PURSUIT OF THE GLENDALE ROBBERS.
During the days succeeding the robbery, the marshal had learned
sufficient to satisfy him that the robbers had gone into retreat
in Clay county; and becoming aware of the fact that Shepherd was
working in Kansas City, the officer sought him out and engaged him
as a detective to assist him in the pursuit. Shepherd consented,
and it was arranged that he should, in some way, place himself in
communication with the gang. The unfriendly relations existing
between Shepherd and the Jameses presented a serious difficulty.
The plan adopted to overcome this was shrewdly devised. A story was
told, and industriously circulated, that it was a matter of little
doubt that George W. Shepherd was engaged in the robbery, and that
in consequence he had fled to parts unknown. This was not all;
Marshal Liggett had printed on a slip of paper, already printed on
one side, an item to the effect that Shepherd was believed to be
implicated in the robbery. It was reported to have been clipped
from one of the Kansas City papers. What follows in relation to
this enterprise is based upon the statements of Shepherd. He
relates that he went to Clay county, visited the residence of Mrs.
Samuels; saw that lady; told her a story about his persecution by
the detectives about the Glendale business; showed her the pseudo
newspaper clipping, and expressed a desire to become a member
of the gang; that he was blindfolded; led a long way, and when
relieved of his eye bandages, he found himself in the midst of the
gang confronted by Jesse James; that his reception was anything
but pleasant, but that finally he was able to convince them that
he, like themselves, was hunted; that he became cognizant of all
their plans, and then sought and obtained permission to go into
Kansas City after having taken a terrible oath to reveal nothing
and act true in every respect with the band. He came into Kansas
City, related all that he had seen and heard to the marshal; was
furnished a fleet horse, pistols and blankets, and returned to the
gang. Liggett was informed by Shepherd that they would leave Clay
county at a certain time; that they would cross near Sibley at a
certain other time, and would be at a certain place at a certain
hour, where he could see them if he so desired. Marshal Liggett,
acting upon this information, proceeded to the point designated,
and at the hour named he had the satisfaction of seeing a party of
armed men cross at the previously announced place, and among them
recognized his chosen detective, Shepherd. The robbers passed on
southward. Rogue's Island is in the river Marais des Cygnes, not
far from Fort Scott. Here the band camped one night. Their plan
was to rob the bank of Street & McArthur at Short Creek, Kansas.
This was to be effected on Sunday evening, Nov. 2d, at 3 o'clock.
When Shepherd arrived in the camp on Shoal Creek, about nine miles
southeast of Short Creek, he exhibited his pseudo news item to
Jesse James, and in other ways succeeded in convincing him that he
was also an outlaw, and Shepherd was thenceforward treated as "a
man and a brother." He states that the party consisted of Jesse
James, Jim Cummings, Ed. Miller, and Sam Kaufman. It has been
ascertained that the person who was supposed to be Sam Kaufman
was one Blackamore. The plan to rob the bank was known to the
authorities, and contrary to the pre-arranged measures for the
capture of the outlaws, the guard of armed men who were to have
been in waiting at the hour appointed for the raid, went on duty
early in the morning. Jesse James that morning went from the Shoal
Creek camp to Short Creek, and was in the town when the guardsmen
assumed their places, and he noted everything. Of course this
mistake on the part of those engaged in the efforts to capture
them, caused a change in the plans of the gang. Shepherd, well
armed and mounted, rode to the camp in the afternoon, after having
been informed by Jesse James of the situation at Short Creek in
the morning when they met. He found the brigands much alarmed,
preparing to break camp. Mike and Tom Cleary, two of Shepherd's
assistants, were to form an ambuscade, but this part of the
arrangement failed because of the sudden movement of the band.
Shepherd was to proceed to camp, provoke a quarrel with Jesse,
shoot him and flee, when of course the other members of the gang
would follow. But the camp was broken up too soon. The ambushers
could not reach their place in time. Shepherd relates that they
were riding scattered out in the woods; that he was riding near,
and a little in the rear of Jesse James; that he suddenly drew a
pistol, called out, "Damn you, Jesse James! thirteen years ago
you killed my cousin, Frank Shepherd." At the first word Jesse
wheeled his horse and sought his pistol. He was too late. Shepherd
fired, the ball taking effect just behind the left ear, and Jesse
James fell heavily to the ground. After firing, Shepherd says
no one moved for a few seconds, when he, suddenly realizing his
position, wheeled his horse around, and driving his spurs deep into
the animal's flanks, dashed away. At the same time Cummings rode
furiously toward him, while Miller went to the assistance of the
fallen chief. The pursuit of Cummings was persistent and rapid.
Blackamore soon fell behind in the chase, but Cummings gained on
Shepherd until at last it became necessary for the latter to make a
stand and fight it out there. As he wheeled his horse to carry out
this resolution, a ball from Cummings' pistol took effect in the
calf of Shepherd's left leg. The firing which had been maintained
during a chase of three miles, now became quick and furious, and
the result for a time was doubtful. At last, Shepherd says, a ball
took effect in Cummings' side, and he turned his horse and rode
back through the woods by the way they came. Shepherd rode into
Short Creek to have his wound attended to.
The foregoing is Shepherd's account of his pursuit of the Glendale
robbers and contest with Jesse James. But developments since do not
sustain the statements in many important particulars. The relation
appears to be correct up to the time of the shooting, but it is now
clear that he did not wound Jesse James.
The truth is, that Jesse James was at all times suspicious of
Shepherd's motives, and from the time he joined them he was watched
with a ceaseless vigilance. The outlaws had little confidence in
his protestations, and his movements were carefully observed. They
went into camp on Shoal Creek, Shepherd being with them. According
to their custom they arranged to remove to another camping place
about three miles away the next day. It was Saturday night, and
Shepherd obtained the consent of his ostensible confederates to
go into Short Creek. One of the brigands, assuming a disguise,
followed him for the purpose of watching his movements.
This man discovered that Shepherd was laying a train for the
capture of the band. During Sunday morning, it appears Shepherd
met Jesse James, who informed him that "the game was up" in Short
Creek, and that they had been given away. Shepherd agreed in this
view of the situation, and the two separated. Later in the day
Shepherd went to the camp, where he had left them. It was deserted,
but he found their trail, and followed it to where the new camp
was established. The fact that it was not the place which had been
selected in Shepherd's presence ought to have warned him that his
situation was one of extreme peril. But it appears that he did not
consider this evidence that he was distrusted, and approached the
camp. The moment he appeared Jim Cummings opened fire upon him,
and mounting his horse gave chase. Both men were well mounted, but
Cummings' horse was the superior one of the two. Shepherd, placing
the reins of the bridle in his teeth, and drawing two revolvers,
the fight commenced. He received a bullet wound in the calf of
his left leg, and in turn shot Cummings in the right side, which
fractured the sixth rib and wounded the intercostal artery. Some
fragments of clothing, driven into the wound, arrested the flow of
blood from the artery, else the probabilities are that the wound
would have proved fatal. As it was, the surgeon, who has furnished
the above facts, removed the foreign matter, took out some
fragments of bone, put a ligature on the artery, and in a short
time the wounded bandit went on his way.
It is asserted as a fact, that Jesse James was neither wounded
nor killed, but rode away a picture of health and vitality. The
peril of Shepherd was imminent. Had he not wounded Cummings, that
desperado would soon have come up with him, when the death of one
or both of them would have been inevitable.
The whole relation but confirms what has been reiterated in the
pages of this volume, that the resources and shrewdness of Jesse
James are truly wonderful; that in all respects he and his brother
are men of extraordinary capacity, and that in courage, skill,
adroitness, and vitality, they are men strangely endowed. What they
may yet accomplish is hidden in the unrevealed future, which to our
questioning returns no answer.