Ligget, at that time Marshal of Jackson county, at once organized a strong party to capture the robbers, if possible, and Geo.Shepherd, a former friend of Jesse James, and of the Russellville, Kentucky, bank robbers, was taken into the confidence of the officials. Shepherd was a Lieutenant under the noted guerrilla Quantrell and was known as a brave and desperate man, and, besides, had an old grudge against Jesse James, who he claimed murdered his nephew and robbed him of $5,000 shortly after the trip into Kentucky which resulted in Shepherd's capture and imprisonment for three years.

A plan was arranged whereby Shepherd was to go and join Jesse James and remain with him several days. Ed Miller and Jim Cummings were also of the party, and the leader seemed to mistrust Shepherd from he start, and watched him so closely that no chance was given to communicate with Marshal Ligget.

In southwestern Missouri the gang made arrangements to rob the bank at Galena, in the lead district and Shepherd was sent into the town o reconnoiter, but, to be on the safe side, Ed Miller was sent into watch Shepherd and to see if all was right. Shepherd easily fell into the trap, for when he reached the town he at once sent a telegram to Ligget giving the date of the bank robbery,a nd also warned the bank officials.

All this Miller ascertained by closely watching Shepherd, and after satisfying himself of the treachery of the man, he rode back to camp and related what had taken place to Jesse James. It was at once decided to kill Shepherd when he returned and about ten o'clock the following morning, when he came back, the attempt was made. What occurred at that time had never been known, except from the lips of Shepherd, who said that as soon as the came in sight of the camp he saw something was wrong, and immediately determined to kill Jesse James then and there, and prepared himself for any emergency.

As the boss saw him returning they mounted their horses,a nd when he as close enough as they thought they opened fire upon him. He returned it, and says he shot Jesse James in the back of the neck and that the latter fell from his horse dead. Shepherd then turned his horse's head and fled, and was shot through the left leg by Jim Cummings, who followed him three miles. This is Shepherd's story as related tot he writer.

Shepherd was himself shot, as he described, and for a time many people thought he had killed Jesse James, but subsequent events proved that the lucky highwayman had only been badly wounded, and, protected by his friends, was taken to a place of safety and his wound attended to by a doctor from Joplin, who was heavily paid for his services.

It was seeks before he recovered sufficiently to travel, but in January he was removed to Texas. Far away in that region of the great Sate of texan known as the territory of Bear, the boys had established a retreat known as Rest Ranch. Here they had installed their wives before setting out on the adventures described in this story and thither they returned to recuperate from their wounds.

Very little was heard of the terrible bothers after the Galena affair, until July 15th, 1881. Several train robberies occurred that they were supposed to have a hand in, but so famous had they become for such raids, that whenever one took place it was attributed to them. It was doubtful if they knew anything of one half of the robberies of which they were accused.

About eleven o'clock on the night of the date above mentioned, an express train on the Rock Island and Pacific Railway, making its way westward, took aboard six men who got on at Cameron, and taking seats sat quietly until the train reached Winston. At the latter place the train stopped. At this point the six men disclosed themselves as train robbers, and by the usual practice of shooting and yelling over awed the passengers. The conductor and a brakeman were shot dead. After rifling the safe the express car of some ten thousand dollars, the robbers left the car and disappeared after firing a parting salute. This was the last raid of the famous James brothers. The whole county was fully aroused as it had never been before.

It having been established beyond a doubt that the James boys and their gang were the Winston train robbers, Governor Crittenden resolved to offer a large reward for their capture. On the 25 July he held a secret conference with a number of railroad officials at St. Louis, and the sumo $50,000 was subscribed as a reward for their capture.

Governor Thomas T. Crittenden issued a proclamation in which he offered $5,000 reward for each of the gang, and a special reward of $5,000 for the capture of the James brothers.

The capture of the bandits was no easy matter. In the usual war between the criminal classes and society, the officers of the law had generally the active aid, sympathy and co-operation of the community. In the case of the James boys the officers or organization which undertook to capture them had no such reliance.

Although known to be in the neighborhood it was impossible to track them. The country was full of their friends and such of the inhabitants as were not their friends kept a discreet silence through fear. The usual detective tactics of getting one of the gang to squeal against his pals was useless in this case, as the quick vengeance of the James' had so often been meted out to those they suspected of treachery that it would be a brave man indeed who would dare such an attempt.

But the end was drawing near. In November, 1881, a man named Howard appeared at St. Joseph, Missouri, and settled in a primitive cabin on the outskirts of the city. He had with him his wife, a slender, neat and delicate looking woman, and a friend who passed by the name Charles Johnson. In the middle of March, 1882, the trio were joined by another man who called himself Robert Johnson, a brother of the first named.

The house in which they lived was a little on-story white house of seven rooms, located on the brow of a hill, where a good view was had, and where a fine defense could be made if necessary. Howard had two two fine horses, but rarely used them during his residence in the city, and kept remarkably close at home, the wife doing the most of the shopping, and as neighbors were few they lived entirely by themselves. They had two children a little boy of our and a girl of seven, both bright and intelligent children. The Johnsons were young men, of 21 and 24 years, with more the appearance of boys than men accustomed to roughing it in the world. They seemed to be upon the best of terms with Howard, who in return appeared to entertain a marked regard for them.

At 8 o'clock on the morning of April 3, the town was thrown into a state of the wildest excitement by the news that the two Johnsons had shot Howard dead in his room. The excitement was not allayed by the discovery that Howard was none other than Jesse James, and that his murderers were members of his gang who had been acting as spies on him in the interest of the law. The Johnson brothers were Charles and Robert Ford, then known throughout the length and breadth of the land as the noted robber they removed.

The death of the noted outlaw was witnessed by none but the Ford brothers. Mrs. James was in an adjoining room, and rushed to her husband's side as soon as she heard the report of the pistol, but he was already dead. According to the statement of the Fords, the last scene was as follows:

On the morning of the 3rd of April they all rose early and were preparing to go on one of those raids which had made the name of Jesse James a terror. Jesse and Charley Ford who had been to the stable to clean the horses, came in and washed themselves in the kitchen and then stepped into Jesse's room,where Bob joined them. Mrs. James was at work in the room back of the kitchen, and the children were playing in front of the house. Jesse stepped up to the bureau and combed his hair. He removed his coat and then his belt containing two pistols and a number of cartridges and threw them carelessly on the bed. Looking toward the east side of the room he remarked that a picture needed dusting. He picked up the duster from a bureau and got up upon a chair which he had placed under the picture. Bob at this time stood leaning against the bureau,a nd Charley was near the window on the west side of the room. He stepped upon the chair face the picture and both of the boys dry their weapons. Jesse probably heard them cock, for he quickly turned and saw Charley with the pistol pointed at him. He was apparently about to spring, when Bob let fly, and the bullet, 45-calibre, from a Colt's revolver, struck him in the head, and he fell. He struck on his shoulder, and rolled over on his back. The boys stepped up to him, ready to fire again, but saw that one shot had been sufficient. Mrs. James, who had heard the report, entered the room and stooped down and tried to raise up Jesse's head. "You have killed my husband," she cried.

The two Ford brothers immediately delivered themselves to the authorities and were confined in jail, charged with murder, under a warrant sworn out by Mrs. James. They refused to be interviewed, but these facts in regard to their plot were elicited. In July, 1881, Robert engaged in the detective business in Kansas City. He soon got is credentials as detective,a nd engaged in the hunt for Jesse James. Charles engaged to help,a nd aided by their victims' confidence in them they carried out their plot as we had seen.

On April 17, two weeks after the shooting, Robert and Charles Ford were arraigned in the Criminal court at ST. Joseph on the charge of murder in the first degree. They both pleaded guilty and were sentenced to be hung on May 19th, but the sentence did not perceptibly affect either prisoners or audience,a s it was well understood that a pardon was on the way from the Governor. The pardon arrived the next day and the prisoners were released. The great bandit was dead, but the interest int he story of his life and everything pertaining to him remains, and continues to increase. At the sale of a the few effects he had at his house at St. Joseph there was a lively competition for the purchase of relics, and the scene on the occasion was not exaggerated in the engraving of another page.

The anxiety to see the brothers who had bearded thereon in his den became so great that Charles and Robert Ford, after refusing many tempting offers were at last induced to appear before the public. In Chicago, Cincinnati and other western cities crowds flocked to their receptions,a nd to the enterprise of Mr. George B. Bunnell, the people of the east were indebted for an opportunity to satisfy a natural curiosity.
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