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; THE DEAD OUTLAWMISSOURI STIRBED TO IIS FODFDA-j TIOES BY HIS DEMISE.lou James Mother Visits the Remains ! ami Testifies at the Inquest—Verdict of the Coroner's Jury-Description of the Cowardly Individual Who Did the Shooting:—Fears For His Safety Details From all PointsJAMES worth HATE JUMPED.Si. Louis, April 4.—Mattie Collins, wife of Dick Little, recently showed a Post Dispatch correspondent a letter received about two weeks ago from Jesse James in which he states that he would stay in this country until he had killed him (Dick Little), and then he and his brother frank and their families would put the Atlantic ocean between them and the United States.SURRENDER OF THE REMAINS.Kansas Citz, Mo, April 4.—There are no new developments at this point to day in regard to the killing of Jesse James. Got. Crittenden arrived here this morning. Concluded to go on to St. Joseph. He has ordered the officers In St. Joseph to turn over the body to his wife and mother as it has been fully identified aa that of Jesses James.THE BODT IDENTIFIED.Kansas Citt, April 4.—The death of Jesse James, the teal great Missouri bandit, is now beyond question and a fact. Gov. Crittenden arrived here this morning and says positively that it is he and that his death is the result of an understanding between the authorities and Bob Ford, who killed him, and Dick Little, who surrendered to 8heriffTimberlake at the same time Ford did.The inquest at St. Joseph was concluded at noon to-day:. Mrs. Samuels, mother of Jesse James, hie wife, Dick Little, and Sheriff Timberluke identified the body and during the proceedings Mrs. James and Mrs. Samuels made a highly sensational scene by attacking Dick Little and calling all mann9r of curses down upon him for having conspired to betray his leader.The coroner’s jury returned a verdict of murder in the first degree against Ford, and the authorities of Buchanan county refuse to give him up. The body of Jesse James will probably be taken to the old farm near Kearney, Clay county, for burial.The confirmation of James' death has created a profound sensation in Western Missouri, and farmers near this place and Independence, who have not yet been in either place for years, rode into town this morning in the rain to investigate the rumor. Some denounce Ford as an assassin, whose only object was blood money, while others excuse him upon the ground of expediency.ford in danser.The governor will not go to St. Joseph but will return to Jefferson City to-night, where some steps will be taken to protect Ford, who is thought to be in danger from the friends of the dead robber. All Cracker Neck was up on horseback this morning and some threats of vengeance are said to have been made against the lives of Ford and Little. The Hannibal St. Joe Railroad company have tendered courtesies to Mrs. James and her mother-in-law.AT THE INQUEST.8t. Joseph, April S.—At the coroner’s inquest, Mrs. Samuels, mother of Jesce James, testified that it wa3 her son Jesse. Considerable excitement was created by her denunciation of the treachery of Dick Little. Gov. Crittenden has just arrived hero. It is unknown at present what will be done with the body.A PREMEDITATED FLAN.St. Louis, April 4.—A special from Kansas City says: It is now known that the taking off of Jesse James was the fulfillment of an arrangement between Gov. Crittenden and Bob Ford, and that Ford was to receive one fourth of the reward and immunity. In an interview with Dick Little and a reporter Sunday night laet, the scheme wae foreshadowed, but he said it was not to have been accomplished before Wednesday or Thursday, and only if it was found impossible for Timberlake to capture the bandit leader alive.Gov. Crittenden slated here to-day that his first meeting with Ford was at the St. Je mes hotel in this city on the 23d day of February, and the arrangement by which Jesse James was to be either captured or killed was consummated. He met Little a few days later; he was non-committal as to the disposition to be made of Ford and Little, but admitted their ultimate pardon was not improbable. Sheriff Timberlake, Dick Little and Mrs. Samuels, mother bf the dead bandit, passed through here last night enroute to St. Joseph, and have identified the body on oath. The double confession of Dick Little is still a mystery, and the officers are endeavoring to solve it and learn which is correct. The trial of the Blue Cut robbers still progresses at Independence, and the utmost efforts of the counsel are directed toward proving an alibi.the slaters or the outlaws.St. Louis, April 4.—The Ford brothers, the ones who killed Jesse James yesterday, reside on a farm about two miles from Richmond, the county seat of Kay county, this state. Robert, who did the shooting, is only about 20 years old. Their honse is said to have been a rendezvous of some of the James gang, and it, was there that Dick Little killed Wood Hite, brother of Clarence Hite, who was recently sentenced to twenty-five years in the penitentiary and is now in prison. It is said both belonged to the James gang at one time, but this statement does not seem to be verified. The family came from Virginia fifteen years ago and has always been considered very respectable.For some time past both brothers are believed to have been in tho detective service, especially engaged in hunting out members of the James'gang. Their aunt, Mrs. Bolt, is supposed to be the lady who recently had a secret interview with Gov. Crittenden at Jefferson City: Gov. Crittenden, at the request of the jrolice authorities, ordered out some of the St. Joseph military last night to guard the body of the dead outlaw, as there seemed to be an attempt made to capture it. He has also ordered parts of two companies at Kansas City to serve as guard at that place.JESSE JAME5’ MOTHER,8t. Joseph, April 4.—Mrs. Samuels, mother of the dead robber arrived here at 4:45 this morn'ng from her home in Clay county. She is a large woman, 57 years old, has black hair well sprinkled with gray. She was incredulous upon her arrival about the dead man being her son Jesse, and was not fully convinced until she was driven to his late residence, where she met the widow, who embraced the old lady and both manifested great emotion. Mrs. Samuels accompanied by Mrs. James and her children were driven to the undertaker’s where they viewed the body of Jesse, and the scene was very affecting, the mother, wife and children all joining in lamentation. The mother re-entered the carriage and waa driven to the court room, where she was to testify at the coroner's inquest then in progress. The coroner's jury assembled at 9 a. m. The court room was crowded to suffocation, there being no standing room inside, and crowds stood in the corridors unable to gain admission. The most intense interest was manifested and the closest attention paid to the testimony.THE TESTIMONT.H. H. Craig, police commissioner of Kan-eas City, was the first witness sworn. He Baid the body corresponds with the description of Jesse James; I know the Fords’; Bob Ford assisted Sheriff Timberlake and myself; Ford was not commissioned; Robert Ford acted through onr instructions and Charles was not acting under onr Instructions.Sheriff Timberlake testified that he was acquainted with Jesse James, and recognizedthe body; they were personally acquainted; saw him last in 1870; I know his face; he had a finger off; I told Ford to get his brother to assist him.Dick Little was sworn: I have seen the body and recognize it as the body of Jesse James; I have no doubt of it; the general appearance is that of Jesse James, his finger is off as James' was, and I recognize the ecars in the side and thigh.James Finley testified: 1 was not acquainted with Jesse James; 1 went to the house after the shooting and found two horses; I sent two officers to the Johnsons, as they were then called; Ford came and acknowledged the shooting; he described the wounds on the body, and claimed the man was Jesse James, Ford told me there were watches and jewelry at the house; I found watches, jewelry, pistols, cartridges and a purse; I gave the purse to Mrs. James; it had some small change in it; a scarf-pin was found, with the marks “S. W. J.”Mrs. 8amuels, mother of Jesse, was called. As she entered the room all eyes were turned upon her; men stood in the seats, craned their necks and used every endeavor to gain a view of the woman who, although the mother of an outlaw, had the respect of every one in the room. She moved with aelow step and bowed head to the witness stand. She Ib a large woman with a kindly face and eyes and a rather prominent nose. She was dressed in black with a black straw hat and a black veil that hardly covered her face. When she took the stand her face had a resolute appearance, but as the examination progressed that disappeared and she was very much affected. She testified that she was the mother of Jessie James and she had seen the body but a moment before. “Is that the body of your eon,” asked the coroner. “It is,” she anBweied, and then sobbed out: “Would to God it was not.” Placing her hands on the heads of the little son ana daughter of Jesse James, who were standing in front of her, she continued, “and these are hisORPHAN CHILDREN.”As she 6aid this she was moved to teats. Mrs. Jamtt was asked to raise her veil, and ae she did so Mrs. Samuels was asked if she recognized her. She answered, that she did-and it was the widow of Jesse James. Mrs. James testified that she recognized the preceding witness as Mrs. Samuels. When Mrs. Samuels retired from the court room a thrilling Incident occurred. Dick Little was standing near the door, and as she neared the opening 6he saw him. Her eyes lested on him a moment then she turned upon him with the ferociousness of a tiger.“TRAITOR, TRAITOR, TRAITOR!” she exclaimed excitedly, “God will send avengers on you for this. You are the cause of ail this. Oh, you villain, I would rather be in my poor boy’s place than in yours.”Little cowered like a whipped dog before the towering rage of the bereaved mother and turned pale and red by turns. “I did not hurt him,” he answered; “I thought you knew who killed him.” Mrs. SamnelB’ only answer was, “Oh God! my poor boy! my poor, poor boy!”She then retired from the room and the jury retired to make up a verdictTHE VERDICT.The jury returned the following verdict:“We, the jury, find that the deceased is Jesse James, and that he came to his death by a pistol shot, in the hands of RobertFord.”The two Ford brothers are confined in jail charged with murder, under a warrant sworn out by Mrs. James. They will not be interviewed and they refuse admittance to all comers.Robert Ford who did the shooting is 22 years old and Charley is 20. In July last Robert engaged in the detective business in Kansas City. He soon got his credentials as a detective and engaged in the hunt for Jesse James. Charles engaged to help. The one who did the shooting i3 rather slender, not over robust yet wiry and certainly capable of great endurance as well as being shrewd and brave. His eyes are sunken and hazel of color, large restless and piercing. His forehead is rather bald and high, and I.is hair is thiD, short and of a light brown. He wears a neat brown suit tack coat. He would never be sought out of a crowd as a youth of qualities, worthy of especial notice, yet he would be taken for a man of iron will, courage of action, and abundance of self-control. His brother Charles is considerably larger, taller and broader. Hia hair is dark, eyes hazel, dish-fared, his lower jaw protrudes and he has a decidedly bull dog look, and is if anything move brutaland braver than Robert. It is evidentCharles would be a bad man in a fight, and, while Robert is perhape the “slickeel” and the schemer, Charles will come in for coldblooded and brutal work. The boy* are cool, possessed and move up with a firm and solid head. The city is full of strangers who have been attracted from every direction by the news of the tragic death of the notorious outlaw __THE TRIO DISHEDDaldwlu llels ibe Judgeship, ami theCreators of tbe Vacancy In Monrniog.The telegraph wires yesterday afternoon bore sorrowful news to Messrs. Ladd, Webber and Wallin, the trio of lawyers in the Ninth judicial district who bore so prominent and officious a part in the proceedings for the impeachment of Judge Cox, while notoriously and openly candidates for the vacancy should the Incumbent be removed.? Long before tbe vacancy was made then these three men (the three black crows of the ninth judicial district) had their strikers at work paving the way for the succesgor6hip, and ever since the verdict creating the vacancy was announced, they by delegations, personal letters aud omnibus petitions, have pressed their claims upon the attention of Gov. Hubbard.There were many shameful features connected with tbe late impeachment trial, but the crowning shame, the appointment of either of tiie three men named above, has been, thanks to tbe good judgment and independence of Gov. Hubbard, happily-averted.H. D. Baldwin, of Redwood Falls, is the selection of Gov. Hubbard for the vacant judgeship in the ninth judicial district. The appointment was definitely determined upon about 3 o’clock yesterday afternoon.Mr. Baldwin has beeD a resident of Redwood Falls since 1871. , He is a native of New York state and is now 64 years old. He removed to Minnesota in 1857, and settled at Wilton, then the county seat of Waseca county, and commenced the practice of law soon after his arrival. He served three terms aa county attorney for Waseca county, and one or two terms as judge of probate. 8ince locating in Redwood Falls he has served four years as clem of the district court, and two years ss judge of probate of Redwood county. He has also been engaged in the banking business. He is of a conservative turn of mind, and is highly respected, wherever known for his strict integrity and persona! worth. His recommendations for the position have been few as compared with the number worked up by the trio above named, but they were of the kind that carried weignt with them. One of the strongest and most telling was that of Judge IVm. Lochren, of Minneapolis, who held court at two or three points in the district while the impeachment proceedings were pending. It was Mr. Baldwin’s fortune to have a very difficult case before Judge Lochren, and bis lucid and clear cut Unraveling of the knotty points involved, his forcible application of principles of law to the facts, and his exhibition of sound judgment, and rare discretion shown made so strong an impression np-on him that he mentiened the circumstance to several lawyers of thiscity and Minneapolis, through whom his good opinion reached Gov. Hubbard. Bat undoubtedly tbe governing consideration in making the appointment was the fact thatMr. Baldwin has been is in no way connected with the proceedings which led to the vacancy he has been named tofill, and he can therefore enter tbe duties of the high office entirely nn'.rammeled and without a shadow of suspicion attaching to his Judicial Integrity in connection with the post.
Newspaper Details
Saint Paul Daily Globe
Saint Paul, Minnesota, US
Wed, Apr 05, 1882
Page 1
Full Page
Clipped by
Joplin P.
MO, USA 03 Aug 2024
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