Robberies

The Robberies

Links on a the name of a robbery will lead you to more information

This chart compares the conclusions offered by several prominent researchers as to who really did which robbery. Bear in mind that the authors may not have specifically claimed these were the participants but may have named them as suspects or names associated with each robbery from their sources. See each author’s book directly to see the phrasing and conclusions used. Sources used are:

…more on these books, with reviews, in the Bookstore

(links are to Amazon.com where copies may be purchased)

Likelihood of attribution of a robbery to any of the James or Youngers:

unlikely
possible
probable
near certainty
Robbery Settle Brant Yeatman Croy Younger
Liberty, Missouri – bank, February 14, 1866

more on the Liberty robbery

Clay County Savings Bank. 10 to 14 men. $60,000 taken.

Brant says Jesse James planned the robbery but did not take part. Jim Younger was implicated but the author thinks he wasn’t involved. Three men were arrested who Brant thinks did not take part: Aaron Book, James Couch, William Easter
  1. Frank James
  2. Jesse James
  3. Oll Sheperd
  4. Bud Pence
  5. Donny Pence
  6. Frank Gregg
  7. James Wilkerson
  8. Joab Perry
  9. Bill Wilkerson
  10. Red Monkus
  11. Ben Cooper
  1. Frank James
  2. Cole Younger
  3. Oll Sheperd
  4. Bud Pence
  5. Donny Pence
  6. Frank Gregg
  7. James Wilkerson
  8. Joab Perry
  9. Bill Wickerson
  10. Ben Cooper
  11. Red Monkus
  12. John Jarrette
  13. Allen Parmer
  1. Frank James
  2. Cole Younger
  3. Bud Pence
  4. Oll Sheperd
  5. Donny Pence
  6. Joab Perry

Doesn’t name any others specifically. He says Frank and Jesse James, and Cole Younger were not immediately suspected.

Led by Arch Clements.He skims over the early robberies until Russellville, Kentucky. He does suggest Cole Younger and Frank James were involved in the Liberty robbery. Cole Younger doesn’t exactly say that he didn’t do it, just that he wasn’t immediately suspected.
More than any of the later robberies, this one could be considered a guerrilla raid–an extension of the Civil War, and a response to the ‘welcome’ those who had been rebel bushwhackers received upon trying to return home (see the Oath of Loyalty), on top of which the danger of being lynched or shot was very real for them. The gap between this and the robberies that can be clearly attributed to either James or Younger brothers increases the tenuous thread connecting them to this robbery. Jesse James probably did not take part. Frank James and Cole Younger may have, but that is not a certainty. Cole Younger is said to have fenced some of the bonds stolen, which may have been an after-the-fact involvement. Cole is quoted as having said that the bonds were given to him by former guerrilla friends and he never questioned their source.The authors cited on this page all suggest involvement by Jesse and Frank James, and Cole Younger, yet the evidence they present in their own books fails to support that conclusion. Frank James may have been involved–Jesse James and Cole Younger probably were not.

Jim Cummins book includes a statement of R. I. Steppe of Clay County that it was George Sheperd and Arch Clements were the two who entered the bank, and that George Sheperd cashed a $2000 bond from the robbery in Memphis. It also says Frank James and Bud Pence got the sack used in the robbery.
Robbery Settle Brant Yeatman Croy Younger
Lexington, Missouri – bank, October 30, 1866

Alexander Mitchell and Company, $2011 taken.

 doesn’t name any, quotes local newspaper saying it was probably “Kansas red-leg robbers,” but doesn’t seem to mean that as a serious possibility
  1. Jesse James
  2. Frank James
  3. Cole Younger
  4. John Jarrette

(all named as hypothetical participants)

 none named none named Says the Youngers weren’t suspected until 1880 publication of “Border Bandits” by J. W. Buell. Again, he doesn’t exactly deny involvement.
This one is very tenuous to attribute to any of the James or Younger brothers.
Robbery Settle Brant Yeatman Croy Younger
Savannah, Missouri – bank, March 2, 1867

private bank of Judge John McClain, 5-6 robbers, no money taken
  1. R McDaniels
  2. Robert Pope
  3. Fitzgerald
 Possibly John JarretteSays it was probably a copy-cat robbery with none of the James or Youngers involved. not discussed in book none named 5 men were identified but there were no Youngers
Probably not attributable to the James or Younger brothers.
Robbery Settle Brant Yeatman Croy Younger
Richmond, Missouri – bank, May 23, 1867

Hughes and Wasson Bank, $3500 taken, three people killed. 11 to 20 robbers involved.

Felix Bradley is often named in connection with this one but was not in on the actual robbery. He was in jail and spoke about it taking place ahead of time. He was taken from the jail and lynched.
  1. Dick Burns
  2. Payne Jones
  3. Flannery
  4. Andy McGuire (arrested & lynched)
  5. Allen Parmer (provided alibi that was accepted)
  6. James White
  7. John White
  8. Thomas Little (arrested & lynched)
  9. James M. Devers (arrested & lynched)

Doesn’t list any of the James or Younger brothers in connection with this one. Later in the book he cites a contemporary newspaper article quoting a St. Louis policeman saying it was “Jesse and Frank James, and

Budd and

Cal Younger”

[presumably

meaning

Bob and Cole Younger])

 Possibly John Jarrette.Says it wasn’t done by the James and/or Younger brothers. Believes Cole Youngers alibi.

  1. James White
  2. John White
  3. Tom Little
  4. Payne Jones
  5. Dick Burns
  6. Issac Flannery
  7. Andy McGuire
  8. Allen Parmer (alibi accepted)
 Says: Allen Parmer provided an alibi. Tom Little and Fred Meyers arrested and lynched by a mob. Felix Bradley lynched. Dick Burns murdered. Payne Jones killed. Andy McGuire and James M. Devers (both suspects) lynched. none named says no warrents were issued at the time for any of the Youngers, but that later historians connected them to it, says it’s not true but offers no alibi
Probably not attributable to the James or Younger brothers.
Robbery Settle Brant Yeatman Croy Younger
Russellville, Kentucky – bank, March 1868

Nimrod & Co. Bank. 5 to 6 men were involved. About $12,000 was taken.  George Sheperd was convicted of the robbery and served three years in prison. Oll Sheperd was killed while trying to avoid arrest.
  1. Cole Younger
  2. Arthur McCoy
  3. John Jarrette
  4. Oll Sheperd
  5. George Sheperd
  6. Frank James
  7. Jesse James

(Settle mentions “the Sheperds” but I don’t see him ever mentioning George Sheperd by name. Earlier he says 5 men were involved but doesn’t address the contradiction of naming 7 men later.)
  1. Cole Younger
  2. John Jarrette
  3. Oll Sheperd
  4. George Sheperd
  5. Frank James
  6. Jesse James

(mentions Arthur McCoy but dismisses him from consideration)
  1. Cole Younger
  2. Arthur McCoy
  3. John Jarrette
  4. Oll Sheperd
  5. George Sheperd
  1. Cole Younger
  2. Jim Younger
  3. John Jarrette
  4. Oll Sheperd
  5. George Sheperd
  6. Jim White
 A man named “Colburn” that the law tried to make into “Coleman”Says Jim and John Younger were in Lee’s Summit at the time.

Says he was in St. Claire County, Missouri with his uncle, Jeff Younger
More on the Russellville robbery
Robbery Settle Brant Yeatman Croy Younger
Gallatin, Missouri – bank, December 7, 1869

Bank president John W. Sheets killed (cold bloodedly shot, much the same way Heywood was killed at Northfield), clerk William McDowell shot. Photo of Sheets’ grave from Find-a-Grave (use your back button to return here)

First robbery attributed to Frank and Jesse James at the time of the robbery.
  1. Frank James
  2. Jesse James
  1. Frank James
  2. Jesse James

(only suggests that they were possibly involved–implies the Youngers were not involved)
  1. Frank James
  2. Jesse James
  3. Jim Anderson
 says he was gathering cattle in Ellis County, Texas, lists numerous witnesses, says it’s only the “romancers” who have connected him with the crime, never the authorities
Arthur McCoy was almost certainly involved and may have been the leader.After the Russellville, KY robbery, George Sheperd was in prison, Oll Sheperd was killed avoiding arrest. John Jarrette was either dead or had disappeared into the West. Cole Younger apparently decided robbery wasn’t for him and left. That left Arthur McCoy, who at this point brought Jesse and Frank James into the first robbery probably attributable to them by any reliable, contemporary sources. It is the first robbery that was credited to them at the time of the robbery, not just in retrospect.

The similarity to the way the bank president was murdered to the way Joseph Heywood, the clerk in the Northfield bank, was murdered is striking.

Frank and Jesse James were unknowns until this time. Even at this point they’re only mentioned in the newspapers as “two brothers by the name of James.” This is very possibly Jesse James’ first robbery.

“There never was a bank robbery at Gallatin that I or anyone else ever heard of.” Quote of Frank James in a newspaper article in the Minneapolis Tribune, March 31, 1901, article by J. H. Finnigan. Okay… denying there ever was a robbery at all is an interesting defense.
Robbery Settle Brant Yeatman Croy Younger
Corydon, Iowa – bank, June 3, 1871

7 men, $40,000 taken

Clell Miller tried and acquitted.
  1. Jesse James
  2. Frank James
  3. Cole Younger
  4. Clell Miller
  1. Jesse James
  2. Frank James
  3. Cole Younger
  4. Clell Miller
 not discussed in book
  1. Jesse James
  2. Frank James
  3. Jim Younger
  4. Jim Cummins
  5. Charlie Pitts

(names 5 of 7 he thinks were involved)

He thinks Cole Younger was not involved, that he was telling the truth when he said he was in Louisiana.

 Cole says he was in Louisiana at the time, Jim & Bob were in Dallas, and John in California
Robbery Settle Brant Yeatman Croy Younger
Columbia, Kentucky, April 29, 1872 – bank

5 robbers, cashier R. A. C. Martin killed, $15,000 taken
  1. Frank James
  2. Jesse James
  3. Cole Younger

citing Detective Bligh of Louisville, KY
  1. Frank James
  2. Jesse James
  3. Cole Younger
  4. Clell Miller
  1. Frank James
  2. Jesse James
  3. Cole Younger

citing Detective Bligh of Louisville, KY

 not discussed in the book says he was herding cattle in Neosho, Kansas at the time
Robbery Settle Brant Yeatman Croy Younger
Kansas City Fair – box office, September 26, 1872

$978 taken, little girl injured
  1. Jesse James
  2. Frank James
 says Jesse James, John Younger, and Cole Younger were suspected but thinks it unlikely that either of the Youngers really were, suggests Jesse James was not involved either doesn’t name any
  1. Bob Younger
  2. Frank James
  3. Jesse James

(names 3 of 3 he thinks were involved)

 Says he was in Jackson County, Missouri and gives a very detailed account of where he was and what he was doing.
Robbery Settle Brant Yeatman Croy Younger
Ste. Genevieve, Missouri – bank, May 27, 1873

4 robbers, $4000 taken

 doesn’t name any specifically but implies Frank and Jesse James
  1. Jesse James
  2. Frank James
  3. Cole Younger
  4. John Younger
 not discussed in book
  1. Jesse James
  2. Bob Younger
  3. Clell Miller
  4. Bill Chadwell

He doesn’t think Cole Younger was involved; believes his alibi.

 Says he was in St. Claire County, Missouri helping a sick neighbor. Lists names of alibi witnesses.
More on the Ste. Genevieve robbery
Robbery Settle Brant Yeatman Croy Younger
Adair County, Iowa – Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific train, July 21, 1873

5 to 7 robbers, rail pulled out of line, train overturned killing engineer John Rafferty, fireman Dennis Foley injured, $3000 taken
  1. Jesse James
  2. Frank James
  3. the Youngers none specifically named
  1. Cole Younger
  2. Jesse James
  3. Frank James
  4. Bob Younger
  5. John Younger
  6. Clell Miller
  7. Charlie Pitts
  8. Bill Chadwell

(says this was Bob Younger’s first robbery)
  1. Cole Younger
  2. Jesse James
  3. Frank James
  4. George Sheperd
  5. Arthur McCoy

citing St. Louis police
  1. Cole Younger
  2. Jesse James

Doesn’t name any more by name just “The Boys”

 Says he was in St. Claire County, Missouri attending a religious service. Lists many alibi witnesses.
It was shortly after this robbery that John N. Edwards published “A Terrible Quintette” talking about Frank and Jesse James, John and Cole Younger, and Arthur McCoy.From St. Louis newspaper accounts:

St. Louis Daily Globe July 23, 1873–

Waylaid by KU-KLUX

Diabolical Attempt to Wreck a Night Express Train

Engineer Killed, Engine Ditched and Tender and Baggage Cars Crushed

The Desperadoes get away with $2000 and the Passengers are saved by the promptness of the Engineer

“Got out of there, damn you get out of there; we are grangers, and rob the rich and give to the poor.” …The remaining robbers, fully masked Ku-klux style sacked the express safe…

It is thought the robbers may be caught, as they could be traced easily in the heavy dew on the prairie. Two can be identified, as the lost their masks in the affray.

July 24–“They’re regular guerrillas and on their way to Missouri.”

“…are going to Mercer County.”

July 26–“The railroad robbers… they are making for St. Louis…”

July 29–“…reached Jackson County.”

And, following some descriptions: This last man described was one of the railroad robbers. His name is Arthur McCoy, and will be remembered by some of the readers of the Times. Before the war he was a painter in this city and lived on Morgan street. He was mixed up in an express robbery on the plains three or four years ago, but slipped away and was hidden away in a little place near Ste. Genevieve for a year and a half. Then he disappeared and was not seen until he came with the gang on the bank expedition.

McCoy, after leaving Ste. Genevieve, got a place in Montgomery county about three miles south of Florence, on the St. Louis, Kansas City & Northern Railroad and ten miles of Herman, on the Missouri Pacific. He was in St. Louis a few weeks ago, but by the barest accident escaped falling into the hands of the police, slipped off and joined the band for this northern trip.

The accuracy of information on McCoy gives credence to the identification. He was a painter and did live on Morgan Street (ref. St. Louis Directories 1857-60, plus US Census 1860). As mentioned before, McCoy’s wife has numerous relatives in Ste. Genevieve, most of whom had been sympathetic to the Confederates. More on Arthur McCoy
Robbery Settle Brant Yeatman Croy Younger
Hot Springs, Arkansas, stagecoach – January 15, 1874

5 robbers, about $2000 in cash and jewelry taken
  1. Cole Younger
  2. Jesse James
  3. Frank James
  4. Arthur McCoy
  5. Bob Younger
  1. Cole Younger
  2. Jesse James
Robbery Settle Brant Yeatman Croy Younger
Gad’s Hill, Missouri – train, February 1874

5 robbers, $2000 to $3000 taken
  1. Cole Younger
  2. Jesse James
  3. Frank James
  4. Arthur McCoy
  5. Bob Younger

citing same source as Hot Spring – St. Louis Dispatch article from the time
  1. Jesse James
  2. Frank James
  3. Cole Younger
  4. John Younger
  5. Bob Younger
  6. Clell Miller
“The Boys” Says he and Arthur McCoy were accused as participants. He doesn’t give McCoy an alibi but says he hadn’t seen him since during the war.
Brant in “Jesse James: The Man and the Myth” says that Arthur McCoy died three weeks before this robbery (no source given). Another source says he died in the early 1880s in Texas. John N. Edwards, who knew McCoy very well, writing “Noted Guerrillas” in 1877 makes no mention of McCoy’s death. Cole Younger also knew him and would have known if McCoy was dead at this time. McCoy was identified by witnesses in events following Gad’s Hill, though mistaken identity is always possible. A trust-worthy published source from St. Louis (author knew McCoy, were related) indicates McCoy was dead by 1880.
Robbery Settle Brant Yeatman Croy Younger
Murder of Pinkerton agent Joseph W. Whicher, March 10, 1874
  1. Jesse James
  2. Arthur McCoy
  3. Jim Anderson
 says “The Jameses…shot him…”
  1. Jesse James
  2. Arthur McCoy
  3. Jim Anderson
 says Jesse James killed him At first thought it was “Jesse and his friends”, who killed him and dumped the body on the Younger’s side of the river to throw suspicion on Cole, later heard from “the men who did kill Whicher” that it was not Jesse James who did it.
March 11, 1874 Pinkerton agent J. W. Whicher was found dead near Independence, Missouri in Jackson County. He had been sent to arrest Frank and Jesse James. He’d been shot through the head, the neck, and the shoulder from close range. The night before he had been seen bound and gagged on a horse with three other men holding him prisoner. From the descriptions given by a ferry operator, the most common names attributed with Whicher’s death are Arthur C. McCoy, Jim Anderson (brother of “Bloody Bill” Anderson, later killed by George Sheperd), and Jesse James. However, Cole Younger says Jesse James didn’t do it, that he had believed Whicher’s cover story that he was a fugitive from the law seeking work. Cole Younger at first said he was furious that Jesse had dumped the body in his county to throw suspicion on him but later Cole learned “from the men who did kill Whicher, that Jesse did not kill him.” At the time Cole wrote that (1903) he had no reason I know of to protect Jesse James, but by the same token, both McCoy and Anderson were dead too yet he did not specifically name them.Naming Jim Anderson as a participant conflicts with some authors placing his death in Texas before 1869. Anderson is said to have been killed by George Sheperd who was in prison 1868-1871. Arthur C. McCoy’s presence is also a bit anomalous and dubious. Most of McCoy’s activities were in the eastern part of the state.

In 1883 Frank James was indicted for Whicher’s murder but the charges were dropped.

Whicher was 26 years old at the time of his death. He had married Mollie Hildenbrand in Iowa less than four months earlier. Whicher was buried in Chicago.
Robbery Settle Brant Yeatman Croy Younger
Killing of two Pinkerton agents, W. J. Allen, aka Lull and Ed Daniels, March 16, 1874

John Younger was killed in this confrontation

 John Younger killed Lull

Jim Younger killed Daniels

 John Younger killed LullJim Younger killed Daniels John Younger killed both doesn’t say, implies it was Jesse James John Younger killed both (Jim Younger was dead at the time Cole wrote this so he didn’t have a huge reason to protect him)
Robbery Settle Brant Yeatman Croy Younger
San Antonio Stage, April 7, 1874 “Jesse and others” “The Boys”
An uncited published source says Arthur McCoy was arrested and charged with this robbery near Austin, Texas.
Robbery Settle Brant Yeatman Croy Younger
Lexington, Missouri, two omnibuses, August 30, 1874

Two robberies twenty-five miles apart (second between Waverly and Carrollton), apparently by the same group, 3 robbers
  1. Frank James
  2. Jesse James
  3. a Younger (Cole?)
  4. Arthur McCoy
 none of the James or Youngers–a “copycat” robbery
  1. Frank James
  2. Jesse James
  3. one of the Youngers
Robbery Settle Brant Yeatman Croy Younger
Corinth, Mississippi, bank, December 7, 1874

4 robbers, Tishimingo Saving Bank, $5000 taken plus $5000 worth of jewelry

From a Corinth newspaper account: “Four well-mounted men rode up to the Tishomingo savings bank; two entered and locked the door, and two remained outside. They demanded the safe keys, which President Taylor refused. They then made an attack on him with knives, and compelled him to submit. They took over five thousand dollars in currency, and much more in watches and diamonds. Mr. Taylor was not badly hurt. A negro man was in the bank making a deposit at the time, and was not permitted to leave until the robbers retired. They were in the bank about fifteen minutes… The men had been lurking about the town and country for two weeks. The robbers fired several shots as they started, and rode in the direction of the Tennessee river.”
  1. Frank James
  2. Jesse James
  3. Cole Younger

says identification uncertain, also includes unnamed other Younger brothers

 none of the James or Youngers–a “copycat” robbery
Description of the robbers from a Memphis newspaper account:One large, red complected man, weight, 190 pounds, six feet high, broad square shoulders, heavy set, about 35 years old; says he is 42 years old, short sandy hair and short red whiskers all over his face as if he had not shaved for several weeks, gave his name as J. C. White, said he was formerly from Kentucky, just off from a horsedrove exhibition. It is believed that he is a Kentuckian.

One young man about 6 feet high, auburn or dark sandy hair, gave his name as Ed Mason, said that he was 22 years of age and looks that age, has a large scar on his left wrist on the inside of wrist, he says it was a burn, it may have been a shot or a burn, large blue eyes, a thin beard, red, said he was from Central Kentucky, has the appearance and accent of a Kentuckian.

One man gave his name as Lewis, said that he was a Kentuckian, tall, spare made, wore long, dark hair, reaches to his shoulders, weight about 140 pounds, black whiskers all over his face, a good set of teeth, about 35 years old.

One man gave his name as Castle, said he was a Kentuckian, straight as an Indian, about 6 feet high, square shoulders, fair skin, red completed, round face, large full blue eyes, about 23 years old, had a sandy beard, several weeks old.

Though this robbery is generally not strongly attributed to the James or Youngers, the description of the first robber does fit Cole Younger rather well. The fourth fits Jesse James reasonably well. The Memphis Daily Appeal headline the robbery as, “The Gad’s Hill Band, Operating in Mississippi, Rob the Tishomingo Savings Bank of $20,000 in Money and Jewelry.” The use of knives in the robbery is, however, a curious aberation and is perhaps most strongly suggestive that this was a “copycat” robbery, yet as they left they are said to have “fired shots” indicating they were not armed solely with knives.
Robbery Settle Brant Yeatman Croy Younger
Muncie, Kansas – train, December 8, 1874

5 robbers, $30,000 taken

Bud McDaniels arrested–killed after escaping
  1. Jesse James
  2. one of the Youngers
  3. Bud McDaniels (arrested with some of the loot)

Settle does say it was possible that they could have split the gang and done two such distant robberies as Corinth, MS and Muncie, KS only one day apart.
  1. Jesse James
  2. Frank James
  3. Bob Younger
  4. Cole Younger
  5. Clell Miller

and/or possibly they came upon an in-progress robbery by:

  1. Bud McDaniels
  2. Bill Ryan
  3. Ed Miller
  4. Jim Cummins
  5. Billy Judson
 “The Boys” doesn’t really say, mentions Bill McDaniels getting killed after escaping
Robbery Settle Brant Yeatman Croy Younger
Huntington, West Virginia – bank, September 1, 1875

4 robbers, $10,000 taken

robber Thompson McDaniel killed, Tom Webb arrested, tried and convicted, sentenced to 12 years in prison
  1. Thompson McDaniels
  2. Tom Webb

“No proof exists that any of the Jameses or Youngers were involved”
  1. Thompson McDaniels
  2. Tom Webb
  3. Cole Younger
  4. Frank James
  1. Thompson McDaniels
  2. Tom Webb
  3. Cole Younger
  4. Frank James
 “The Boys” Thomas McDaniels (who he says fought with them during the war) was shot and called for “Bud” which had been Cole Younger’s nickname. But he says that McDaniels meant his own brother Bill McDaniels. Cole suggests he was in Florida during the robbery but doesn’t exactly claim innocence.
Robbery Settle Brant Yeatman Croy Younger
Otterville, Missouri – train, July 7, 1876

Missouri Pacific Railroad train, over $15,000 taken

Hobbs Kerry arrested, confessed and named the others, sentenced to 4 years in prison.

Bruce Younger (uncle of Cole) arrested but provided an accepted alibi.
  1. Jesse James
  2. Frank James
  3. Cole Younger
  4. Bob Younger
  5. Clem Miller [Clell?]
  6. Charlie Pitts
  7. Bill Chadwell
  8. Hobbs Kerry
  1. Jesse James
  2. Frank James
  3. Bob Younger
  4. Cole Younger
  5. Hobbs Kerry
  6. Clell Miller
  7. Charlie Pitts
  8. Bill Chadwell
  1. Jesse James
  2. Frank James
  3. Bob Younger
  4. Cole Younger
  5. Hobbs Kerry
  6. Clell Miller
  7. Charlie Pitts
  8. Bill Chadwell
  1. Jesse James
  2. Cole Younger
  3. Hobbs Kerry

& “The Boys”

 doesn’t exactly deny it, though of course implies it
Though Kerry was, of course, called a liar by the others he named, the fact that it’s the same list of names as was later at Northfield makes Kerry’s list seem probable. Kerry’s descriptions of the robbers in this robbery were used to correctly identify Cole and Bob Younger after they were in custody following the Northfield robbery. The descriptions also served to identify Miller, Pitts, and Chadwell’s bodies after Northfield. They failed to identify Jim Younger as he was not involved in this robbery, Kerry had not described him.
Robbery Settle Brant Yeatman Croy Younger
Northfield, Minnesota – bank, September 7, 1876

The Youngers were certainly involved, the James almost certainly
  1. Cole Younger
  2. Jim Younger
  3. Bob Younger
  4. Clell Miller
  5. Bill Chadwell
  6. Charlie Pitts
  7. Frank James
  8. Jesse James

Who was in the bank? doesn’t say

Who killed Heywood? doesn’t say
  1. Cole Younger
  2. Jim Younger
  3. Bob Younger
  4. Clell Miller
  5. Bill Chadwell
  6. Charlie Pitts
  7. Frank James
  8. Jesse James

Who was in the bank? Jesse James, Frank James, Bob Younger

Who killed Heywood? Frank James
  1. Cole Younger
  2. Jim Younger
  3. Bob Younger
  4. Clell Miller
  5. Bill Chadwell
  6. Charlie Pitts
  7. Frank James
  8. Jesse James

Who was in the bank? Bob Younger, Charlie Pitts, one of the James

Who killed Heywood? one of the  James
  1. Cole Younger
  2. Jim Younger
  3. Bob Younger
  4. Clell Miller
  5. Bill Chadwell
  6. Charlie Pitts
  7. Frank James
  8. Jesse James

Who was in the bank? Bob Younger, Frank James, Charlie Pitts

Who killed Heywood? Frank James
  1. Cole Younger
  2. Jim Younger
  3. Bob Younger

(having been caught and pleaded guilty it would be pretty hard to deny this one)

  1. Clell Miller
  2. Bill Chadwell

and three men whose “names on the expedition were”

  1. Pitts
  2. Woods
  3. Howard

(According to Croy, Woods was Jesse James, Howard was Frank James)

Who was in the bank? Bob Younger, Charlie Pitts, “Howard”

Who killed Heywood? Pitts
More on the Northfield robbery attempt
The Youngers were sentenced to life in prison for the Northfield robbery and murders. Bob Younger died there of consumption in 1889. Cole and Jim Younger spent the next 25 years in Stillwater prison. They may have gotten shorter sentences had they been willing to name the James brothers as participants in the robbery, particularly to name the murderer of Heywood. But they refused. Cole and Jim were paroled to within the borders of Minnesota July 14, 1901. Jim Younger killed himself October 19, 1902 in St. Paul. Apparently he was despondent that he could not marry as a paroled criminal could not sign a legal contract, including a marriage contract. Early in 1903 Cole Younger was pardoned on the condition that he leave Minnesota and never return.
Frank and Jesse James were pursued for hundreds of miles from Northfield before finally evading the posses. They seemed to have lived quietly under the names Woodson and Howard until the fall of 1879 when a new James gang was formed with Jesse as the full, undisputed leader for the first time. Many of the new members he brought in tended to be younger–of an age too young to have been war participants. These young hoodlums had no motivations beyond villainy. They were a different breed than their predecessors–even more violent and murder-prone, lacking any of the soldiers’ sense of honor and loyalty the older ones had.

Robbery Settle Brant Yeatman Croy Younger Conclusions
Glendale, Jackson County, Missouri – train, October 7, 1879Chicago & Alton railroad in prison
  1. Jesse James
  2. Ed Miller
  3. Wood Hite
  4. Bill Ryan
  5. Dick Liddil
  6. Tucker Basham

(from Trial of Frank James by George Miller)
Robbery Settle Brant Yeatman Croy Younger Conclusions
Winston – train, July 5, 1881Chicacgo, Rock Island, & Pacific railroad. Conductor William Westfall and John McMillan, railroad worker, killed

Frank James tried and acquitted.

 in prison
  1. Jesse James
  2. Frank James
  3. Wood Hite
  4. Clarence Hite
  5. Dick Liddil

(source: Trial of Frank James by George Miller)

Jim Cummins says it was he and not Frank James at this robbery.
Robbery Settle Brant Yeatman Croy Younger Conclusions
Blue Cut, Jackson County, Missouri – train, September 7, 1881Chicago & Alton railroad
  1. Frank James
  2. Jesse James
  3. Wood Hite
  4. Clarence Hite
  5. Charlie Ford
  6. Dick Liddil

(citing Dick Liddil’s testimony)

 in prison
  1. Frank James
  2. Jesse James
  3. Dick Liddil
  4. Clarence Hite
  5. Wood Hite
  6. Charlie Ford

(testimony of Clarence Hite & Dick Liddil)
Robbery Settle Brant Yeatman Croy Younger Conclusions
Mussell Shoals, Alabama – March 1881$5200

Frank James tried and acquitted.

 in prison
  1. Frank James
  2. Jesse James
  3. Dick Liddil
  4. Bill Ryan

(from Trial of Frank James by George Miller)
Pages in the James & Youngers  website
James-Younger Gang main page
The Outlaws,chart The Robberies,chart James & Youngers in the census James & Younger Quotes Quantrill as Described by John Newman Edwards, 1872
Jesse James, My Father, by Jesse James Jr. A Terrible Quintette– Jesse James talks about his life Death of Zerelda Samuel Making of a Confederate Guerrilla The Killing of Jesse James by John Newman Edwards
Manly Missouri Cross-Dressers of the Civil War Interview With Cole Younger by J. W. Buel The Aftermath of the Lawrence Massacre Bushwhackers vs Jayhawkers Death of Lee McMurtry of Quantrill’s band
Frank James Trial Arthur C. McCoy John Newman Edwards, Biographical Sketch Press Release: The James Family DNA Project Sources: Book Reviews & Recommendations