time. I left R. P. Rose's that morning, went down the
Independence road, stopped at Dr. Noland's, and got some pills. Brother
John was with me. I went through Independence and from there to Ace
Webb's. There I took dinner and then went to Dr. L. W. Twyman's. Stayed
there until after supper, then went to Silas Hudspeth's and stayed all
night. This was the day the gate was robbed at Kansas City. Next day
John and I went to Kansas City. We crossed the river at Blue Mills and
went up on the other side. Our business there was to see E. P. West. He
was not at home, but the family will remember that we were there. We
crossed on the bridge, stayed in the city all night and the next morning
we rode up through the city. I met several of my friends. Among them was
Bob Hudspeth. We then returned to the Six-Mile country by the way of
Independence. At Big Blue we met Jas. Chiles and had a long talk with
him. I saw several friends that were standing at or near the gate, and
they all said that they didn't know any of the party that did the robbing.
Neither John nor myself was accused of the crime until several days after.
My name would never have been used in connection with the affair had not
Jesse W. James, for some cause best known to himself, published in the
Kansas City Times a letter stating that John, he and myself were accused
of the robbery. Where he got his authority I don't know, but one thing I
do know, he had none from me. We were not on good terms at the time, nor
have we been for several years. From that time on mine and John's names
have been connected with the James brothers. John hadn't seen either of
them for eighteen months before his death. And as for A. C. McCoy, John
never saw him in his life. I knew A. C. McCoy during the war, but have
never seen him since, notwithstanding the Appleton City paper says he has
been with us in that county for two years. Now if any respectable man in
that county will say he ever saw A. C. McCoy with me or John I will say no
more; or if any reliable man will say that he ever saw any one with us who
suited the description of A. C. McCoy then I will be silent and never more
plead innocence.

Poor John, he has been hunted down and shot like a wild beast, and never
was a boy more innocent. But there is a day coming when the secrets of
all hearts will be laid open before that All-seeing Eye, and every act of
our lives will be scrutinized; then will his skirts be white