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Jesse James and Frank James
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--*-- THE LATE OPERATION OF THE JAMES BROTHERS AND THE YOUNGER BOYS NEAR LEXINGTON, MO. The telegraph has made brief mention of a bold highway robbery committed a few days ago opposite the town of Lexington, Mo. in broad daylight, and in sight of several hundred persons..... The perpetrators of this latest Missouri outrage were the notorious James brother, Frank and Jesse, and the two "Younger Boys." These rough-riders are fair specimens of the class of ruffians who, having unwillingly surrendered at the close of the war, have since been engaged in committing all sorts of outrages from chicken-stealing to bank-stealing..... About 6 o'clock, as the omnibus had crossed the ferry and was proceeding to the railroad depot, with eight passengers inside, three masked horsemen dashed out of the woods, revolver in hand. One stopped the omnibus horses and sat at their heads while the other two thrust their heavy army revolvers into the windows and threatened instant death to any one who resisted. One of them, who afterward proved to be Frank James, dismounted, while his brother Jesse held his horse and stood guard. Frank then ordered all the male passengers to get out and hold up their hands..... The command was promptly obeyed, and in a trice eight very disconsolate looking gentlemen were ranged in a row along the roadside, with their sixteen hands held high in the air..... Meanwhile another member of the gang rode off to a party who were strolling on the bank of the river near by, and ordered them to come up to the omnibus and fall into line..... Among these was a young lady of Lexington, who has known the James and Younger families for many years, and who had placed Frank James under obligations by nursing him when he was wounded during the war. When she reached the omnibus this chivalric defender of the lost cause was just in the act of taking a watch and chain from one of the passengers, whereat the maiden spake: "Why, Frank James, I'm astonished to see you have come down to such small work. I thought you never did anything except on a big scale." He shook hands with her cordially, and said: "Well, I am a little ashamed of it myself. It's the first time we ever stooped to such small game. But," he added, "you needn't call names quite so loud here." The young lady then asked him to give Singleton (sic) back his watch. "Why," he (James) said, "is this man any kin to you?" She answered that he was, and she didn't want him robbed. James promptly handed the watch to her, but kept the chain, which is a very handsome and costly one. "No," she exclaimed, "give back the chain, too. I won't have part if I can't get all." After some little demurring, he returned both watch and chain; and, at her request, gave up another gentleman's watch, which he had confiscated before she arrived. All this goes to show that your true Missouri bushwhacker is a high-toned scoundrel, not altogether devoid of "honah, sah," and susceptible to the gentle and persuasive tones of lovely woman (sic). But there are limits to his generous nature, for a little later, when Mr. James was stripping off another gentleman's fine coat and vest, the young lady said: "Oh, Frank, don't take that man's clothes. Your mother would be grieved to death if she knew how you are doing; I nursed you when you were wounded during the war, and now I believe I ought to have let you die." He rather sadly replied: "It's a pity you didn't," but went on with the disrobing process, saying: "I need good clothes myself, and mine will do for him to go over to town in." The told proceeds of this bold robbery were only about $250, so that we may expect to hear of another raid soon.
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