p. 144 | Frank James by Editor

Seventh-day Adventist Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Mar 22, 1883

Frank James.

By Editor

A FRIEND and old acquaintance in Missouri sends us the following, clipped from a paper published in his neighborhood:—

“Frank James was arraigned in court at Independence last week, on indictments charging him with the murder of Detective Witcher and complicity in the Independence robbery, but both cases fell through for the want of testimony against him. He was then indicted for complicity in the Blue Cut train robbery, and pending a trial of the cause he was placed under $3,500 bonds. It is understood that, although hundreds were ready to go on his bond, he does not desire his release, as he could then be indicted in other counties. A Nebraska official came down with a requisition for James, but Gov. Crittenden informed him plainly that he would honor no requisition from any State as long as there was a single indictment pending against him in Missouri. Other States might as well lay low. There will be indictments enough—good, bad and indifferent, just and unjust—found against him in Missouri to secure to him the ordinary six feet of green earth when life's fitful fever is at an end.”

The paper from which this was taken, the Osceola Sun, is a Democratic paper, and our friend, who was formerly from Ohio and a strong anti-slavery man, sends it as evidence that the Democratic party, or those who were in sympathy with the South, does not sympathize with and uphold James. He says that it is true that James has been lionized in Missouri, but probably not more than criminals in other parts of the country. Some shameful exhibits of this kind in California of late years, wherein the vilest criminals were exalted to be the heroes of the day, fine appearing ladies supplying them with bouquets and securing their photographs, silence all our complaints against the citizens of Missouri in the James case. What State can cast the first stone?