Central States, Lawman and Outlaws Historic Association: Wild West. The hanging of Dr. Reuben Samuels

The Hanging of Dr. Reuben Samuels courtesy of the Guttenberg Project

Dr. Rueben Samuels was the Stepfather of Frank and Jesse James. Stories told of Dr. Samuels, painted a picture of fair man who supported his step sons, and seemed to have no issues with their activities. As hostilities began to heat up in western Missouri, union militiamen were desperatly searching for Frank James (who had joined the South as a guerilla) raided the Samuel farm. They seized Frank and Jesse's step father, Mr. Samuels, and briefly (though not fatally) hanged Dr. Samuel, in an effort torture him and to reveal the location of the guerrillas. He survived the ordeal, but was unfortunately present at the later during the famed Pinkerton raid on the James Farm, when the over zealous private agents threw an explosive device into the James private home, during a unlawful sneak attack. The agents thought that Frank and Jesse were present at their parent’s home in Kearny Missouri. The Pinkerton "Detectives" attacked the Samuel home at night time and launched an explosive device into the domicile, killing Frank and Jesse’s eight year old, half-brother, Archie. The explosion also seriously injured Zerelda Cole-James, severely wounding her arm, resulting in their mother’s arm to be amputated. Poor Dr. Samuel was also seriously injured. He suffered a permanent injury which resulted in brain damage and eventually caused him to be placed in a mental hospital.

When the tocsin of war sounded, and the feverish thrill of excitement ran through the nation, boys though they were, Jesse and Frank James were electrified with the ominous news and longed to participate in the affray where human blood might be drawn until, like a fountain, it would swell into a gory river. Soon the unmerciful Quantrell, that terrible wraith of slaughter, came trooping through Missouri upon an errand of destruction, and attracted to his banner many impetuous youths of the West, among whom was Frank James; Jesse being the junior brother, and but little more than fourteen years of age, was rejected by Quantrell, and returned home to his farm labors with sorrow. But he did not remain inactive. The family being intensely Southern in their political predilections, all possible aid and sympathy were given to Quantrell. Many dark nights Jesse would mount his best horse and ride through the gloomy wilderness of Western Missouri until he gained the guerrilla haunts, where he would deliver important information concerning the movements of Federal troops.

The part played by Jesse and the open and decided expressions frequently made by Dr. Samuels and his decidedly demonstrative wife, greatly excited the Federal soldiers, and it was determined to make an example of the family. Accordingly, in June, 1862, a company of Missouri militia approached the Samuels' homestead, which is near Kearney, in Clay county, and first meeting Dr. Samuels, they soon gave him to understand that their visit was made for a purpose decidedly unpleasant to him.

A strong rope was produced with which he was securely pinioned and then led away from the house a distance of about one hundred yards. Here the rope was fastened in a noose around his neck, while the other end was thrown over the limb of a tree, and several men hastily drew him up and left him suspended to choke to death. Mrs. Samuels, however, had followed stealthily, and the moment the militia had departed she rushed to the rescue of her husband, whom she hastily cut down, and by patient nursing saved his life. The enraged troops decided also to hang Jesse James, whom they found plowing in the field, but his youth saved him from any other violence than a few cuffs and the production of a rope with a suspicious noose which they threatened to ornament his neck with if he again visited the guerrilla camp.

-The Border Bandits J.W. Buell 1881

The Following are various photos of Dr. Samuels. My research on this article revealed several photos of Dr, Samuels. Some of which are not cited, other exist in known collections. The sources I located are cited in each photo. Further research is encouraged.

*Authors note; A check of the Missouri state historical society did not reveal a photo of Dr. Samuels, but did mention his connection of Zerelda Cole James