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JESSE JAMESHAS DEPARTED THIS LIFE' His Brains arc Perforated by a Man Whom he Trusted.I Who Shoots Him from Behind and Does a Good Job.St. Joe is in a Fever of Excitement Over the Event.DEAD AGAINJcssc James is Again Killed, this Timein St. Joseph, Mo.si. Josi:i*n, Mu., April X A groat mm .nation was floated in this ritv thin morning by the announcement that Jesse James had been shot and killed here in St. Joseph. The news spread with great rapidity, lint most people received it with d'nnhts until investigation established the fact beyond question. Then the excitement became more and more intense, tmd crowds of people rushed to t hat quarter of the eity where the shooting took place, anxious to view the body of the dead outlaw and tolcurnTil K FAimCULARH.In a small frame shanty in the southeast part of the citv, on die hill not tar from the World’s hotel, Jesse James has lived with his wife since some time in November last. Itobert and Charles Kurd, two of his gang, have made their headquarters at his house. Charles, it is said, has lived with him in that shanty ever since Novointier. Hubert arrived nlmut ten days ago, and the three have liven making preparations for a raidingi • s (« ■ 11111111, mi \v 1111 • 11 I lic\ Wereto-night. James and the two Kurils being in a front room together about nine this morning, the former took oft his holt and laid his pistolH or. the bed, preparing to wash himself, when Robert Ford sprang up behind him and sent a bulletthrough ms mix in.The hall entered the lmek of his head, at the base of the right brain, coming out over the eye. The Ford brothers at once made known what they had done and gave themselves up. They are now uniter guard at the court house. The body of Jesse James was convoyed to an undertaker’s, where it was prepared tor burial and where a photograph was taken. James' wife has telegraphed to Ills mother tho news of his death. A number of moil have idcntitied the body, and there is no question about its beingA Herald reporter viewed tho body at the undertaker’s when it was being photographed. lie was a tine looking man, apparently forty years old, with broad forehead, and his physiognomy was that an intelligent as well as a resolute and daring man. The house where James lived and in which he was killed, had the appearance of an armory. A number of guns and pistols, including a repeating rille, a needle gun, and navy revolvers with a good store of ammunition, wore found there. Jessie was in the habit of wearing two belts with a brace of very tine revolvers and twenty-tivo extra Cartridges. In a small stable near by were discovered several fine horses, the property of James.THK FORD BROTHKRN claim that they are detectives, and tiiat they have been on James’ track for a long time. It is believed thoy were with James in the Itlue Cut robbery and that they wore intiueneed in killing him by the hope of gottiug the big reward which has been ottered for James, dead or alive, by tho governor and by the ex -pressand railroad companies.In the light of all moral reasoning the shooting was wholly unjustifiable, but theUW IS VINDICATED, and tin* fifty thousand dollars rew ard offered by the state for tho body of the brigand, dead or alive, will doubtless go to the man who had the courage to draw a revolver on tho notorious outlaw, even when his hack was turned, in as tiiis ease. There is little doubt that the killing was the result of a premeditated plan formed by Robert and Charles Ford several months ago. Charles had been an accomplice of Jesse James since the 3d of last November, and entirely possessed his confidence. Robort Ford, his brother, joined Jesse hear Mrs. Samuels' house, the mother of the James boys, last Friday a week ago, and oeeoin-panied Jessie and Charles to tiiis city Sunday, March 23. Jessie, his wife and two children removed from Kansas City, where they had lived several months, until they feared their where-alsmtH would be suspected, in a wagon to this city, arriving here November *, 1881, accompanied bv Charles Ford, and rented a house on thecornor of Lafayette and Twenty-first street, where they stayed two months, when they secured the house 131K on La fay ette street, formerly the property of Councilman Aylos-tnirg, paying $14 a month for it, and giving tin* name of Thomas Howard.THK OUTLAW’S IIOUBK.Tin* house is a one-story cottage, painted white, with green shutters, and is romantically situated on the brow of a lofty eminence east of the city, commanding a fine view of the principal jKirtion of the eity, the river and railroads, and adapted as by nature tor the perilous and desperate calling of James. J ust east of the house is a deep, gulchlike ravine, and beyond that a broad expanse of open country backed by a belt of flintier. The house, except from the west side, can lie seen for many miles. There is a large yard attached to the cottage, and a stable, where Jesse had been keeping two horses, which were found there this morning.THK PLAN.lt; harles and Robert Ford have been occupying one of the rooms in the roar of the dwelling, and have secretly had an understanding to kill Jesse since last fall. A short time ago, before Robert had joined James, the latter proposed to rob the bank at Platte City. He said the Rurgess murder trial would commence there to-day, and his plan was, if they ixnild get another companion, to take a view of the situation of the Platte City bank, and while the arguments were being heard in the murder ease, which would naturally engage the attention of the citizens, lioTdly exc-.mte one of his favorite raids. Charley Ford approved of tin* plan and suggested his brother Robert as a oom-panion worthy of sharing the enterprise with them. Jesse had seen the boy at the hitter's house near Richmond three years ago, and consented to see him. the two men accordingly wont to where Robert was and arranged to have him accompany them to Platte City. As stated, all three came to St. Joseph a week ago Sunday. They remained at the house all the week.' Jesse thought it liest that Robert should not exhibit himself on the premises, lest tiie presence of three able bodied men who were doing nothing should excite suspicion. They had tixed upon to uighttogo to Platte City. Ever since the boys had been with Jesse they had watched for an opportunity to shoot him, but lie was always so heavily armed that it was impossible to draw a weapouwithout James seeing it. They declare they hn^ no idea ofTAKINO IIIM A LI V K, considering the undertaking suicidal. The opportunity they had long wished lor mine this morning. Ilreuklitst was over. Charley Ford and Jesse James had been in the stable currying the horses preparatory to their night ride, tii returning to the room where Robert Ford was. Jesse said, “It's an awfulh hot day. He pul led oil' his coat and vest and tossed them on tin* bed. then he said, “I guess I'll take off my pistols for fear somebody will see them if I go in the vard. Ile unbuckled the belt In which he carried two forty-live calibre revolvers, one a Smith A Wesson and the other a Colt, and laid them on the bed with bis eoai and vest. He then picked up a dusting brush with tho intention oi dusting some pictures that hung mi the wall. To do Jtlils lie got mi a clmir. Ilis back was now turned to the two brothers, who silently stepped between Jesse and his rovoh ors, and at a motion from Charley both drew their guns. Robert was tho quickest of the two. In one quick move lie had the long weapon on a level with his eye with the muzzle not more than four feet from the hack of the outlaw's head. F.ven in that motion, quick as thought, there was something which did not escape the acute i*ars of the hunted man. lit* made a motion as if to turn his head to ascor-tlie cause of the suspicious sound.a nervous pressure on tho trigger, aquick Hash, a sharp report, and the well direct* hall crashed through the outlaw’s skull. There was no outcry, just a swaying of the laxly and it fell heavily backwards upon the carpeted floor. The shot had been fatal, and all the bullets in the chambers of lt;'hurley's revolver, still directed at Jesse's head, could no more effectually have decided the fate of the greatest bandit and freebooter that ever figured in the pages of a country’s history. The ball had entered the base of tho skull and made its wav out through the forehead over tho leu eye. It had been tired out of a Colt’s |f» improved pattern, silver-mounted and pearl-bandied pistol, presented by the dead man to hla slayer only a few days ago.MRS. JAMESwas in the kitchen when the shooting was done, divided from the room in which the bloody tragedy occurred by the dining room. She heard tho shot, and dropping her household duties, ran into the front room. She saw her hus-huand lying extended on his hack and liis slayers each holding his revolver in his hand, making for the fence in the rear of the house. Robert had reached the enclosure and was in the act of sealing it, when she stepped to the door ami called to him. “Robert, you have done this. Come bock. Robert answered, I swear to God I didn't. They then returned to where she stood. Mrs. James ran to the side of her husband and lifted up his head. Life was not extinct, and when she asked him if ho was hurt it seemed to tier that she w anted to say something, but couldn’t. She tried to wash away the blood coursing over his face from the hole in hix forehead, hut it seemed to her tlmt the blooil would come faster than she could wipe it away, and in her bundsJKHMK JAMES DIED.Charley Ford explained to Mrs. James that “a pistol had accidentally gone off.” “Yes, said Mrs. James, “I guess it went off on purpose. Meanwhile, Charley had gone hack into the house and brought out two hats, and the two boys left tho honse. They went to the telegraph office and sent a message to Sheritf Titnhorlakc, of Clay County, to Gov. Crittenden and other officers, and then surrendered themselves to Marshal Craig. When the Ford boys ap peared at the police station they were told by officers that Marshal Craig and a posse of officers had gone in tho direction of tho James residence, and they started after them and surrendered themselves, They accompanied the officers to the house and returned in custody of the police to the marshal's headquarters, where they were furnished with dinner, and about 3 o'clock w ere removed to the old circuit room where the inquest was held in the presence of an immense crowd. Mrs. James also accompanied tho officers to the city hall, having previously loll her two children, aged seven and throe, « boy and a girl, at the house of a Mrs. Turnal, who iiad known the Jameses under their assumed name of Howard ever since they had occupied the adjoining house. She was(IRKATLY AFFECTEDby the tragedy, and her heart-rending moans and expressions of grief were sorrowful evidence of the love she lsire the dead desperado. The report of the killing of the notorious outlaw spread like wildfire through tho eity, and, as usual, the report assumed every variety of form and color. Very few credited the news, however, and simply laughed at the idea that Jesse James was really the dead man. Nevertheless, the excitement ran high and when one confirming report succeeded the other, crowds of mndrods gathered at the undertaking establishment where lay the laxly at, the eity hall, at the court house, and in fact on every street corner, the almost incredible news constituting the sole subject of of conversation to the exclusion of the barely less engrossing topic of the coming eitv election.CORONER HKDDKNHwax notified and undertaker Sidcnfaden instructed to remove the body to his establishment. This was done at about 10 o’clock. A large crowd accompanied the coroner to the morgue,but only a few, including reporters, were admitted. The laxly lay in a remote room of the building. It hail been taken out of the casket and placed upon a table. The features appeared natural, lint were disfigured by the bloody hole over the left eye. The laxly was neatly and cleanly dressed. In fact, nothing in the appearance of the remains indicated the desperate career of the man, or the many bloody scenes of which he had been the hero. The large, cavernous eyes were closed as in a calm slumber. Only the lower part of the face, the square cheek hones, tho stout, prominent chin, covered with a soft, sandy board, and the thin, firmly closed lips in a measure bet ray ea the determined, wild and iron courage of tho dead man.A Ft;ETHER INSPECTIONofthc Ixxlv revealed two large bullet holes on the right side of the breast, within three inches of the nipple, a bullet wound in the leg and the absence of the tip of the middle finger of the left hand. Atter viewing the remains the coroner repaired to the court house, whither, soon after, Mrs. James, in custody of Marshal Craig, and the two Ford 1k»vs, both heavily armed, followed. They were kept in separate apartments until the jury nail announced itself ready to hear the testimony. The jury was empaneled as ' follows: \V.H. Chouning, J. \V. Moore, Warren Samuels, Thomas Norris, Wm. Turner and Wm. H. George. The witnesses examined were Mrs. James, the Ford bovs and James A. Little. The inquest will be continued to-morrow.THE BODYof Jessie James is to be delivered over to Mrs. Samuels, his mother, who willImry it near her home in Clay county. This city is full of strangers who have been attracted from every direction by the news of the tragic death of the notorious outlaw.WK KILLED THK REAR.K\nhanCitv Mo., April I. The news of the killing of Jesse James created an immense sensation in this eity, though the report was treated with incredaality, and even at this late hour many unlie-licvcrs can is* found. This afternoon as soon as the news was received here, Com-inissiotici Cniig left for St. Joe with a heavily armed posse of men to guard the body of Jesse James and protect Ford, Hie man who killed him, at the police-station. It was learned that Rob Ford, a young man who has boon hanging about the station house for several weeks past, is tho person who shot and killed Jesse James. Ford left the city about a week since and joined James in the vicinity of St. Joseph, remaining with him until an opportunity to kill him was found. From the police it is learned that Ford, who is said to lies member of the gang, was under tlm control of Craig, and lias Ix-en used as an instrument for James' destruction. Ford is a young man about twenty-two years old, looked like a verdant youth from the country. In appearance lie is a tuero boy, and is the last person in the world to he taken for the slayer of the famous outlaw.The Chinese “Suspension.San Franc*'sen, April ft. -The lt;\tU publishes an interview with John F. Swift, ex-treaty commissioner to China, who says : “Regarding the twenty yearsuspension clause of the Chinese bill, that the commissioners of both countries contemplated a considerable longer period when discussing the treaty. The Chinese commissioners understood, even better than we did, the problem of over-eompetition in labor, and were willing to agree to any means of relief. Tho time of suspension wits thoroughly discussed, and it was agreed that a suspension of thirty-three years, or one generation, Woufd Iio necessary to rem***ly the evils complained of'. I fully ho|iod suspension could have been proposed for thirty years, and the Chinese government would not have considered the faith of tiie treaty trespassed on if it had been mad** for fifty years, or even more,’’The Advance Postponed.New York, April ft.—Commissioner Fink yesterday issued a notice stating that on account of the impossibility of perfecting arrangements for the maintenance of the live stock and dressed beef rates before the tenth of April, the stand mg committee bad agreed to postpone the advance of rates until such a day as arrangements may be perfected, which will probably lie during the coming week, and that it was also absolutely necessary that arrangements for the division at Chicago, St. Louis, Cincinnati, Indianapolis and Peoria for livo stock and dead freight should at once be perfected. Therefore ho calls a meeting of interested roads at such points for April 12th, at his office, to perfect these arrangements.WASHINGTON NOTESTHE OUINKSE HILL VETOED.Washington, 1. c., April I. The President's veto of the Chinese bill was received at 1:20 p. in., and road immediately. The President said that after careful consideration he returned the hill with objections. He held that it conflicted with the treaty obligations and violated the faith of the nation, and hoped congress would endeavor to find another that would meet the expectations of the people of the Cnited States and not conflict with the rights of China. The President maintains that neither the representatives of the United States or China, in making the treaty of 1**0, contemplated any such restriction of Chinese immigration as that proposed in the bill. He opposed the passiairt system proposed in the bill as undemocratic*, and said he thought it unwiseto introduce such a system in this country. The passport system, he said, is failing Into disuse in Europe, and besides he maintains that experience has shown that passports are easily borrowed or even forged.The President said that Chinese latar had been of great value in tiiis country, and that monuments to their industry existed. They had largely built the Pacific railroads across this continent, hut it might wisely oe considered now whether some limitation may is* put upon the immigration of tiiis labor, but if there lie mo much of it in one section of the country, the same lular may be needed m another section, and the law should consider this and make such limitation as would permit this labor to go where needed.In discussing the meaning ot the word “laborers, as used in the treaty, the President concedes that it includes artisans or skilled laborers. “In regard to the term of suspension,’’ ho says, “the examination which I have made of tho treaty and of the declarations which its negotiators have left on record of the meaning of its language, leaves no doubt in my mindjthat neither contracting party in concluding the treaty of lwo contemplated the passage ofaii act prohibiting immigration for twenty years, which is nearly a generation, or thought that such a period would be a reasonable suspension or limitation, or intended to change the provisions of the Rurlingame treaty to that effect. 1 regard this provision of the act as a breach of our national faith, and being unable to bring myself in harmony with the views of congress upon this vital point, the honor of the country constrains me to return the act with this objection to its passage-adding that good policy, as well as good faith, requires a modification of the twenty years suspension.” The President says, “Our first treaty with China is not yet forty vears old, that it is only since we acquired California and established a groat seat of commerce on tiie P acetic that wo may l*e said to have broken down the barriers which fenced in that ancient monarchy. Under the spirit which inspired the Rurlingame treaty many thousands of Chinese ialairers came here. These have been instrumental in building railroads, and the country has prospered by their industry. '1 here may be other sections of the country where this spedes of labor may be advantageously employed without interference with lalHrers of our own race.The message speaks of the opening of Chinatothe world’s commerce as having enormously benfitted the Pacific-slope, and deprecates a policy which would drive oriental trade and commerce from us. It concludes to the effect that while the protection of our labor from Asiatic competition may justify this policy, it is wise now to make a shorter experiment, with view to maintaining permanently only such features as time and experience commend.A gentleman front Westport, Missouri, who was in tin* city yesterday, informed a Journal reporter that he was acquainted with‘Jesse James, his mother, Mrs. Samuels, and Ford, the man who killed tho outlaw. The stranger says the Jameses have many friends in Platte county, Mo., who will avenge the Outlaw's death if they got half a chance, and he wouldn’t give a fig for Ford’s chances ou life w hen he is turned out of jail.
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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