Others who are equally famous but
in another way are the James brothers, Jesse and Frank. I met them often
in the old days on the range, and became very well acquainted with them
and many others of their band. Their names are recorded in history as the
most famous robbers of the new world, but to us cowboys of the cattle
country who knew them well, they were true men, brave, kind, generous and
considerate, and while they were robbers and bandits, yet what they took
from the rich they gave to the poor. The James brothers band stole
thousands of dollars; yet Jesse was a poor man when he fell a victim to
the bullet of a cowardly, traitorous assassin, and Frank James is a poor
man today. What then did they do with the thousands they stole? The answer
is simple, they gave it away to those who were in need. That is why they
had so many friends and the officers of the law found it so hard to
capture them.
And if they were robbers, by what name are we to call of the great trusts,
corporations and brokers, who have for years been robbing the people of
this country, some of them, I am glad to say, are now behind prison bars,
still others are even now piling up the dollars that they have been and
are still stealing from the American people, and who on account of these
same dollars are looked up to, respected and are honored members of
society, and the only difference between them and the James brothers is
that the James brothers stole from the rich and gave to the poor, while
these respected members of society steal from the poor to make the rich
richer, and which of them think you reader, will get the benefit of the
judgment when the final day arrives and all men appear before the great
white throne in final judgment?
Jessie James was a true man, a loving son and husband, true to his word,
true to his principles and true to his comrads and his friends. I had the
pleasure of meeting Frank James quite recently on the road while he was en
route to the coast with his theatrical company and enjoyed a pleasant chat
with him. He knew me and recalled many incidents of the old days and
happenings in "no man's land."
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© Excerpts from the electronic edition of
The Life and Adventures of Nat Love Better Known in the Cattle Country as
"Deadwood Dick" by Himself; a True History of Slavery Days, Life on the Great
Cattle Ranges and on the Plains of the "Wild and Woolly" West, Based on Facts,
and Personal Experiences of the Author, are the property of the University of North Carolina at
Chapel Hill.
The full electronic edition, which also includes original illustrations of this
text may be viewed here.
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http://www.natlove.com
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Last modified:
October 18, 2002
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