The Butler Weekly Times Newspaper, October 31, 1895, Page 2

JESSE JAMES. Real Story of his Death now First Told by Finis Farr, Gov. Crit- tenden’s Private Secretary. Mr. Farr, in Correcting Recent Pabli- cations, Discloses Facts Never Be- fore Given Out—Ontlaw Ford's Own Story of the Murder—Was Not Hired to Kill—Had to Do It. Attorney Finis C. Farr, of Kansas City, was a priyate secretary to T. T. Crittenden when he, as the gov- ernor of Missouri, issued a proclam- ation offering big rewards for the apprehension of members of the James gang. Said Mr. Farr toa re- porter 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 they happened. The latest story I have seen, which purported to givo an an account of the end of Jesse James, was written by Stanley Waterloo for the Chicago Tribune. It was a cleverly written story, 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 gion of Northwest Missouri. Water loo’s whole story is founded on the theory that Gov. Crittenden was a party to the killing of Jesse James and that the Ford boys went to St. Joseph for the purpose of killing him. “The facts about the matter are these, and I was in a position to know, and did know, all the inci dents leading up to and following the death of Jesse James THE BIG REWARDS FOR THE OUTLAWS. “Mr. Crittenden was inaugurated governor ‘of Missouri in January, 1881, and a short time after his in- auguration the robbery of the Rock Asland train occurred at Winston. In this robbery the conductor of the train and a stone mason, who was a passenger, were killed, as was gen erally supposed, by the James gang. A great number of robberies of trains and banks had been done in Missouri prior to that time, and pre- ceding governors, sheriffs and other officials had tried in vain to break up the James gang. After the Win- sten robbery the complaints were so loud that the state was being dis 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 appeal 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 $300 as the maximum amount of reward that could be offered for the apprehen- sion of acriminal. He knew that it would be folly to offer a reward of that size for the capture of any members of the James gang. The express companies and railroads, threugh their representatives, had many conferences with the governor. Asa result of these conferences, the railroad and express companies de- posited with the governor enough money to make up the largest re ward ever offered in the world for the eapture of a gang of robbers, and Governor Crittenden issued his famous proclamation, which has been s0 Jeng and flagrantly misrep- resented by the press and people alike. He offered a reward of $10,- 000 each for the apprehension of Jesse James, Frank James, Dick Liddle, Weod Hite, Jim Cummings 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 complicity in the Winston robbery. XO PREMIUM OX MURDER. man, alive or dead, and there was’ | not asyllable in the proclamation [JAPON Bros & Co | indicating a reward for the dead | 5 ‘ body of any man. I sent out hun- | Heavy and Shelf Hardware, Cutlery and Guns dreds of these printed proclamations | Barolo Neelam rey re produced the intended effect. eh tae eae iis “Two of Gov. Crittenden’s chief| Groceries and Farm Produce advisers were Sheriff James R. Tim- berlake of Clay county ard H. H.| Craig, police commissioner of Kan-| sas City. Both were brave, deter- mined and discreet men. “Within sixty days after the issu- | ance of the proclamation Dick Liddle began to make overtures for surren- der to Timberluke and Craig through his sweetheart, Mattie Collins, who also had an 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 rest of the gang. “Later Bob Ford, who was living in Ray county with his uncle, Capt. Ford, went to Sheriff Timberlake and informed him Jesse James was hiding in Northwest Missouri some- where, but he did not know where. He said his brother, Charlie Ford, was with Jesse James, and, said Ford: ‘I believe Jesse will be after me before long to help him hold up something.’ “Timberlake well knew that Bob Ford had been with Jesse James on more than one expedition, and for that reason he placed a great deal of reliance on what Ford said, especial- ly as Ford seemed anxious to earn the reward. He instructed Ford to go with Jesse if he came after him. He was to keep Timberlake posted on everything that happened, and when he had Jesse James located he was to notify Timberlake by tele- gzam or mail so that a posse could be formed for his capture. Nothing was said about the kill- ing of Jesse James, nor was it thought of. A POSSE HELD IN READINESS. “On the night of April 1, 1882, Jesse James rode up to the house of Capt. Ford, in Ray county, and call- ed Bod outside, Hetold him that he had work for him te do, and the two rode away together. The next day Capt Ford notified Sheriff Tim- berlake that Bob had gone to St. Joseph with Jesse James, and the sheriff, acting on this information, notified the members of his posse to be ready ata moment's notice and kept a Hannibal engine inthe round house, with steam up every day and night to carry the posse to St. Joseph. Dick Liddle was to head the posse, and he assured Sheriff Timberlake that he would be the firat man to enter a house for Jesse. ‘But we'll never take him alive; he'll shoot with both hands as long as he | WITH YOU + UNDER K&KEY And let them be about locks and keys, too. if es knew all about locks that we do, the next ocks that you buy would be locks that couldn’s be opened with any keys but their ewn. Also if you knew what we do about hardware in general, you would buy your hardware ot us. —:— WHAT ABOUT STOVE —:— Well, in the first place we keep the G Original Pl P Genuine ROUND —:— OAK The best heating stove in the world. Then we have other Oaks cheaper in price. Wood base burners, air tight heaters for coal, Beckwith’s genuine Round Oak made in Dowagaic, Michi- gan, burns any kind of fuel, they keep fire,too, all day. all night, a steady, even heat, cleanly and comfortable. If you want the best we sell te DEACON BROS. & CO. Low Price Hardware and Grocery House. had pleaded guilty to murder and had been pardoned, he told the gov- ernorin my presence the story of the killing. He related it ina dra- matic manner, with a carefulness as te detail, which convinced us he was telling the truth. This was his story. BOB FORD'S OWN STORY OF THE KILLING. down town, as usual, before.break- | that 44-caliber bullet strike that it | |fast for the papers. We were to) was all up with Jess. j | go to Platte City that night to rob! “Charlie ran into the reom and! ‘the bank and had made up my mind | right behind was Mrs. James, who that I was in fora raid on the bank began to mourn and upbraid me. I) We got back to the! called a passer by, who w ck and sat down | towards town, and told hi Jes bh hi | sure enough. going | to notify se was sitting | the police that we had killed Jesse” back to me|James. In a little while the officials | | reading the ouis Republican. I} came and we surrended-’ |looked over the Kansas City Journal | “That is story told to us by Bob) | first, and, seeing nothing of interest, | Ford and corroborated by Charlie | I threw it on the bed and picked up/and others,” said Mr. Farr, I bad |the Times aud the first thing I saw | never had reason to doubt its trutb- | house about 8 o’e |in the front room in front of in big headlines, almost a foot long, Dick Liddle’s surrender. Just then Mrs James came in from the kitch- enand vaid breakfast was ready. My only thought then was to hide the paper from Jesse. Beside me was a chair with a shaw! 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 I followed and sat down at che 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 coftee and then sat down at one end of the table. Charlie was at the other end and the two children sat one on each side of the mother. Jesse spread the paper on the table in front of him end sort of folded his hands on it and began to look ever the head- lines. My heart went up in my throat and I couldn't have eaten a bite then to saye my life. All at jouce Jesse said: “Hello, here The surrender of Dick Liddle,” and he |looked across at me with a glare in his eye that I nad seen there before. “Young man. I thought you told me you didn’t know that Dick had surrendered,” he said. “I told him I didn’t know it.” “Weill,” he said, “it’s very strange. He surrendered three weeks ago, and you was right there in the neigh- borhood. It looks fishy.” He continued to glare at me, and I got up and went into the front room again. Ina minute I heard Jesse push his chair back and walk to the door. I expected the shoot- ing to begin right there, and if it had Jesse would have got me, for I was nervous. But he came in smiling and said pleasantly: ‘Well, Bob, it’s all right, anyway.” Instantly his real purpose flashed upon my mind. I knew I had not foeled him. He was too sharp for that. He knew at that moment as well as I did that I was there to be- tray him. But he was not going to kill me in the presence of his wife on the first page, was the story of | | fulness.” | GLADSTONE’S PREDICTION, | Says Free Trade Would Make America | the Greatest Commercial Power. | New York, Oct. 21.—Ex-Postmas- jter General Thomas L. James, who has just returned from Europe, gives to the press the following statement of his visit to Gladstone: “I never had met Mr. Gladstone, and I was very anxious to have that |pleasure. He isa man for whom I have a great admiration, and I was naturally curious to see him and hear him talk. No, I was not disap- pointed in him. He was very much the sort of a man that I had con- ceivel him to be, and he shows no sign of mental or physical decay. If the Tories think that he is 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 bis discourse was as full of fire as the first. He hasa remarkable voice for a public speak- er. It is something like that of Joseph Choate—just as clear but stronger. “During the course of our conver- sation Mr. Gladstone affirmed again his sentiments on the Armenian question and said in effect that the atrocities must stop. Mr. Gladstone is a most fascinating in conversation, and he is ever ready with a reply. Some one present re- marked that England had secured free trade through protection. “T want you to take this message to the American people for me,’ said Mr. Gladstone, ‘I 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 she wont hurt England, either. When the United States adopts free trade she will have 50 to 60 per cent of the carry- ing trade of the world and England will have 25 per cent more than she has to-day.” “The conversation was turned on races, and Mr. Gladstone remarked that, as a rule, the English were not good speakere. He contended that their difficulty was a very poer enun- | | man TH Bates County Bank, BUTLER, MO. Successor to Eates Co. Established in 1870. National Bank, | Paid up capital $125,000 | A general banking business trans. acted. | F. J. TYGARD, | | HON. J. B. NEWBERRY ,! J. C. CLARK President, Vice-Pres. Cashier T. J. Smirn. A. W. Tuveman SMITH THURMAN. LAWYERS, Office overfBates Countv Natn'l Bank. Butler, Missouri, RAVES & CLARK, ATTORNEYS AT LAW. Office over the Missouri State Bank North side square. Silvers & Denton ATTORNEYS AND COUNSELORS AT LAW BUTLER, MO. Office over the Farmers Bank. T C. BOULWARE, Physician and e Surgeon. Office north side square, Butler, Mo. Diseasesof women and chil en aspecialtv. DR. J. M, CHRISTY, HOMOEOPATHIC PHYSICIAN AND SURGEON, McKibbens All callanswered at office day or Office, tront room over store. night. Specialattention given to temale dis eases. DR, J.T. HULL DENTIST. Newly Fitted up Rooms, Over Jeter’s Jewelry Store. Entrance, same that leads to Hagedorn’s Studio, north side square, Butler, Mo. ~ W. R. WOODS Real Estate and Life In- surance Agent. ADRIAN MISSOURI I have a large number of farms for sale, ranging from 40 acres up. This land is located in Bates county and is choice read estate. Call and see me before buying. can stand up,’ said Liddle to the sheriff. Gov. Crittenden was kept informed of every move made by Sheriff Timberlake. “When Jesse came to me at my|and children, and so he was smiling uncle's that night he told me that|and pleasant to throw me off my my brether Charlie was with him| guard, intending when we were on and that they had planned to rob|the road to rob the bank that night ciation. “* ‘Americans,’ he said, ‘bave an excellent enunciation. The Irish are Wee cae Trustworthy gentlemen to travel in Missouri for established, re- Hable house. Salary $750 snd expenses. Steady position. Enclose reference and self_ “Several days went by and no word came from Ford, and then, on April 3, at about 10 o'clock, tele- the Platte City bank. It would take three men to do the job and he needed my help. After we got to his house in the suburbs of St. to finish me. He walked over to the bed and deliberately unbuckled his belt, with four revolvers in it, and a natien of born orators. What ca- pabilities for a nation like that! When they have their rights justice cannot be long delayed. It is com- addressed stamped envelope. The Dominion Company. Third Floor, Omaha Bldg., Chicago. 4-168 Bi 15ete at O. K. Barber Shop, hot or cold, clean linen andrighttreatment. Give us “Gov. Crittenden did not offer a reward forthe capture, dead or alive, of any member of the gang. Hf had no authority to offer a reward for a grams were received by Sheriff Tim- berlake 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 addressed tothe governor, but he was in St. Louis on business, and I opened it as I did all his let- ters and telegrams in his absence. The telegram read: “ ‘T have killed Jesse James,’ “ St. Joseph. Bos Forp.’ “I immediately telegraphed the au- thorities at St. Joseph for particu- lars, and in reply was informed that Jesse James had been shot and kill- ei by Bob and Charlie Ford, who had been arrested and were in jail. Gov. Crittenden reached Jefferson City frem St. Louis on the neon train and I met him atthe depot. When he steped off the train I shook hands with him and said: “ ‘Gevernor, they've captured Jesse James.’ “Have they, indeed? Did Timber- lake get him?’ “ ‘No, Bob and Charlie Ford kill- ed him this morning.’ | “I handed the governor the tele-| grams, and after he had read them | we walked together to the executive | mansion, discussing as we went the) probable reasen for the killing and/| how it was done. The governor said | over and over again that he regret. ted that they did not capture him! alive. threw it on the bed. It was the first time in my life I had seen him without that belt on, and I knew in an instant that he threw it eff to further quiet any suspicions I might heve that he had tumbled to my scheme. He seemed tn want to busy him- self with something to make an im- Pression on my mind that he had forgotten the incident of a moment before at the breakfast table, and he picked up a duster from the table and said: “That picture is awful Joseph he seemed suspicious of me for some reason avd never allewed me out of his sight for even a min- ute He had me sleep in the same room with him, and he even follow- ed me whenI would go out te the stable. He seemed to pay no atten- tion to Charlie, but watched me so closely that I had no chance te com- municate with Timberlake. Each morning before break’ast he would take me down town with him to get the morning papers, which he read every day. He weuld buy the St.| dusty.” Jeaeph and St. Louis papers andI| There wasn’t a speck of dust that wanted to get the Kansas City|I ceuld see on the picture, but he papers, and after he had read them |stood a chair beneath it and then we would exchange. Timberlake| got upon it and began te dust the had told me that I must keep the| picture on the wall. papers from Jesse if I could, because Up to that moment the thought the reporters were onto the fact that! of killing him had never entered something was inthe wind, and it my mind, but as ke stood there, might leak out and be published|ynarmed, with his back to that Dick Liddle had surrendered,/me it came to me suddenly, which fact, up to that time, had been| «Now or never is your chance. If kept out of the papers. you den’t get him new he'll get you tonight.” “*Without further thought or a moment's delay I pulled my revolyer jand leveled it as I eat. He heard tee hammer click as I cocked it with The days kept slipping by and it! my thumb in throwing it down ona kept getting hotter for me every|line with his head. He recognized hour. I knew something might|the sound and started to turnas I happen at any time to tip my hand| pulled the trigger. The ball struek to Jesse, and I scanned the papers/him just behind him the ear and he Soon after my arrival in St. Jo-| seph Jesse questioned me closely about Dick Liddle, and I told him I had not heard anything about him for a long time. “Later on, after that Bob Ford | morning of April 3, Jesse and I went | near his body- I knew whenI saw Compt AINT each merning eagerly. On the/felllikea log, dead. I didn't ge a call, Five doors south of post office. ing, and it will come speedily if they | 59¢¢ J. T. BROOKS only stop quarreling among them- selves.” Rev. George Mills, a salvationist preacher, fatally shot Charles Clem- ens, a young farmer near Chalybeate Springs. On Sunday Clemens ac- eompanied the daughter of Rev. Mills to church’ Mills took his daughter away from Clemens. When he met the latter on the highway he emptied his gun into Clemens. Mills was arrested. INSURES SAFETY TO LIFE OF MOTHER AND CHILD. Mothers’ Friend” ROBS CONFINEMENT OF ITS PAIN, HORROR AND RISK. In Poor Health - means so much more than you imagine—serious and fatal diseases result from trifling ailments neglected. Don’t play with Nature’s greatest gift—health. Browns Iron Bitters [= It Cures Dyspepsia, Kidney and Liver Ifyou eter out of sorts, wea land generally ex- hausted, nervous, have no appetite land can't work, begin at once tak- ing the most relia- ble strengthening medicine, which is Erown's Iron Bit- “ My wife used only two bottles. She was easily and quickly reliev ow doing splendidiy.— J. S. Mortox, Harlow, Sent by express or mail, on recei $1.00 per bottle. Book mailed free. BRADFIELD REGULATOR €0.. ATLANTA, Gi. 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