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Transcriber's note:
    Minor spelling inconsistencies, mainly hyphenated words, have been
    harmonized. Italic text has been marked with _underscores_.
    Obvious typos have been corrected. An "Illustrations" section has been
    added as an aid to the reader.




    LIFE AND ADVENTURES

    OF

    FRANK AND JESSE JAMES

    THE

    NOTED WESTERN OUTLAWS.


    BY

    HON. J. A. DACUS, PH. D.


    "Strange murmurs fill my tingling ears,
    Bristles my hair, my sinews quake,
    At this dread tale of reckless deeds."


    _ILLUSTRATED._


    ST. LOUIS:
    W. S. BRYAN, PUBLISHER,
    602 North Fourth Street.
    SAN FRANCISCO: A. L. BANCROFT & CO., 721 Market Street.
    INDIANAPOLIS: FRED. L. HORTON & CO., 66 East Market Street.
    CHICAGO: J. S. GOODMAN, 142 LaSalle Street.
    1880.




Copyrighted, 1879, by W. S. BRYAN




  [Illustration: JESSE JAMES.

  FROM A LATE PHOTOGRAPH.

    Copyrighted, 1880, by W. S. Bryan. The copyright laws
    will be rigidly enforced against any person making
    or disposing of copies of this picture.]




  [Illustration:

    FRANK JAMES.      JESSE JAMES.

  Engraved from Photographs taken about the close of the war.]




CONTENTS.


    CHAPTER I.--THE JAMES FAMILY.--The Rev. Robert
    James--His marriage--Removal to Missouri--His death
    in California,                                               11-16

    CHAPTER II.--FRANK AND JESSE.--Their childhood and
    youth--They desire fire-arms--Youthful Nimrods--Pistol
    practice,                                                    17-24

    CHAPTER III.--IN THE GUERRILLA CAMP.--Frank joins
    Quantrell--Outrage on Dr. Samuels and Jesse--Mrs.
    Samuels and daughter, Susie James, arrested--Jesse as a
    courier for the Guerrillas,                                  25-28

    CHAPTER IV.--BLOODY WAR.--The hatreds of the border
    people--The partisan rangers--Frank James as a scout--Fight
    at Plattsburg,                                               29-34

    CHAPTER V.--AT THE SACK OF LAWRENCE, KANSAS.--The
    black flag unfurled--The Guerrillas mass their
    forces--The march to Lawrence--Capture of the town--Frank
    and Jesse participate,                                       35-39

    CHAPTER VI.--A GORY RECORD.--The cruel strife of the
    border--Death in the thickets--Quantrell and his
    followers,                                                   40-56

    CHAPTER VII.--ADVENTURES IN SEPARATE FIELDS.--Frank
    James follows Quantrell into Kentucky--Fierce
    partisan contests--Death of Quantrell--Jesse follows
    George Shepherd to Texas--The last fight of the war--Jesse
    wounded,                                                     57-65

    CHAPTER VIII.--THE BRANDENBURG TRAGEDY.--Frank
    James followed by four men--They attempt to arrest him--Terrible
    fight--Frank wounded in the left hip--Concealed
    by friends,                                                  66-70

    CHAPTER IX.--THE LIBERTY BANK AFFAIR.--A great
    robbery--St. Valentine's day, and the prize drawn by
    bold marauders--The James Boys accused of the crime,         71-73

    CHAPTER X.--JESSE'S SORTIE AGAINST THE MILITIAMEN.--Attacked
    at night--The family council of war--Jesse
    desires to look out on the cold moonlight scene--Throws
    the door open and fires upon the militiamen--Three
    corpses on the crisp snow,                                   74-77

    CHAPTER XI.--IN THE HANDS OF FRIENDS.--Jesse goes
    to Kentucky--Among his relatives and friends--Placed
    under the care of Dr. Paul F. Eve--A good time,              78-81

    CHAPTER XII.--THE RUSSELLVILLE BANK ROBBERY.--A
    large haul--The James Boys connected with the robbery--They
    ride away on George Shepherd's horses--Shepherd
    arrested and imprisoned--Death of Oll Shepherd--Persistent
    pursuit of the robbers--The Jameses
    escape,                                                      82-90

    CHAPTER XIII.--ON THE PACIFIC <DW72>.--Jesse James
    sails for California--At Paso Robel--Frank goes West--On
    the Laponsu ranche--Adventures in Nevada--A dark
    seance--The Boys return to the East,                        91-102

    CHAPTER XIV.--WERE THEY DRIVEN TO OUTLAWRY?--The
    peculiar circumstances surrounding the Jameses--Social
    and political ostracism--The vigilance committees--Not
    allowed to remain at peace in their own home--They
    go forth as enemies of society,                            103-107

    CHAPTER XV.--THE GALLATIN BANK TRAGEDY.--Strange
    men in Gallatin--They call upon the cashier--Captain
    John W. Sheets shot by Jesse James--Pursuit of the man
    slayers--The escape of the robbers,                        108-111

    CHAPTER XVI.--ATTEMPTS TO ARREST THE BOYS.--The
    people aroused--Detectives on the trail of the Boys--Their
    neighbors arrayed against them--Captain Thomason
    expresses himself--He is interviewed by Mrs.
    Samuels--Failure of all efforts to arrest them,            112-115

    CHAPTER XVII.--OUTRAGE AT COLUMBIA, KENTUCKY.--The
    citizens of Adair county, Kentucky, startled--Bold
    daylight robbery of the bank at Columbia--Murder of the
    cashier, Mr. Martin--Chasing the robbers--The marauders
    escape,                                                    116-121

    CHAPTER XVIII.--OUT OF EXILE.--Domestic and social
    relations of the Boys--Their visits to the cities--The
    theaters and concert stage--Life in hotels--How the
    Jameses play the part of gentlemen,                        122-130

    CHAPTER XIX.--THE CORYDON RAID.--The robbers pay
    a visit to Iowa--Their sudden appearance at Corydon--They
    secure a large sum of money and ride away--Hot
    pursuit by Iowa officers--Jesse as a rustic,               131-133

    CHAPTER XX.--THE CASH BOX OF THE FAIR.--Frank and
    Jesse at Kansas City--The gate money seized and carried
    away--The pool cashier interviewed by Frank,               134-138

    CHAPTER XXI.--STE. GENEVIEVE.--The cashier of the
    bank at Ste. Genevieve surprised--Narrow escape of
    young Rozier--The bank plundered by the raiders--Escape
    of the robbers,                                            139-145

    CHAPTER XXII.--A RAILWAY TRAIN ROBBED IN IOWA.--A
    night vigil--On the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific
    railway line--A locomotive ditched and a fireman killed--A
    successful raid,                                           146-150

    CHAPTER XXIII.--THE GAINES' PLACE STAGE ROBBERY.--How
    the invalids en route to Hot Springs were plundered
    on the Malvern road--Scenes and incidents of the
    robbery--Grim jokes at the expense of the passengers,      151-158

    CHAPTER XXIV.--GADSHILL.--A startling sensation--The
    robbers at the lonely wayside station--The passengers
    made prisoners and robbed,                                 159-165

    CHAPTER XXV.--AFTER GADSHILL.--Pursuit of the robbers--Trailed
    through southern Missouri to St. Clair
    county--Diversions in Bentonville, Arkansas--The
    campaign leads to a tragedy,                               166-172

    CHAPTER XXVI.--WHICHER'S RIDE TO DEATH.--The
    brave detective caught in a trap--Jim Latche's observations
    in Liberty--The use he made of his knowledge--The
    last night ride--Whicher shot,                             173-181

    CHAPTER XXVII.--A NIGHT RAID OF DETECTIVES.--Attempt
    to avenge Whicher's death--Preparing a trap to
    catch Frank and Jesse at the Samuels place--Fire balls
    and bomb shells--A terrible scene--Death of a boy and
    wounding of Mrs. Samuels,                                  182-190

    CHAPTER XXVIII.--PROPOSED AMNESTY.--Movement in
    the Legislature--Gen. Jones' amnesty bill--Jesse quietly
    awaits the turn of events--Failure of the bill to pass in
    the Legislature--Taking vengeance,                         191-195

    CHAPTER XXIX.--SAN ANTONIO-AUSTIN STAGE PLUNDERED.--Bandits
    on the prairies--Strange horsemen at
    eventide--The stage halted--The passengers plundered,      196-201

    CHAPTER XXX.--FARMER ASKEW'S FATE.--The house of
    Askew--The farmer incurs the hatred of the James
    Boys--Vengeance threatened--Assassinated while standing
    on his porch--Jesse and Frank believed to be the
    guilty parties,                                            202-207

    CHAPTER XXXI.--GOLD DUST--THE MUNCIE BUSINESS.--Lying
    in wait--The evening train bound from
    the mining regions--Golden galore--The train stopped
    by masked men and the express car plundered,               208-210

    CHAPTER XXXII.--HUNTINGTON, WEST VIRGINIA, BANK
    ROBBERY.--A band of robbers in the streets--The people
    alarmed--Demand upon Mr. Oney--The robbers make
    off with the bank's funds--Capture of Jack Kean, and
    death of McDaniels--The handiwork of the Jameses
    shown,                                                     211-214

    CHAPTER XXXIII.--JESSE'S WOOING AND WEDDING.--Courting
    under difficulties--A fair cousin--She admires
    the outlaw--The courtship continues, and Jesse takes
    his cousin as his bride,                                   216-222

    CHAPTER XXXIV.--A DREAM OF LOVE.--Frank James
    cherishes tender sentiments and goes a-wooing--A fair
    girl, beautiful and accomplished--Frank's suit
    encouraged,                                                223-227

    CHAPTER XXXV.--FAIR ANNIE RALSTON, THE OUTLAW'S
    BRIDE.--How Annie Ralston carried off the honors
    of her class at college--A belle in society--Her admiration
    for Frank James--She quietly collects her effects,
    and leaves her home to share his fate with Frank,          228-233

    CHAPTER XXXVI.--A SEVENTEEN THOUSAND DOLLAR
    HAUL.--The train robbery at Otterville--The Youngers
    and the Jameses--Frank James the planner--How the
    train was halted--Capture of Hobbs Kerry--He gives
    away the gang--The escape,                                 234-245

    CHAPTER XXXVII.--IN MINNESOTA.--The bandits seek a
    new field--Frank James and the Younger Brothers--Bill
    Chadwell, Miller and Pitts--The long ride,                 246-254

    CHAPTER XXXVIII.--THE ATTACK AT NORTHFIELD--HAYWOOD'S
    DEATH.--The raid on the bank--The cashier
    shot--Bill Chadwell killed in the street--The citizens
    come to the rescue--Fusilades in the town--The bandits
    forced to go out in quick time--A hot pursuit--Capture
    of the Youngers,                                           255-266

    CHAPTER XXXIX.--Escape of Frank and Jesse James.--The
    terrible retreat--Worn out, and yet no chance for
    rest--A remarkable escape--They disappear from the
    very midst of those who were hunting them--How they
    went away,                                                 267-273

    CHAPTER XL.--A VISIT TO CARMEN.--Frank and Jesse go
    into Mexico--They rest at Carmen, in Chihuahua--The
    silver conducta--They join the Mexican party--Capture
    of the treasure bags of the Mexicans,                      274-282

    CHAPTER XLI.--THE ROBBERS AND THEIR FRIENDS.--The
    various classes of people who exhibit friendship for the
    Jameses--Some are bad men, who gather about them because
    they are brave--Social peculiarities,                      283-290

    CHAPTER XLII.--EXCURSIONS INTO MEXICO.--Wild adventures
    beyond the border--Chasing Mexican cattle-thieves--A
    serious time at Monclova--Frank and Jesse
    escape,                                                    291-299

    CHAPTER XLIII.--DEATH TO BORDER BRIGANDS.--Frank
    and Jesse pay their respects to Palacios' band--The raiders
    of the border punished by the American outlaws--A
    pleasant meeting with troops,                              300-313

    CHAPTER XLIV.--THE UNION PACIFIC EXPRESS ROBBERY.--The
    Big Springs ventures--The persons who engaged
    in it--Large amount of gold coin taken--Pursuit
    of the robbers--Death of Collins at Buffalo, Kansas--Jim
    Berry trailed to Missouri--Shot by the sheriff of
    Audrain county,                                            314-325

    CHAPTER XLV.--A VISIT TO THE HOME OF FRANK
    JAMES.--A Georgian's experience with the great outlaws--The
    home life of Frank,                                        326-336

    CHAPTER XLVI.--EPISTLES OF JESSE JAMES.--How Jesse
    takes his own part with a pen--Some terse specimens of
    Jesse's style,      337-344

    CHAPTER XLVII.--GLENDALE.--The last great train robbery--A
    night ride to a lonely wayside station--How the
    robbery was effected,                                      345-353

    CHAPTER XLVIII.--HUNTING CLUES.--Marshal Liggett--His
    efforts to hunt down the robbers--Jesse James once
    more to the front,                                         354-356

    CHAPTER XLIX.--GEORGE W. SHEPHERD.--The childhood
    and youth of Shepherd--His adventures in Utah--Enters
    the Confederate service--Joins Quantrell's band--Gets
    into trouble with the gang at the time of Russellville--Becomes
    inimical to the Jameses--Engages with
    Marshal Liggett--Joins the band--The Short Creek
    fight,                                                     357-367

    CHAPTER L.--PURSUIT OF THE GLENDALE ROBBERS.--Shepherd
    goes south with the gang--He plans an ambuscade--Failure
    of his plan--The robbers suspicious
    of Shepherd--The fight in the forest,                      368-374

    CHAPTER LI.--ALLEN PARMER.--Becomes a member of
    Quantrell's band--Takes part in the sack of Lawrence--With
    Quantrell in Kentucky--Marries Jesse James' sister--Accused
    of complicity with the Glendale robbers,                   375-379

    CHAPTER LII.--JESSE JAMES STILL A FREE ROVER.--The
    sequel to the fight with Shepherd--Jesse and his wife
    visit relatives and friends in Kentucky--An unsuccessful
    attempt to capture the outlaw,                             380-384




Illustrations

    Jesse James.                                  3

    Frank James.      Jesse James.                4

    Quantrell's Last Fight.                      10

    In The Woods With Their New Shot-Guns.       21

    Girdling A Tree.                             23

    A Moonlight Conference.                      31

    After Lawrence.                              37

    A Deed Of Mercy.                             45

    A Narrow Escape.                             48

    Jesse James' Escape From "Pin" Indians.      59

    A Horrible Deed.                             60

    Death Of Oll Shepherd.                       89

    Fight In A Gambler's Den.                   100

    Whicher Meets His Fate.                     180

    Night Attack On The Samuels Residence.      188

    Death Of Farmer Askew.                      205

    An Alarmed "Cow-Boy."                       303

    After The "Greasers."                       307

    Fight With Mexican Cattle Thieves.          311

    The Home Of Frank James, In Texas.          333

    Geo. W. Shepherd.                           364

    Allen Parmer.                               376

    Wild Bill.                                  384


  [Illustration: Quantrell's Last Fight. [Page 64.]]




LIFE AND ADVENTURES

OF

FRANK AND JESSE JAMES.




CHAPTER I.

THE JAMES FAMILY.

              "He was a godly man,
    Gentle and loving. He sought to save
    From mortal shame and eternal death,
    Forms laid in the silence of the grave."


The Rev. Robert James, the father of Frank and Jesse, was a
native of Kentucky. His parents were quiet, respectable people,
belonging to the middle class of society. Their desire was to raise
up their children "in the nurture and admonition of the Lord."
Being themselves persons of intelligence and culture, far above
the average of their neighbors in those days, the parents of Rev.
Robert James resolved to give him as good an education as the
facilities accessible to them would permit. Accordingly, Robert was
early placed in a neighboring school, and made such progress as
to gladden the hearts of his parents, and call forth auguries of
future distinction from the friends and neighbors of the family.
Robert James was a moral, studious youth, much given to reflection
on subjects of a religious character. Before he had attained his
eighteenth year, he had