Signed "Jesse James" By G.C. Stevens

   

The Nebraska photo: Signed "Jesse James" From the author collection

On December 7, 1869, Frank and Jesse James robbed the bank in Gallatin, Missouri. The target was the Daviess County Savings Association, a modest one‑story bank on the southwest corner of the town’s business square. The robbery began shortly after twelve noon in dense winter fog, which enveloped the small town of about 1,000 people Inside the bank were the cashier, Capt. John W. Sheets, and a lawyer, William McDowell. One of the robbers, possibly Jesse—asked to have a $100 bill changed. As the cashier wrote a receipt, the robber drew his revolver and fired two shots: one into the cashier’s chest and another into his forehead, McDowell, fleeing through the doorway, was shot. Jesse James grabbed a portfolio of bank paper and escaped outside. He and Frank rode away, pursued by a posse, but they escaped. Taken the transcripts the Liberty Tribune newspaper dated: June 24th, 1870, tells the harrowing tale of what occurred that day and about a letter written by Jesse James. 

G.C. Stevens 

Monument in front of the Court house that tells the story of the Trial of Frank James on the charges stemming from both the Gallatin bank robbery ang the train robbery in Winston Missoui on July 15th 1881 Photo by the author

The Gallatin courthouse photo by the author

The train depot at Winston Missouri photo by the author 

   

From the Kansas City Times.

More of the Shooting at Gallatin.

A LETTER FROM JESSE W. JAMES.

It will be remembered that on the 7th of December, 1869, the cashier of a bank at Gallatin, Missouri, was shot and instantly killed by some unknown parties. This cashier was named J. W. Sheets, and he was well known throughout that portion of Missouri. A horse belonging to the men who did the shooting, was captured in the town, and this horse was identified as one that had belonged to the two James' brothers, of Clay county—Jesse and Frank. Straightway it was declared that these two young men done the killing, and a great hue and cry were raised against them. The citizens of Gallatin offered a large reward for their apprehension; the Governor of Missouri added an additional sum to this one, and militia were ordered to be made ready to hunt down the brothers.

They were come upon at their home in Clay county, by a squad of men headed by the Sheriff and his deputy. A fight ensued, the Sheriff's horse was killed, the two James brothers escaped untouched, and from that day to this they have not been heard from.

Yesterday, however, we received the following letter from Jesse W. James, the eldest brother. It had neither postoffice mark nor was it dated upon any day, but had evidently been enclosed to us by some one else. It is addressed to Governor McClurg, and is as follows:

June, 1870. Governor McClurg: DEAR SIR: I and my brother Frank are charged with the crime of killing the cashier and robbing the bank at Gallatin, Mo., Dec. 7th, 1869. I can prove, by some of the best men in Missouri, where I was the day of the robbery and the day previous to it, but I well know if I was to submit to an arrest, that I would be mobbed and hanged without a trial. The past is sufficient to show that bushwhackers have been arrested in Missouri since the war, charged with bank robbery, and they most all have been mobbed without trials. I will cite you to the case of Thomas Little, of Lafayette county, Mo. A few days after the bank was robbed at Richmond, in 1867, Mr. Little was arrested in St. Louis, charged with being one of the party who perpetrated the deed. He was sent from St. Louis to Warrensburg under a heavy guard. As soon as the parties arrived there, they found out that he (Mr. Little) could prove, by the citizens of Dover, that he was innocent of the charge—as soon as these scoundrels found out that he was innocent—a mob was raised, broke in the jail, took him out and hanged him.

Governor, when I think I can get a fair trial, I will surrender myself to the civil authorities of Missouri. But I never will surrender to be mobbed by a set of blood-thirsty poltroons. It is true that during the war I was a Confederate soldier, and fought under the black flag, but since then I have lived a peaceable citizen, and obeyed the laws of the United States to the best of my knowledge. The authorities of Gallatin say the reason that led them to suspect me, was that the mare left at Gallatin, by the robbers, was identified as belonging to me. That is false. I can prove that I sold the mare previous to the robbery. It is true that I fought Deputy Sheriff Thomason, of Clay county, but was not my brother with me when we had the fight. I do not think that I violated the law when I fought Thomason as his posse refused to tell me who they were.

Three different statements have been published in reference to the fight that I had with Thomason, but they are all a pack of falsehoods. Deputy Sheriff Thomason has never yet given any report of the fight, that I have seen. I am personally acquainted with Oscar Thomason, the Deputy's son, but when the shooting began, his face was so muffled up with furs that I did not recognize him. But if I did violate the law when I fought Thomason I am perfectly willing to abide by it.

But as to them mobbing me for a crime that I am innocent of, that is played out. As soon as I think I can get a Just trial I will surrender myself to the civil authorities of Missouri, and prove to the world that I am innocent of the crime charged against me.

Respectfully, JESSE W. JAMES.

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refs

daviesscountyhistoricalsociety.com+1.

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