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Jesse James Coming Back in Movies; Four Bandits Caught Near MadeliaBy FRANK FRANCISCUS of Mankato Free Press jAdventure has had its following j of admirers even as far back as the; days of the mythical Robin Hood, j who it is said robbed the rich and* gave his ill-gotten gains to the poor.!What is true of old Robin, is alsoj true of the more modern freeboot- j ers, the James and Younger ban-| dit£. While they carried on many bank and train robberies, and out lawry, they had their following of friends, who believed that they had been driven to their life of crime through wrongs committed against the members of their family while they were boys.Sixty-two years ago, immediately following the robbery of a Northfield bank, they were all hunted men, roundly hated for their crimes.During the long years which have elapsed, time has healed many wounds, and today their adventures and deeds are enveloped in a glamour akin to the deeds of the myth ical knights of old.Jesse James is coming back to this section once more, this time in 1 story as depicted by an elaborate film production, “Jesse James,” which will be shown at the Broadway theater Sunday, Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday.The exploits of the James and Younger gang were well known in the Mankato of that year, and mention of the desperadoes brings vivid memories to old-timers of the capture of a part of the gang near Ma delia some 62 years ago.Boy at Capture SceneThe fact that a seven year old boy was in at the capture of the Younger brothers on Sept. 21, 1876, has just come to light in a story given to the Free Press by Mrs.Roscoe Murphy of Madelia. Mrs.j Murphy is a daughter-in-law of the' late Capt. W. W. Murphy, who led the attack on the Younger gang together with six other men and captured them after killing one of the band, Charles Pitts.On the day of the capture, 62 years ago, excitement ran high in the little village of Madelia when a boy by the name of Oscar Seeborn, living on the north shore of Lake Linden about nine miles north of the village, rode into the village at a break neck speed and excitedly announced that the Younger brothers and others of the robber band had eaten breakfast at his parents’ home, and then started south along the w est side of the lake toward the south.Col. T. L. Vought, who then op-J erated the Flanders hotel, where the Noonan hotel now stands, lostj no time in arming himself and, dashed away on his horse toward the north. When word reached j Capt. W. W. Murphy, he grabbed! his firearms, threw’ them into a1 wagon, hurriedly harnessed a team j and also sped away in pursuit of the 'bandits. In the top illustration are pictured the seven captors of the YoungerBoy Hid m Wagon ' brothers Captain Murphy is at the lower left. Below the captors is theIn his hurry he failnd to notice 8cene of the capture 0f the bandits beside the Watonwan river threehis seven-year-old son, Ralph, se- mj|es south of La Salle on Sept. 21, 1876. Below is a photo of the Seeborncrete himself under a blanket in house on the north shore of Lake Linden where the Youngers ate break-the bottom of the wagon box The next three or four hours were busy ones for the captain, and it was not until after he and sixother brave men had advancedfast on the morning of their capture as they \ field robbery.river,' the Madelia mantonw stated., “A wagon had been provided for through the thick underbrush in thej their tran81)ortation from the scenelerous fire from the j capture the Flanders ho-face ofbandits, and captured them, that he learned that his little boy had, at a safe distance, witnessed the charge of the posse under Sheriff James Glispin and himself.‘‘I remember as if it were yesterday of seeing the wounded members of the Jesse James and Young er band immediately following their capture a short distance southwest of this village on the Waruary15thAY TO PAY IR JANUARY RTISING BILL DECEIVE A . .Tm)iscountlJishing Companyi fleeing after the North-laws In,” the Madelia ma first sight I got of Y’ounger, 1 knew that he was one of the horsemen I had seen about town shortly before the Northfield robbery. The horsemen had posed as cattle and horse buyers, but I have learned since that they were getting the lay of the land in case of quick getaway.”Clarks Grovetel, then run by Col. Vought.“The people hereabouts were greatly elated when they learned that the bandits had been captured.Many cheered as the prisoners’ wagon passed along.Younger Bows to Crowd **Cole Younger sat on one of the The Farther Lights Society ofseats and despite the fact that he the local Baptist Church enjoyed was suffering from wounds caused, their monthly meeting in the social by 13 buckshot, he waved his hand' room of the Church on Wednesday and bowed to the throngs. He may afternoon, at two o’clock. Mrs. N. have been an outlaw, but many of C. Berg led the devotional part of us that day admired his nerve, foi^ the meeting and Mrs. M. T. Jenson he was a man who could take it on presented a program, dealing with i the chin and still smile,” Pomeroy “Missions.* Those taking part were 1 related. Mrs. Alice Anderson. Mrs. Ed Ar-“As I said, Y’ounger had 13 nold, Mrs. Louis Jenson and Miss ( wounds. Jim Younger was shot Ruby Peterson. Dr. S, P. Fogdall ; through the mouth and part of his also gave a short talk. Mesdarnes , jaw and all his front teeth were Roy Peterson, A. R. Jenson, Selrnar * knocked out. Bob Y'ounger was shot O. Anderson, Irvin Malmsten and | through the arm and Charlie Pitts ( H. W, Peterson served a delicious . was killed at the scene of the cap- lunch at the close of the alter 1 ture. The outlaws and the dead noon.body of Pitts were taken to the sec-j Dr. S. P. Fogdall was a guest ! ond floor of the Flanders hotel, and speaker at the Clarks Grove Lum j a guard was placed over them that ber Company’s annual meeting held ’ night. ' Monday afternoon at the creamery1 “A short time later a rumor hall. He spoke on “The Lumber ! reached Madelia to the effect that Business In Its Early History In | the people of Northfield had formed The United States ” A general re j a mob and were on their way to' port of business and election of of Madelia to lynch the bandits. fleers was held after which lunch-! “Sheriff James Glispin and Capt. eon was served to a large group of i Murphy, In no uncertain language, people.said that the prisoners would not be Mr. and Mrs. Elmer Jenson enter-taken by any mob unless It was tained the following at their home over their dead bodies. ‘These men Thursday evening: Mr. and Mrs. are all badly wounded and have* Albert Camp, Mr. and Mrs. Reuben surrendered. No one Is going to Malmsten. The evening was spent harm them while I live/ said Mur- in playing rook and other games, phy. At a late hour a delicious lunchAsks For Gun was served.“Word of this rumor got to Cole; Mr. and Mrs. Omer Murray of Y’ounger,’’ Pomeroy stated. “Weak- Blue Earth were guests Sunday, ened by loss of blood and suffering January 29, at the home of Mrs.I intensely, he said: ‘You fellows just Murray’s father, Leri Peterson, (roll me over with my face to the The couple also attended church door and give me back my gun and services here in the evening.I can take care of myself for a! Chris P. Peterson of Bath whowhile. Y’ou all met us in fair fight, has been confined to his bed for and I do not w'ant any of you to more than two weeks is still very give up your lives for me.' j sick. The Glad Hand Sunday School“When they were taking the out-* class presented him with a beaut i-Capture Led by Captain Murphy; Boy,Seven, Joined Posse
Newspaper Details
Albert Lea Evening Tribune
Albert Lea, Minnesota, US
Mon, Feb 13, 1939
Page 5
Full Page
Clipped by
Joplin P.
MO, USA 10 Sep 2024
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