Evening Republican, Volume 19, Number 43, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 19 February 1915 — Frank James, Once Train Robber, Dies at Age of 74. [ARTICLE]

Frank James, Once Train Robber, Dies at Age of 74.

Frank James, aged 74 years, died on his farm near Excelsior Springs, "Mo., Thursday. He is the last of the gang who some forty or fifty years ago terrorized that section of the west by robbing trains and committing other acts of lawlessness. Frank and Jesse James were the sons of a minister but they joined Quantrelle’s guerrillas during the civil war and took part 'n the sacking of Lawrence, Kans. After the war they were hunted by relatives of those who had met death at their hands. On Jan. 25th, 1885, detectives surrounded the James home near Kearney, Mo., and in an effort to dislodge them from the house threw a lighted bomb into the house. Their mother had one arm torn off and their brother Archie was killed, but the James boys had made their escape. In 1882 Bob Ford, also a bandit, for a reward of $50,000, killed Jesse James in his 'home at St. Joseph, Mo. Frank James then surrendered and was sentenced to prison for life but some time later was pardoned by the governor because of tubercular symptoms. He did not engage again in bandit practice but settled on his farm. For some time prior to his death he had been sick and finally apoplexy caused his death. Cole Younger, who was also associated with the james brothers in their crimes, still lives at Lees Summit, Mo.