Frank James Interviewed The Noted Ex-Bandit Is a Remarkable Man At Times He Had Rewards Aggregating $50,000 Offered for His Capture, Dead or Alive Submitted by: Mollie Stehno

From the Pond Creek Vidette—The editor of the Vidette had occasions a few days ago to call upon Frank James at his home on the old Samuels farm three miles east of the little town of Kearney, in Clay county, Missouri.

The ex-outlaw is living quietly on the farm, busying himself with ordinary occupation of a farmer, and when found by the writer he was industriously hoeing in a small field adjoining his house. He was in his shirtsleeves, and had the appearance of a typical Missouri farmer.

When Frank James decided to leave more active pursuits of a business life he bought a part of the old homestead of his mother, and built a house on the same, near the road that runs along the south side of the farm. The house is an ordinary frame cottage. The end of the building is toward the road, and a porch extends the full-length o the cottage on the east side. On this porch, comfortably ensconced in large cane rockers, Frank James and his wife spend much of their time during the summer months. Mrs. James is a most comfortable looking old lady, and is a genial and pleasant a person as one would meet in a day’s travel.

An extensive lawn of blue grass sounds the house and slopes gracefully down to the road, while native trees furnish a grateful shade and adds to the attractiveness of the place. When the writer was there the rose bushes of which there are many in the yard, were in full bloom, adding to the beauty of the quiet and peaceful scene. The house is comfortable but plainly furnished, and the farm produces all that is necessary for the subsistence of the old couple, whose wants are few. James is about 61 years old and Mrs. James is a few yeas his junior.

Here in this quiet retreat lives the man who in his time was the most noted outlaw that America has ever produced. Here lives the man who rode with Quantrell during the stormy days of the rebellion, and who is credited with robbing banks and express companies of many thousands of dollars. After a tempestuous life and a warfare that has covered his person with scars and undermined his health, he has elected to spend his declining years in that peace and quietness which in a sense, has been fully earned.

Frank James is a remarkable man. For more than 10 years, with a reward at times aggregating $50,000 for his apprehension dead or alive, he eluded the pursuit of gangs of the shrewdest detectives that could be furnished by the best organized detective agencies in the world. He is the only man who ever dictated terms of surrender to Uncle Sam. He did that which General Lee, backed by the entire Confederacy failed to do; he made his own terms of surrender.

Frank James is a man who does not indulge in profane language; he does not use intoxicants in any form, and has never done so, according to the statements of his neighbors who know him well. He has never been convicted of any crime, although he has been accused of many, and has been tried and acquitted by not only the courts of Missouri, but the Unite States court as well.

Mr. James made the statement to the writer that he would challenge the state of Missouri or any other state in the union, to produce a man who could produce a better records, as a law abiding citizen than he can for the last twenty years. Hs life, since his surrender, trial and acquittal, has been as an open book, and there has been nothing to be ashamed of or to conceal.

The writer, during his short stay at the James home, was treated with the utmost courtesy and respect, but he thought he could detect behind it all a secret which, on the part of Frank James and his wife, that they might he left to live out their remaining days in the quiet seclusion that they have sought and fondly hoped to gain by their retirement to the modest and secluded home in the rural districts of Clay county, Missouri.

| The Shawnee Hearld Page |  | Mollie's Corner Page |  | Home |