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Lot 478
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Jesse James: An Eyewitness Account of Robbery, Fantastic Old West Content!
Jesse James: An Eyewitness Account of Robbery, Fantastic Old West Content!
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Description:

Jesse James
Many Islands, AR, February 8, 1901
Jesse James: An Eyewitness Account of Robbery, Fantastic Old West Content!
ALS
Superb content autograph letter signed by "M. H. Sly", Afton, AK, February 8, 1901. On separate sheets of his company letterhead to author Cora McNeil in Minneapolis, the former sweetheart of Cole Younger and author of a novel about the Youngers. A few marginal splits, wear to edges and mailing folds. Overall very good. 4pp. 8.5" x 11".

In part: "…Your letter of Jan. 17 came to hand. Owing to failing health, I was compelled to quit office work, and incident to the change, your letter became misplaced, having found it I hasten to reply.

While living in Osceola, I lost a child and the Dr. became our family physician. Having studied medicine myself, he persuaded me to assist him, which I did, all my large travel would permit. It is needless to say we became very much attached. Your mother was then living, I was often at your home, and you may be able to call me to memory. In 1880 I returned west after spending two or three years in Iowa, and Minn. I returned in '82 or '83 and bought the Osceola Sun. When we renewed our acquaintance the Dr. was then living with his second wife, and died while I was living there.

This recalls another incident. Dates have slipped from my memory, but I think it was in 1872 I went to Osceola from Chalklevel. Mr. Pew lived in the 'Old Salt House' and unable to secure accommodations, I fitted my rooms there also. The Dr. was interesting himself in my behalf, and we came down from his office and walked up the street, as we got near the Square, some eight or ten horsemen rode up, on a loop, and began firing their revolvers, then wheeled and rode into the river and after loading, returned, firing as before. The citizens became very much excited. I crossed the street, and they surrounded me and shake hands, saying 'hello parson!' The Marshall hid away. After creating a little excitement, they rode away, without harming anyone. When the evening stage mail arrived we learned by the papers that a Texas train had been robbed by the 'James Gang' the day before.

The next morning the Dr. called my attention to the account, and remarked, 'Every devilry committed is charged to the James and Youngers. If they robbed that train they made a quick trip from Texas here, riding over 1000 miles horseback, in less than 24 hours, for it was the James and Youngers who rode our streets yesterday.' I then concluded, and yet believe, they had got the news of the train robbery, and knowing it would be charged to them came to Osceola on purpose to show that they were not in Texas at the time the train robbery took place.

From personal observation, I have always thought that the Youngers never were guilty of one-half the crimes charged to them, but political prejudice, growing out of the war, prepared the minds of the masses to attribute everything to the Youngers. I am, by birth and education, a northern man, and I speak without prejudice, and knowing full well the import of my assertion. There can be no doubt that had northern men be convicted and sentenced under exact circumstances with that of the Youngers, they would long ago have been pardoned. I do intend by this intend to impugn the honest motives of Minnesota officials, but they do not and can not understand the men and lives in the south-west of 1865 and '70 as we who saw it as it was.

Of course, the Youngers are nothing to me, more than other men, but justice and humanity demands that mercy should temper the hand of justice. Twenty years imprisonment being commensurate for the crime, it would well for Minnesota officials to follow McKinley's example and blot-out the last landmark of sectional strife. I ask then, if the Youngers are able to be kept in prison for being 'rebbels' [sic] why should Wheeler and Lee be honored instead of imprisoned? Since the day I met the Youngers in '71 I have traded and lived in sixteen states, and everywhere, I have found the sentiment above expressed, and that sentiment is not confined to the south.

As a northern man, as one familiar with all the circumstances of the crime charged, as a Christian and a clergyman, one who would not foliate crime, but would delight to see justice tempered by mercy, and one who looks for pardon from the God of Mercy, would be pleased to hear that Minnesota had honored itself by granting pardon to the surviving Youngers. 'For if we forgive not men their trespasses, how can we expect our father in heaven to forgive us our trespasses?'…".

Sly's references to Minnesota and his calls for the officials there to "blot out the last landmark of sectional strife" would no doubt have pulled at the heartstrings of his correspondent, Cora McNeil Deming (1857-1942). Deming was an ardent admirer of Cole and Jim Younger, and is believed to have been Jim's sweetheart before he went to prison.

She was the author of the novel Mizzoura, which painted a romantic and sympathetic picture of the outlaws; in fact her character Constance Lee is a fictionalized version of herself. Deming stated that she wrote Mizzoura "to bring fruitful returns to two penitents who, for their crimes, have paid a heavy penalty" (quoted in Kansas City Star, October 20, 1902). She also noted that the Youngers were "…kindly disposed towards the weak or helpless, but sterner men never lived…".

Deming continued her correspondence with both Jim and Cole while they were incarcerated in Minnesota following the botched Northfield bank robbery, and urged her husband, Minneapolis judge George M. Bennett, to secure a pardon for them. In 1901 Jim and Cole were paroled on the condition that they remain in Minnesota. Jim never lived to see his official pardon: he committed suicide the following year, on July 19, 1902. Cole received an official pardon in 1903 -- this time on the condition that he leave Minnesota and never return! He traveled to Missouri where he joined a "Wild West" show with Frank James.

Jesse Woodson James (1847-1882) American outlaw, robber and legendary criminal; best known as the leader of the James–Younger Gang. From 1860 to 1882, the James Gang was the most feared band of outlaws in American history, responsible for more than 20 bank and train robberies and the murders of countless individuals who stood in their way. They stole an estimated $200,000. James was raised in the "Little Dixie" area of western Missouri and his family maintained strong Southern sympathies. They were legends in their own time, popular in Missouri for actively trying to further the Confederate cause.

The Younger Gang, notorious outlaws of the American Old West, carved a fearsome reputation through their audacious bank and train robberies during the late 19th century. Formed by the Younger brothers: Cole, Jim, John, and Bob, the gang operated primarily in Missouri and surrounding states, often in league with the infamous Jesse James and his gang. Their criminal exploits, marked by daring heists and violent confrontations, captured the imagination of the public and law enforcement alike. Despite their ruthless methods, the Youngers were also known for their code of loyalty and close-knit familial ties, which ultimately led to their dramatic downfall and capture after the ill-fated Northfield, Minnesota raid in 1876.

Cole Younger (1844-1916) began his career by joining a band of Confederate marauders who rode through border states creating havoc against the Union. Younger joined the holdup gang of Frank and Jesse James in 1866 and soon convinced his own brothers to join the gang. During the next decade the Younger and James brothers stated a string of bank robberies and tarin holdups throughout Missouri and the surround states. A bloody shootout after an attempted robbery of the First national Bank on September 7, 1876, resulted in the deaths of many of the gang's members. Cole received an official pardon in 1903 and eventually reunited with Frank James in a touring Wild West show. Before his death on February 21, 1916, Younger went on the lecture circuit preaching the evils of crime.

James Younger (1848-1902) together with his brothers committed numerous robberies, and murders throughout the frontier. During the brothers' final escapade at the First National Bank, Jim was positioned on the bridge leading to town when the shooting began. He rode into the fighting, a pistol in each hand, and helped the members of his gang fight their way out of town, leaving two dead behind him. With the area swarming with posses, the James brothers and the Younger brothers split up. For two weeks the brothers attempted to ignore wounds and hunger in their attempt to escape, but finally surrendered on September 21. Jim had been wounded five times, including by a bullet which shattered his jaw, allowing him to eat only liquids. Jim Younger's brother Bob died in prison, but he and Cole were paroled after serving long prison sentences.

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

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  • Dimensions: 8.5" x 11"
  • Medium: ALS

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