| The End Or The Trail |
| Two days later the gang moved north through Janesville and Cordova toward their second choice, the First National Bank of Northfield. On the eve of the raid, Wednesday, September 6, some if the men stayed in town, while the rest stayed at a farm outside Cannon City. On September 7, 1876 around 10 or 11 am, they rode into Northfield and loitered in front of Scriver's Hardware Store until 12 noon when they entered J.G. Jeft's for lunch. At 2 pm, three men rode past the Ames Mill, across the 4th Street Bridge, tied their horses in front of the bank, then sat on crates in front of the Lee and Hitchcock Dry Goods Store. These men, Charlie Pitts, Bob Younger and Frank James, were detailed to enter the bank and commit the robbery. The first three men were followed by Cole Younger and Clell Miller, who were to guard the bank entrance. The last group to ride across the bridge included Jesse James, Jim Younger, and William Stiles. They were to act as rear guard on Bridge Square and then move to Division Street south of the bank to guard the gang's intended escape route. Frank, Stiles and Younger entered the bank and ordered the head teller Joseph L Heywood at the First National Bank who was acting cashier while the regular cashier was in Philadelphia to open the vault. Heywood refused and things didn't get any better.While the robbers harassed Heywood and Frank J.Wilcox to open the safe, Alonzo Bunker another teller made several attempts to escape and finally was able to dash through the back door intending to alert the town of the robbery. He was unaware of the fight already in progress in the streets. As Bunker ran out, Charlie Pitts fired at him twice. The first shot missed but the second struck him in the right shoulder. Joseph Allen called out, "Get your guns boys they're robbing the bank." Henry M. Wheeler grabbed a rifle and ran to the second floor of the Dampier Hotel on the corner of Division and 4th St. Wheeler took aim and shot Clell Miller killing him instantly. Anselm R. Manning rushed from his store, gun in hand and shot both Cole Younger and William Stiles. Cole was severely wounded, but Stiles was killed with a bullet through the heart. With the gunfight in full swing outside the bank the robbers fled. Acting cashier, Joseph Lee Heywood, was killed by Frank James for refusing to open the safe. A Scandinavian immigrant, Nicolas Gustafson was killed by a stray bullet during the street fight between the citizens and the would-be robbers. On September 14, 1876, one week after the attempted raid, the gang had traveled less than 50 miles. Their efforts to escape were hampered by their wounds and fatigue. Unfamiliar with the territory, they were lost without their guide, William Stiles, who had been killed in the street at Northfield. Outside of Garden City, the gang split up. Jesse and Frank went west on horseback toward South Dakota, while the others, Cole, Jim and Bob Younger and Charlie Pitts, continued their journey on foot toward Madelia. On September 21, 1876, just outside Madelia, Asle Oscar Sorbel, a young boy recognized the escaping robbers, and informed Madelia officials of the gang's presence in the area. Little was known of the boy who was the hero of the capture because he adopted the fictitious name of Oscar Oleson Suborn for fear of reprisal by other gang members and friends of the Missouri outlaws. It was not until 1929, that he disclosed his involvement in the capture. During a shoot out with the posse, Charlie Pitts was killed, Cole was shot seven times, including a serious wound near his right eye, Jim's lower jaw was so badly shattered that he was not expected to live, and Bob had a bullet in his lung as well as a smashed elbow. The brothers were taken to the Flander's Hotel in Madelia to recover On November 9, 1876 the Youngers were arraigned by the Rice County Court at Faribault. The brothers were indicted on 4 counts. All three brothers pleaded guilty to avoid capital punishment. The brothers were sentenced to life terms at Stillwater State Penitentiary. |
| Late in August of 1876, Jim, Cole and Bob Younger along with Frank and Jesse James, Clell Miller, Charlie Pitts and William Stiles headed for Minnesota, over 350 miles from their home in Clay County, Missouri. The trip took them farther north than they had ever been before. The idea for the trip had come from Stiles, a Minnesota native, who knew the territory and always talked about how much cash that his home state's bank kept on hand. After arriving in Minnesota, the gang divided into scouting parties, looking for possible sites to execute their plans. They passed themselves off as railroad surveyors, land speculators and cattlemen. Most people guessed that these strangers were not who they pretended to be, but no one suspected they were a bank robbers. On Monday September 4th, the gang rode into Mankato, their first choice of attack. When they arrived opposite the 1st National Bank of Mankato, they noticed a group of citizens on the sidewalks.The men knew something was not right and decided to back off. Actually, the citizens were only gathering for a town meeting to be held later in the day. |
| Thomas Coleman Younger born January 15, 1844 in Missouri, son of wealthy farmer,Quantrill guerrilla, Captain in Confederate cavalry, Bank Stage and Train Robber, Prisoner for 25 years, wrote his Autobiography in 1903, Lectured with Frank James until his death March 21, 1916. John Harrison Younger. Born 1851 in Missouri. At age 15 killed a man in January 1866 in self-defense. Early in 1870 lynched and badly hurt by a posse seeking information about Cole. Indicted for murder in Texas in January 1871 for killing a deputy sheriff who was attempting to arrest him. Killed by Pinkerton agents March 16, 1874. James Hardin Younger born January 15, 1848 in Missouri, Quantrill guerrillas, captured with Quantrill in Kentucky and sent to Alton prison as a POW. After serving his time in prison Jim was became a farmer. Jim committed suicide in St. Paul, Minnesota October 19, 1902, not long after being paroled from prison. Some say over a woman. Robert Ewing Younger. Born December 1853 in Missouri. Too young to have been an active war participant. Sentenced to life in prison for the Northfield robbery and murders. Died of consumption in prison in Stillwater, Minnesota September 16, 1889. |
| What A Life |
| "They were brave fellows. They were true men. There was not a coward nor a liar among them. They might not have been angels. They were charged with many crimes of which they were innocent. Frank James, 1901 It was the earliest desire of my parents to prepare me for the ministry, but the horrors of war, the murder of my father, and the outrages perpetrated upon my poor old mother, my sisters and brothers, destroyed our hopes so effectually that none of us could be prepared for any duty in life except revenge." Cole Younger 1882 "I am aware that my name has been connected with all the bank robberies in the country; but positively I had nothing to do with any one of them. I look upon my life since the war as a blank, and will never say anything to make it appear otherwise. The world may believe as it pleases." Cole Younger When captured Cole Younger had been shot eleven times. After his death seven bullets were found still inside his body. |
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