extraordinary capabilities, cunning resource, domineering resolution,
woods-craft and dash. As if by a thorough consideration of the
beneficial result to be secured thereby, they first terrorized the
people of Western Missouri, and then heroized themselves in the eyes
of those whose political sympathies were in consonance with their own.
Thus upon the one side the people were afraid to attempt any punishment
of the outlaws or give information of their rendezvous; while upon the
other they were protected and encouraged without concealment. It is for
these reasons that the James boys and their confreres have eluded every
pursuit and been able to give free license to their impious passions.
There are peculiar features, however, connected with every outrage
perpetrated by the James gang which readily manifest them in the deed.
Among these several distinguishing features are: their appearance
in the vicinity where the robbery occurs some days before its
accomplishment; the thorough maturity of their plans; the wearing
of long linen dusters; unhesitating disposition to commit murder; a
splendid mount; the invariable sack carried in which to deposit the
plunder; the line of retreat always southward when the robbery has
been committed north of Clay county, and _vice versa_; masks of red
handkerchiefs, and the ease with which pursuit is eluded. In addition
to these unmistakable peculiarities, another fact is particularly
noticeable, viz: within twenty-four hours after the James boys commit a
robbery, Mrs. Samuels, their mother, never fails to make her appearance
in Kansas City, the purpose of these visits being undoubtedly to
discover what means are employed looking to the apprehension of the
gang, and gather up any and all such information as might prove
serviceable in aiding the escape of her sons.
Considering well all these points of evidence, any shrewd analyzer of
human nature can readily determine whether or not either of the James
boys was connected with any robbery reported.
On the night of July 15th, 1881, an outward going passenger train
from Kansas City over the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railroad
was robbed at Winston Station, Daviess county, Missouri, under the
following circumstances: The train left Kansas City at 6:30 P. M., in
charge of William Westfall, the conductor; Wolcott, the engineer, and
Charlie Murray, express messenger. The train consisted of six coaches
and a sleeper, all of which were well filled with passengers. Reaching
Cameron, a stop was made for supper, and when the train started off
two men were observed to jump on, each of whom wore a large red
bandana handkerchief around his neck, partly concealing his features.
Nothing indicative of the robbers' intentions, however, transpired
until the train reached Winston, at 9:30 P. M., at which station four
men took passage, each having his face covered with a handkerchief
identical with those worn by the two that got on at Cameron, and all
wearing long, linen dusters. Getting under headway again, the train
had proceeded nearly one mile from Winston when suddenly, as Conductor
Westfall appeared in the second car to collect tickets, the passengers
were startled by the largest of the robbers rising from his seat and
shouting out in a loud voice, "All aboard!" which was the signal for
action. The large man, heavily masked with a red handkerchief, as were
all the others, seven in number, thrust out a large pistol, and saying
to Westfall, "You are the man I want," fired. The ball struck Westfall
in the arm, producing only a flesh wound, but as the wounded man turned
to run out of the car two more shots were fired by the same robber
without effect. This bad shooting seemed to exasperate another one of
the outlaws, who gave an exhibition of his skill by shooting Westfall
in the brain, killing him instantly, the body falling off the platform
onto the ground.
[Illustration: DEATH OF CONDUCTOR WESTFALL.]
While this unprovoked murder was being perpetrated three others of the
outlaw gang rushed through the cars toward the engine. Wild confusion
followed, and a stone mason named J. McCulloch, from Iowa, who had
been working near Winston, attempted to get out of the baggage car as
the robbers entered it. Suspecting that he was either the engineer or
intent upon raising an alarm, one of the outlaws shot him dead and
pushed his body off the train, which had now come to a stop.
The robbers then went about their business of robbing, two mounting the
engine, three were left to guard the passengers, while the remaining
two made for the express car. Mr. Murray, the express agent, hearing
firing and suspecting the real cause, made a hasty attempt to close
and lock the doors of his car, which had been left open, owing to
the oppressively warm weather, but while he was thus engaged one
of the robbers jumped through the partly closed door and grabbing
Murray, struck him a violent blow on the head with his pistol, at
the same time saying, "Open up, d--n you, or I'll kill you!" Looking
into the muzzles of two large pistols, Murray was forced to comply,
and delivered up the safe keys. The treasure box was quickly opened
and its contents extracted, consisting of coin and currency to the
amount of $8,000 or $10,000, which was thrown into a sack the outlaws
carried for the purpose. The train was then started up by one of the
robbers, but after proceeding a few hundred yards stopped again and
the bold free-booters jumped off, running for their horses which were
tied in a clump of trees less than one hundred yards from the track.
They did not take the time to untie their horses, but cut the reins,
and mounting, rode in a half circuit around Cameron, then took a
course almost due south. They crossed the Missouri river near Sibley's
Landing, in couples, having divided up immediately after the robbery
was consummated.
[Illustration: THE SHOOTING OF J. MCCULLOCH.]
On the morning following the robbery, an examination of the immediate
vicinity about where the train was stopped, resulted in finding where
the robbers had tied their horses, and there, lying on the ground, was
found the following letter:
KANSAS CITY, July 12.
CHARLIE--I got your letter to-day, and was glad to hear
that you had got everything ready in time for the 15th. We will
be on hand at that time. Bill will be with us. We will be on the
train; don't fear. We will be in the smoker at Winston. Have the
horses and boys in good fix for fast work. We will make this
point again on the night of the 16th. All is right here. Frank
will meet us at Cameron. Look sharp and be well fixed. Have the
horses well gaunted, for we may have some running to do. Don't get
excited, but keep cool till right time. Wilcox or Wolcott will be
on the engine. I think best to send this to Kidder. Yours time and
through death.
SLICK.
After receiving the first particulars of the robbery by telegraph,
I went to Kansas City, and from thence to various points in the
vicinity, for the purpose of prosecuting an investigation with the
view of discovering, if possible, who the outlaws were, where they
came from, whither they went, and how the authorities prosecuted the
pursuit. From these efforts I am prepared to state, with circumstantial
positiveness, that Frank James and Jim Cummings were the parties who
planned, and with the aid of their confreres, executed the robbery at
Winston, and that the proof may not be wanting, the following several
facts are recited:
A few weeks ago I received a letter from Frank James, acknowledging
the receipt of a copy of "Border Outlaws," which I sent to him by
a relative. Shortly after its receipt, this same relative, who is
known to be in communication with Frank James, visited St. Louis and
confidentially conferred with my publisher upon the advantages which
we might mutually reap by a sudden stimulation in the sale of "Border
Outlaws," for which he was then acting as agent. His proposition
embraced a statement that Frank James and Jim Cummings were at that
time in Missouri planning a campaign; that a large robbery would
soon be consummated, attended with some startling results. All these
facts he agreed to furnish us the very moment the robbery should
be completed, comprising the names of those engaged, how they had
organized, where assembled, cause for their acts, etc., provided my
publisher would give him a certain sum of money. The incentive on our
part to comply with his proposition was in securing this reliable
information, which might be added as an appendix to a new edition of
"Border Outlaws," and issued contemporaneously with the first newspaper
reports, thereby creating a largely increased demand for the book.
Of course there appeared so much doubt involved in this singular
proffer, and the proposition within itself being of such questionable
character, that it was rejected with little consideration of the
probability of a robbery such as was declared about to take place. At
this time, however, the assertions then made assume an interest which
throws much light upon the problem, "Who committed the robbery?"
But this is not all the evidence I am in possession of respecting
this latest adventure of the old gang. In pursuing my investigations
I visited Olathe, Kas., twenty miles south of Kansas City, and there
found a gentleman well known in that town, who had met Frank James
walking on the south side of Olathe's public square, well-armed, on the
10th inst., or only five days before the robbery occurred. It was not a
mistaken identity, for the gentleman in question was raised within four
miles of the present residence of the James boys' parents, and was for
years upon terms of the greatest social intimacy with them, attending
the same school, participating in the same sports, and in later years
meeting with them as old acquaintances. Being well acquainted myself
in Olathe, I can positively state that this information regarding the
presence of Frank James in the town referred to is true beyond all
doubt. But what his business was or when he left, I could not ascertain.
Within eighteen hours after the robbery, Mrs. Samuels appeared in
Kansas City, evidently for the purpose of collecting such information
as might be useful to Frank James and his confederates. She talked
freely of the robbery, but protested, with repeated declarations,
that both Frank and Jesse were dead, going so far in her assertions as
to say that Frank died three years ago of consumption, in Texas. What
she hoped to gain by a claim so easily disproved it is difficult to
conjecture.
From the best evidence attainable, the gang who robbed the Rock Island
and Pacific train, among whom were Frank James, Ed. Miller, Jim
Cummings and Dick Little, after leaving the train, mounted their horses
and rode southwestwardly until they reached the outskirts of Cameron,
when they turned and took to the brush again, making directly for the
Missouri river, which they crossed near Sibley's landing, and on the
following evening, the 16th, they certainly passed through Sni-a-bar
township of Jackson county, and, taking a southwestwardly course,
continued on to the Indian Territory. The party, however, did not
remain intact, but divided up into couples, so as to destroy the trail
which so large a number as seven riders would have made conspicuous.
They were at no time so far apart, though, but that a prearranged
signal would have concentrated the outlaws.
It is a singular fact that with all the atrocious crimes credited to
the James boys and their confederates, there was not so much as one
dollar of reward offered at the time of the Winston robbery, although
at one time the rewards offered by the State and railroad and express
companies aggregated $75,000. During Gov. Hardin's administration
nearly all the rewards offered by the State were withdrawn, then the
private corporations that had suffered so seriously at the hands of the
bold knights of the road withdrew the incentives they had advertised,
after which Gov. Phelps wiped out the few figures remaining.
On the 26th of July, eleven days after the train robbery at Winston,
Governor Crittenden visited St. Louis and called a meeting of leading
railroad officials in the gentlemen's parlor of the Southern Hotel. The
call was responded to by representatives from nearly all the principal
roads running into Kansas City and St. Louis, and upon assembling
plans were thoroughly discussed for the apprehension of the notorious
outlaws who have wrought such injury to Missouri's reputation. The
session lasted for nearly four hours, though there was the greatest
unanimity of feeling and disposition, and at its conclusion the
Governor expressed much gratification at the results. The power of
the Executive is limited by law, so that he could not offer a State
reward sufficiently large to accomplish the arrest of such notorious
desperadoes as the James boys and their gang are known to be, so he
conceived the excellent idea of calling upon the interested railroad
corporations for needful assistance. The result of this conference was
the immediate issuance of a proclamation by Governor Crittenden, in
which an aggregate reward of fifty-five thousand dollars ($55,000) was
offered for the capture of the seven train robbers, or five thousand
dollars for the arrest and conviction of each one of the robber gang.
This proclamation was supplemented by the offer of an additional
reward of five thousand dollars each for the arrest of Jesse and Frank
James, and delivery of their bodies to the sheriff of Daviess County,
and a further reward of five thousand dollars each for their conviction.
The public which, generally speaking, believe that Jesse James was
never shot by Geo. Shepherd, credit the assertion made by many that
both Frank and Jesse were engaged in the Winston robbery, but whatever
the impression, this belief is undoubtedly without foundation. The
most intimate acquaintances of Jesse James, those who have seen him
many times during the past year, are ready to make oath that he is
a paralytic from the effects of Geo. Shepherd's shot; in fact, in a
demented, helpless condition.
At one time arrangements were about perfected, through the outlaws'
cousin, by which I was to have a personal interview with Frank James,
each of us to be accompanied by a friend, but owing to some engagement,
which was never explained to me, that meeting never occurred. Frank,
after receiving a copy of "Border Outlaws," expressed a desire to make
a statement, with the understanding that I would embody it in all
subsequent editions of the book; this I agreed to do, but I am now
convinced that the intended interview was not granted because of the
engagement which was kept at Winston.