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A HOY BANDIT.DUPED BY JESSE JAMES.John Land Tells the Whole Story of the Blue Cut Train Robbery.A Parcel of Boys Led into it by old Hands at the Business.Jesse James the Leader of the Regular Gang.Kansas City, Mil eh :u.—John Laud's (■onfcHMion was givou to tho press to-day. It is tin' same as anticipated in a prevl-uiis dispel eh, and inculpates the Dames hoys, Miller, Little, Bugler, Cummings, Motts, Armstrong and ('rood Chapman. There is some dispute hetween the county otllciais and Commissioner Craig, the latter desiring to honor the parole given to Little, while the former declare that inasmuch as In* has eontradieted some of his statements and may ho playing false with the authorities, he should tie arrested.I.ANil's CONFESSION isas follows: At three o’clock p. in.,two men came to me. They wore John Bugler and Creed Chapman, and said, “John, what do you want to work so hard for? We don't work, but get lots of money easy. ' Bugler said, “How would you like to go and help us roh a train?” I said, 1 am making forty dollars per month, and don't believe I will make more money robbing trains than digging wells.”Bugler said, “If you will go we will Insure you more money.”I said, “Boys, who is going in with you?”Bugler said, “Jesse James, Frank James, I)ick Little, James Cummings, Fd. Miller, Henry Bugler, John Motts. Charlie Deordolf, Armstrong, Creed and mvself.”I said, “All right, 1 will go in with you.” 1 quit work at mice ami all three' of us started up the railroad toward Glendale. After walking a short distance they left me and struck off across the country, while I went on to Glendale. I think it was aliout 1 o’clock when I reached the platform of thestation. 1 went inside and John Motts was there. We had a short conversation about the drill which I wanted to use, and then stepped out of the depot on to the platform, and 1 saw a man riding down the road toward tin' de]Kii on a large hay horse. He hitched his horse, came up to us, and shook hands with Motts, who, turning to me said, “Mr.I .and, I will introduce you toJESSE JAMKS.Immediately after shaking hands, he and Matts vvaiked away to the other end of the platform and held a short conversation. Jesse then came up to me ami said, “Mr. Land, I understand you are going in with us to rob the train tonight.I said, “Yes, sir.Jesse said, “Have you any arms?''I answered, “Yes; a breach loading ritie.”He said, “Be sure and bring it with you. Meet us at tho cut hack of Jack Cole's farm as soon after N o’clock as convenient. Come alone. When you get within two or three hundred yards of the spot, signal us by whistling twice. The answer will l»o once.”I then turned and went baek home. My folks, except my brother, who was not at home at the time, retired soon alter sundown. We had no time piece. 1 think my brother got home about 7 o’cloak. 1 then went to bed with him, he on the back and I on the front side. As near as I can judge, it was a little after eight when I got up, took down my ritle and slipping out in my sock feet got away without rousing any of the family. Ppon arriving at the cut IGAVE THE SIGNAL agreed, upon. It was answered, and I stepped forward and was met by Jesse James. All the old gang were there, six of them, and Armstrong and Deerdolf. who 1 knew before, and who had joined the regular gang a short time before, but I was the only one of the neighborhood bovs who had got there. Shortly after Creed Chapman and John Bugler gave the signal and came in. Following them came John Matts alone. Pretty soon the train was heard coming and Jesse said, “Boys, we who are older hands at tho business will stop the train, go through the cars and get what there is there. You fellows run along on the outside and tire fifteen or twenty shots apiece toSCARE THE PASSENGERS.Jesse stood upon a pile of rocks on the track and swung a Lantern and the train came to a stop within a few feet of the obstruction. Creed, John Bugler and myself stood on the south side of the track, while John Motts and two others were on t He other side. The first thing they did was to break into the express [ear.' We Jail had on white masks, and as 1 began at once to tire and the excitement raised, I did not notice who it w:is went into the ear. Before we had been long at work I saw a man come from the train with a lantern and start to run east. John Bugler called out, “Look there! What does that mean?Creed Chapman at once tired at him. followed by Bugler, and I took THE THIllI) SHOT..1 ust then some one called out from the train. “Don't shoot him. He is going to (lag the freight.”Alter the men in the ears got through they came to the head of the train and were joined by those on the north side, and then all of them came over and joined on us on the south side. We all started off together, went through the wire fence andwent due south for some distance, when we were halted by Jessie James, who said. “ Boys, it is death to any man who gives Huh awav. Goto your homes as if nothing had happened, and meet me on the east fork of the Blue next Wednesday night (one week from that uight[ and we willDIVIDE EQUAL.”We then separated and I went home and to bed w ithout disturbing the family. I went to work next day, taking my gun with me, and that is what gave me away ; for some one saw me aim told the otlieers of it, and w lied they came to where 1 was at work they found it and took me in, and put me in jail here [Independence. | We hud all agreed not to give the tiling away, but the tiling got too hot for me, and so 1 now tell the whole story just as it was.
Newspaper Details
Lincoln Weekly Nebraska State Journal
Lincoln, Nebraska, US
Fri, Apr 07, 1882
Page 1
Full Page
Clipped by
Joplin P.
MO, USA 05 Aug 2024
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