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JESNK JAMESHeal Story of bis Death now First Told by Finis Farr, l»©v. Urit-lendcns Private Secretary,Mr. Karr, in Correctlnir Receni Pnlili-rnlions. Pacts Never Refora Riven Oat—Ontlaw Fnrtt’a Own Story of the Murder—Was Not Hired to Kill—Had to Do It.Attorney Finis C. Farr, of Kansas City, was a private secretary to T. T. Crittenden when he, as the governor of Missouri, issued a proclamation offering big rewards for the apprehension of members of the James gang. Said Mr. Farr to a reporter of the Star:“I probably know more about the circumstances leading up to the death of Jesse James than any other man except Gov. Crittenden. I have heretofore refused persistently to be interviewed on the subject, but so many false stories have been printed recently about the death of the noted outlaw and about Gov. Crittenden's connection with it that I am willing to tell for the first time the actual circumstances as thsy happened. The latest Btory I have Been, which purported to give an an account of the end of Jesse Jamas, was written by Stanley Waterloo for the Chicago Tribune. It was a cleverly written ■tory, but, like all other stories which I have seen on the subject, it was full of inaccuracies from start to finish. The first mis-statement made by Waterloo is that the James boys lived in the Cracker Neck re gioo of Northwest Missouri. Water loo’s whole story is founded on the theory that Gov. Crittenden was a party to the killing of JesBe James and that the Ford boys went to St. Joseph for the purpose of killing him.“The facts about the matter are these, Bnd I was in a position to know, and did know, all the inci dents lending up to and following the death of Jesse JamesTRI Bio HRWA1IDS roll THE OUTLAWS.“Mr. Crittenden was inaugurated governor ' of Missouri in January, 1881, and a short time after bis inauguration the robbery of the Bock island train occurred at Winston. In this robbery the conductor of the train and a stone masou, who was a passenger, were killed, as wae gen erally supposed, by the James gang. A great number of robberies of trains and banks bad been done in Miasouri prior to that time, and preceding governors, sheriffs and other officials bad tried in vain to break up the Janes gang. After the Winston robbery the complaints were so loud that the state was being diB credited by these robberies that Gov. Crittenden began to cast about him to see if there was any means by which the gang could be rounded up. He came to the conclusion that the enly way to do it was to offer a reward large enough to nppeal to the cupidity of members of the gang and bribe them to betray their chiefs. But the governor's hands were virtu ally tied because of the inadequacy of the the law, which fixed $200 as the maximum amount of reward that could be offered for the apprehension of a criminal. He knew that it would be folly to offer a reward of that siza for the capture of any members of the JameB gang. The express companies and railroads, through their representatives, had many conferences with the governor. As a result of these conferences, ths railroad and express companies deposited with the governor enough money to make up the largest re ward ever offered in the world for the capture of a gang of robbers, and Governor Crittenden issued his famous proclamation, which has been so leng and flagrantly misrep resented by the press and people alike. He offered a reward of $10,-000 each for the apprehension of Jease James, Frank James, Dick Liddle, Wood Hite, Jim Cuminings and other members of the James gang and $10,000 additional was offered for the conviction of either or both Jesse or Frank James of cemplicity in the Winston robbery, no FaxarcM os iirRnsR.“Gov. Crittenden did not offer a reward for the capture, dead or alive, of any member of the gang. had no authority to offer a reward for aman, alive or dead, and there was not a syllable in the proclamation' indicating a reward for the dead j body of auy man. I neat out bun-! drsds of these printed proclamations in October, 1881, and they eoon produced the intended effect.'Two of Gov. Crittenden's chief advisers were Sheriff James B Timberlake of Clay county nrd II H. Craig, police commissioner of Kansas City. Both were brave, determined and discreet men.Within sixty days after the issuance of the proclamation Dick Liddle began to maks overtures for surren der to Timberlake and Craig through bis sweetheart, Mattie Collins, who also bad au interview with Governor Crittenden. The result was that Liddle surrendered to Sheriff Tim berlake on terms which required him to assist in the capture of the reet of the gang.Later Bob Ford, who was living ia Bay couuty with his uncle, Capt. Ford, went to Sheriff Timberlake and informed him Jesse James was hiding in Northwest Missouri somewhere, but he did not know where. He said his brother, Charlie Ford, was with Jesse James, and, said Ford: ‘I believe Jesse will be afterme before long to help him hold up something.'‘Timberlake well knew that Bob Ford bad been with Jesse James on more than ono expedition, and for that reason he placed a great deal of reliance on what Ford said, especially as Ford Heerued anxious to earn the reward. He instructed Ford to go with Jesse if he catno after him. He was to keep Ticuberluke posted on everything that happened, and when ho bad Jesse James located he was to notify Timberlake by telegram or mail so that a posse could be formed for his capture.Nothing was said about the killing of Jesse James, nor was it thought of.A I’OSSB HELD IN READINESS.‘On the night of April 1, 18S2, Jeeee James rode up to the house of Capt. Ford, in Bay county, and called Bod outside. He told him that he had work for him to do, and the two rode away together. The next day Capt Ford notified Sheriff Timberlake that Bob had gone to St. Joseph with Jesse James, and the sheriff, acting on thiB information, notified the members of his posse to be ready at a moment's notice and kept a Hannibal engine in the round house, with steam up every day and night to carry the posse to St, Joseph. Dick Liddle was to bead the posse, and he assured Sheriff Timberlake that be would be the first man to enter a bouse for Jesse. ‘But we’ll never take him alive; he'll shoot with both hands as long as ha can stand up,’ said Liddle to the sheriff. Gov. Crittenden was kept informed of every move made by Sheriff Timberlake.“Several days went by and no word came from Ford, and than, on April 3, at about 11) o'clock, telegrams were recaived by Sheriff Timberlake and at the executive mansion in Jefferson City, announcing that Ford had shot and killed Jesse James I was alone in the governor’s private office when the telegam came It was addreeaed to the governor, but be wrb in St- Louis on business, and I opened it as I did all bis letters and telegrams ia his absence. The telegram read:“ *1 have killed Jesse James,'“ ‘St. Joseph. Bob Ford.’“I immediately telegraphed the authorities at St. Joseph for particulars, and in reply was informed that Jesse James had been shot and killed by Bob aad Charlie Ford, who had been arrested and were in jail. Gov. Crittenden reached Jeffereoa City frem St. Leuia on the neon train and I met him at the depot. When he ateped off the train I shook hands with him and eaid:Gevarner,they've captured Jesse James.’Have they. indeedT Did Timberlake get him*Deacon Bios. Co.down town, as usual, before .break-. that 4-4-caliber bullet strike that itfast for the papers. We were to ' was all up with Jess.I go to Platte City that night to rob ! -“Charlie ran into the room andHt-ATV ftD-i Shelf Hart war-’, i.ullrry an.1 Gttci Tinware anil Stove*, Field and Usrtlen Serda, Bajfslt-#, W**or.», ami FarmII *rh Ir,e-ry. wajrou. wood-Work, Iran. Steel.Nalls. Sait. Bart, Wire. Buggy Painl*. Mac hit.,* OH.the bank and bad made up my mind right behind was Mrs. James, who that I was ia for a raid on the bank began to mourn and upbraid me. IGroceries and Farm ProduceH\sure enough. We got back to the called a passer by. who was going Louse about 8 o'clock and sat down , towards town, and told him to notifylt;z0in the front room. -I, • was sitting the police that we had killed .Jessein front of me with hi-^ back to me [James Iu a little while the officialsreading the isl. Louis Republican, i looked over the Kansas City Journalcame and we surrended.“That is story told to us by Bob Jj tirst, and, aeeiug nothing of interest. Ford and corroborated by Charlie (jI threw it ou the bed and picked up'and others. said Mr. Farr, I hadthe Times and the first thing I saw , never Lad reason to doubt its trutb-in big headline?, almost a foot long, fulness.j-Tl -i//weRpsWITH Y9U UNDERCrUKEYAnd let ili-in baabout lock* and key*, too. If job knew all about lock* that vrr .lo. In, out lock* that yon bur would ba locks that cousin's be opened with anv keys but their own. Also If you knew vrlist we .lo about hardware In genera], you would buy your hardwares!—WHAT ABOUT STOVE —ROUND —OAKThe best hestlair stove In the world have other Oaks cheaper In price Wood base burners, air ti*tit heaters for coal, Beckwith’s fcenulnu Hound Oak made In liowanalc, Mlclil-|tsn, burns anv kind of fuel, they keep Are.ton,itan. burns anv kind of fuel, they keep flre.too, all day. all night, a steady, even heat, cleanlv ana comfortable. If yon want the best tve sellDEACON BROS. CO.Low Prica Hardware and Grocery Ilonse.had pleaded guilty to murder and had been pardoned, bo told the gov* ernor in my presence the story of the killing. He related it in a dramatic manner, with a carefulness as te detail, which convinced us he was telling the truth. This was his story.BOB FOR DM OWN STOUT OF TUX SILLING.“When Jesse came to int at my uncle's that night he told me that my brother Charlie was with him and that they had planned to rob the Platte City bank. It would take three men to do the job and he needed mj help. After we got to bis house in the suburbs of St. Joseph he seemed suspicious of me for iome reason and never allowed me out of bis sight for even a minute He had me sleep ia the asms room with him, and he even followed me when I would go out te the stable. He seemed to pay no attention to Charlie, but watched me so cloaety that I had no chance to communicate with Timberlake. Eaeb morning before breakfast he would take me down town with him to get the morning papera, which be read every day. He weuld buy the St. Jeaeph and St. Louie papers and I wanted to get the Kansas City papers, and after he bad read them we would exchange. Timberlake had told me that I must keep the papers from Jeaee if I could, because the reporters were onto the fact that something was in the wind, and it might leak out and be published tbat Dick Liddle bad surrendered, which fact, up to that time, had beenkept out of the papers.Soon after my arrival in St. Jo- [ tonight.” “ ‘No, Bob and Charlie Ford kill-j eeph Jesse questioned me oloeely about Dick Liddle, and I told him I about himon the first page, w#h the story of Dick Liddle's surrender. Just then Mrs James came in from the kitchen and eaid breakfast was ready. My only thought then was to bide the paper from Jesse. Beside me was a chair with a shawl on it. and as quick as flash I lifted it and shoved the paper under. Jesse couldn't have seen me, but he got up, walked over to the chair, picked up the shawl, and threw it onto the bed and taking the paper went into the kitchen. I felt that the jig was up, but 1 followed and sat down at „he table opposite Jesse. I moved my belt around so the revolver was close to my right hand. I proposed to die game if Jess began to shoot.Mrs. James poured out the coflee and then sat down at one end of the table. Charlie was at the other end and the two children sat one ok each side of the mother. Jesae spread the paper on the table in front of him and sort of folded his hands on it and began to look aver the headlines My heart went up in my throat and I couldn’t have catena bite then to oaye my life. All at once Jesse, said: “Hello, here The surrender of Dick Liddle, aad he looked across at me with u glare in his eye that I Lad seen there before.“Toung man. I thought you told me you didn't know that Dick had surrendered, he said.“I told him I didn't know it.“Well, he said, “it's very strange. He surrendered three weeks ago, and you was right there in the neighborhood. It looks fishy.He continued to glare at me, and I got up and went into the fruut room again. Iu a minute 1 heard Jesse push his chair back and walk to the door. I expected the shooting to begin right there, and If it bad Jesse would have got me, for I was nervous. But he came m smiting and said pleasantly: “Well, Bob. it's all right, anyway.”Instantly bis real purpose flashrd upon my mind. I knew I had not foalsd him. He was too sharp for that He knew at that moment as well as I did that I was there to betray him. But he was not going to kill me iu the presence of his wife and children, and so ha was smiling and pleasant to throw rue off my guard, intending when we were on the road to rob the bank that Digbt to finish me. He walked over to the bed and deliberately unbuckled bis belt, with four revolvers in it, and threw it on the bed. It was the first time in my life I had seen him without tbat belt on, and I knew ii au instant that he threw it eff to further quiet any suspicions I might have tbat he had tumbled to my exhume.He seemed tn want to busy himself with something to make au impression on my mind that he bad forgotten the incident of a moment before at the breakfast table, and be picked up a duster from the table and said: “That picture is awful dusty.There wasn't a speck of dust that I ceuld see on the picture, but he ■tood a chair beneath it and then got upon it and began to dust the picture on the wall.Up to that moment the thought •f killing him bad never entered my mind, but as he stood there, unarmed, with bis hack to me it came to me suddenly, “Now or never is yoar chance. II you don't get him new he'll get youGI.AhTl).\K’8 PUKIHCTIOS., Says free Trail? Would Make America | the GreHiest Commercial Power.New York. Oct 21.—Ex-Postmaster General Thomas L James, who has juet returned from Europe, gives to the press the following statement of bis visit to Gladstone:“I never had met Mr. Gladstone, l and I was very anxious to have tbat pleasure. He is a man for whom I have a great ad miration, and I was naturally curious to see him and bear him talk. No, 1 was not disappointed in him. He wae very much the sort of a man tbat I bad conceive 1 him to be. and he shows no sign of mental or physical decay. If the Tories think that he ia going out without making any sign they are mistaken. Mr. Gladstone is a remarkable vigorous man now. In bis recent oration at Chester he spoke for sixty-five minutes and the latter half of his discourse was as full of fire ae the first. He has a remarkable voice for a public speaker. It is something like that of Joseph Choate—just as clear but stronger.“During the course of our conversation Mr. Gladstooe affirmed again his sentiments ou the Armenian question and said in effect tbat the atrocities must stop. Mr. Gladstone is a most fascinating man in conversation, and he is ever ready with a reply. Home one present remarked that England had secured free trade through protection.I want you to take this message to the American people for me,' said Mr. Gladstone, *1 want you to tell them that when the United States of America adopts free trade she will be the greatest commercial pow er on the globe, and Bbe wont hurt England, either. When the United States adopts free trade she will have 50 to 00 per cent of the carrying trade of the world and England will have 25 per cent more than she baa to-day.'‘The conversation was turned onraces, and Mr. Gladstone remarked that, sb a rule, the English were not good speakers. He contended that their difficulty wue a very poer enunciation.American?,' he said, ‘have an excelleut enunciation. The Irish are a uatien of born orators. What capabilities for a nation like tbut! When they have their rights justice cannot be long delayed. It ie com ing, end it will come speedily if they only atop quarreling among themselves.’ '*ei him this morning.'“I handed the governor the tele* ] had not heard anythin; grams, and after he had read them for a long time, we walked together to the executive 'The days kept slipping by and itmansion, discussing as we went the kept getting hotter for me every probable reason for the killing and hour. I knew something mightbow it was dona The governor said over and over again that he regretle i tkaf I Vi at* i d n rifi AevtfinM L - happen at any time to tip my handted tbat they did not capture him to »cd 1 BC*Dned P»P«w-K— each marning eagerly. On the“Later on, after that Bob Ford morning of April 3, Jetse and I went“ ‘Without further thought or moment's delay I pulled my revolver end leveled it as I set. He heard the hammer click as I cocked it with my thumb in throwing it down on a line with his head. He recognized the sound and started to turn as I pulled the trigger. The ball struek him just behind him the ear and he fell like a log. dead. I didn’t ge near hie body- I kaew when I sawLexington, Ky., Oct. ’23 —The Rev. George Mills, a Salvationist preacher, fatally shot Charles Clemens, a young farmer near Chalybeate Springe. On Sunday Clemens accompanied the daughter of Rev. Mills to church; Hills took hie daughter away from Clemens. When be met the latWr on the highway he emptied hie gun into Clemens. Mills wae errested.TOYOUNGWIVESWE OFFER A REMEDY WHICH INSURES SAFETY TO LIFE OF MOTHER AMD CHILD.‘ Mothers’ Friend”ROBS CONFINEMENT OF ITR PAIN, HORROR AND RISK.'• Mv wife used only t wo bottles. She was easily ami quickly relieved; is nowSect by express or mail, on reee.pt of price tl.Ott per IwtUe- Book TO MOTHERS milled free.BHlOFin I ucrum CO.. 1TUNT*. Cl. •OLD BY ALL DRUGGIST*Nature’sRemedyScheLiverMand
Newspaper Details
Butler Weekly Times
Butler, Missouri, US
Thu, Oct 31, 1895
Page 3
Full Page
Clipped by
Joplin P.
MO, USA 03 Aug 2024
Other Publications Near Butler, Missouri
Butler Weekly times and the Bates County record
Butler Weekly Times
Butler Bates County Record
