The shackles having been removed from the arms and legs of the prisoners,
they were ordered to stand up while the indictment charging them with
killing Heywood, was read to them by the county attorney. As their names
were read, the Judge asked them if they were indicted by their true names,
to which all responded in the affirmative. During the reading, Cole
Younger never moved his sharp eye from the face of the attorney, in fact,
his gaze was so intense, that Mr. Baxter appeared to feel it, and to be
made somewhat nervous thereby. Bob did not appear to take great interest
in the matter, and he gazed coolly about on the crowd.
The sister and aunt of the boys were by their sides during this scene, and
they walked with them as they returned to the jail under the same guard
that escorted them forth. Until the following Saturday had been taken by
the prisoners’ counsel to plead to the indictment, and during the interval
of three days the subject of how to plead was discussed for many hours.
Bob was as independent as ever, declared he would not plead guilty, but
the persuasions of sister and aunt finally prevailed, and when taken into
court on Saturday in the same manner as before, each responded
“GUILTY,”
when the question was asked by the clerk. Judge Lord then, without preface
or remark, sentenced each to be confined in the State Prison, at
Stillwater, at hard labor, for the term of his natural Life. After the
dread words had been uttered, the sister broke down and fell sobbing and
moaning on the breast of her brother Cole.
Thus these bloody bandits escaped the gallows where their many crimes
should have been expiated, and in a few days from the time they were
sentenced, they were on their way to Stillwater, under a strong guard, but
no attempt was made to molest them, although large crowds were collected
at each station on the railroads by which they traveled. Sheriff Barton
knew well the citizens of his State, and he had no fear that he would be
interfered with while discharging his duty. The bandits were accompanied
to their final home in this world by their faithful relatives, who left
them within the prison walls, taking away as mementoes the clothes which
the wicked men had worn. The robbers were immediately set at work painting
pails, a labor which called for no dangerous tools to prosecute, and a
special guard was set upon the renowned villains, as it is not intended
that they shall escape to again terrify the world by their wicked deeds.
[JOSEPH LEE HEYWOOD.]