should not be permitted to take advantage of the clemency which the laws
of Minnesota afford to a self-convicted murderer.
The news that a special train was _en route_ had been kept so quiet, that
on arriving at Faribault, no persons were at the depot except the officers
of the road and Mr. Case, with several omnibuses. It had been arranged
that only a select few should visit the jail with the detectives, and but
eight persons, including the writer were admitted, the remainder of the
party separating and seeking a lunch before they interviewed the outlaws.
During the entire day there had been a constant stream of visitors from
the adjacent country, who came in all sorts of conveyances, the citizens
of Faribault giving way to them and awaiting a quieter time to call on
their distinguished guests.
The jail was surrounded by men and women when the chosen delegation
arrived, but by an arrangement with Sheriff Barton, the crowd was
restrained, and the St. Louis gentlemen, Mayor Maxfield, Chief King,
Captain Macy, Dr. Murphy, Messrs. Lincoln and Merriam, and representatives
of the St. Paul dailies were admitted.
On entering, Bob Younger was found sitting near the corner of the cage,
quietly smoking a cigar with a newspaper on his lap. Cole was lying on a
pallet at the end of the twenty foot jail outside the cage, with a cigar
in his mouth and a daily paper before him. The lazy bandit was being
fanned by a boy, and seemed wonderfully comfortable. The third man was
lying on a cot just inside the bars, and was evidently suffering severely
from the wound in his mouth.
Cole Younger was found communicative as usual. Chief King, showed him
pictures of the two James boys, taken eight years since, and he
immediately knew them, but said nobody would recognize them from those
pictures now. On looking at his own picture he acknowledged it as one of
the best he ever had taken, but when he looked at that of Charley Pitts,
he said he knew no man of that name. Chief King said: “But you know this
man as Wells,” when Cole responded, “There are Wellses in every part of
the country.”
At this time Mr. Ames, of Faribault, came up and asked what part he took
in the affair at Northfield. He declined to tell. Mr. A. then said he
thought he rode a white faced horse, and was the man that shot the Swede.
Cole denied this. Ames said that man was observed as the best horseman of
the crowd. Younger then said one man was as good a rider as another. He
was raised on a saddle, his father having been a herder and stock man, and
besides, he had served several years in the cavalry. The gentlemen then
spoke of the killing of Heywood as a cowardly act. Cole said it was the
result of impulse, as they did not intend to kill anybody. Their plan was
to accomplish their ends by dash, and boldness, and to do the robbing
while men were frightened. This was denied by the Northfield man, who
claimed that they tried hard to kill Manning. Cole then said that they did
not try to kill him, using his name as if he knew all about it, but fired
all around him. Mr. Ames said that could not be true, as shots were found
in the railing of the stairs behind which Manning stood. Younger denied
this, and said they desired to kill no man, as it would be of no use to
them. Ames then said he believed they had killed a hundred men, when Cole
said he had no time to talk with such a man, he had been captured by brave
men, and was being treated better than he deserved, that he did not fear
death, but hoped to be prepared for a better world. He said he was tired
and needed rest. At this, an impulsive gentleman standing by said he
wished he would soon take his long rest. Cole seemed offended at this, and
said it was “of no” use to talk to illiterate people, they could not
“APPRECIATE A SUBLIME LIFE!”
Cole said he did not ride his fine horse up here, but bought the one he
rode of French, of St. Peter. When told by a visitor that they did bad
shooting, he said if they would prop him up at the side of the road he
would plug his hat with his left hand at ten rods every time. He said he
was the man that took the pistols from the dead man at Northfield; and
said he took his handkerchief out of his belt as he took it off. He
declined to tell the name of the dead man, as it was understood none
should tell about another dead or alive.
Col Merriam sat by the side of Cole, and said, “Younger, I am not certain,
but I think I have seen you before.” “Where was this?” said Cole. The
Colonel said it was at Gad’s Hill three years ago when the raid was made
on the train. This, Cole denied, and said that at that time he was in St.
Clair county, in Southwestern Missouri, where his uncle, Judge Younger
resides. He said he would refer to his uncle, who is a judge, and was a
member of the legislature, and also to a minister there. He further said
that on the day of that raid he and his brother Robert were there, and
that he preached in the afternoon, commencing at four o’clock.
Col. Merriam feels sure that Cole was there, judging from his figure, his
hair, and particularly by his voice. Mr. Lincoln is also certain that he
was one of the men on the train at that time, although he wore a cloth
with eye holes over his face. Master Merriam, who was also on the train,
is not certain, but thinks he has seen the villain.
Bob Younger was asked if he was in the Gad’s hill raid, but denied it,
saying he was in Louisiana at that time, thus contradicting Cole. Bob says
he is a novice, and has only been in a few scrapes.
While some of the visitors were talking with the boys, Mr. McDonough, his
aid, and Dr. Murphy, were examining the prisoners for marks of
identification, and no trouble was experienced in placing Cole and Bob
Younger, but the identity of the one that claimed to be Jim, was doubted
by the detectives, as James was badly wounded in the hip on the 7th of
July last, and they thought he could not possibly be able to stand a
campaign like this at present. They were of the opinion that he was Cal.
Carter, a Texas desperado, and one that has seldom worked with a gang
until lately.
Every point of identification as given by Hobbs Kerry, was discovered on
the Younger boys, even to the ragged wound on Bob’s hand, where the thumb
had been torn off and badly attended to.
Dr. Murphy said none were dangerously injured, and “are sure to get well
unless he doctors them.” He made a careful examination and said they had
only flesh wounds, and that the men could be about in a few days. None of
the prisoners were shackled, and as the writer came out (he being the last
one of the visitors), Cole Younger got up from his bed and walked across
the jail as lively as he.
When the robbers were captured their clothes and boots were found in a bad
state. The three living robbers had each five dollars in their pockets,
and the dead one had one dollar and a half. According to the statement of
Bob Younger, all of the money, watches and jewelry they had was given to
the two robbers that escaped, as they felt that their chances of getting
away were much the best.