Rensselaer Republican, Volume 15, Number 5, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 12 October 1882 — FRANK JAMES TURNS UP. [ARTICLE]

FRANK JAMES TURNS UP.

He Surrenders Himself to thq Authorities of Missouri. Finding- That Outlawry Won’t Pay He Doee the Penitent Act. Frank James, the noted outlaw, surrendered himself to Gov. Crittenden, at the capital of Missouri, on the' sth inst. At dusk on that evening, the notorious desperado, accompanied by Maj. John N. Edwards, of the Sedalia Democrat , entered the Govern'or’s office, at Jefferson City. Maj. Edwards introduced Frank to the Governor. The two shook hands, and then Frank unbuckled his belt, and, handing it and his revolvers to Crittenden, he said: “You are the first man to handle that weapon since 1861.” He meant that he had carried the pistol in his belt these twenty-one years. After this performance he was handed over to officers. This startling news, says a Kausas City dispatch, was a profound surprise to even the officials here. Just after the killing of Jesse James at Bt. Joseph, last spring, the friends of Frank James in this State made overtures to Gov. Crittenden looking to the pardon of the noted robber. Papers were full of the matter at the time, and it waß even reported that Gov. Crittenden was willing to grant a pardon in the case if Frank would agree to give information concerning the members of the gang yet out Gov. Chittenden himself says he told Frank James If he wanted to surrender he must come in as any other criminal and stand trial for crimes committed. Since then the matter has dropped from public attention, and it was even stated that Frank had gone to Australia. Suddenly he reappeared on the scene, however, and this week sent Crittenden a letter from St. Louis, stating in substance that he is anxious to be restored to citizenship; that he wants to put the past behind him; that he is heartily sick of the life of an outlaw; and that he has a wife and child to plead for him and make him human, even though he were as bad as he has been described, and throws himself on the clemency of the Governor and asks that he be saved. Under date of Oct. 2, Gov! Crittenden responded that he could not grant a pardon, if inclined to, before conviction for some crime. He hopes he will abandon his past life, and if he surrenders will see that ne gets an impartial trial The response is a surrender. James’ history is known. He engaged in the Northfield bank robbery and some dozen other noted deeds of outlawry. He is under indictment in lowa for the Corydon Bank robbery; in Missouri for the Glendale, Blue Cut and Winston train robberies; in Arkansas for stage robberies; in West Virginia for bank robbery, and in Mussel Shoals, Ala, for robbing a Government contractor.

MONUMENT TO JESSE JAMEU A dtspaten from Muscatine, lowa, says: A large marble-cutting establishment of this city has jmt been awarded the contract for erecting a monument over the grave of Jesse James. The monument will be red beach granite and stand twelve or fourteen feet high, bearing the plain and simple inscription, “My husband, our father, Jesse James, died April 2, 1882, aged 34 years 6 months and 8 days. ” The contract was signed bv Mrs. Jesse W. James, and the stone was selected by her.