t that the
robbers had been followed into Nodaway county, Missouri, while we were at
Monegaw Springs all that time. Besides those mentioned in my 1874 letter,
Marshall P. Wright's affidavit that he showed Jim and me at Monegaw
Springs the morning paper containing the account of the robbery the next
morning after it took place, was presented to Gov. Clough of Minnesota in
1898.

It is 250 miles or more and no cross lines of railroad existed to
facilitate our passage, so it would be impossible for any one to have made
the trip. The shortest rail lines are roundabout, via St. Joseph and
Kansas City, so it will be apparent that I could not have been at the Rock
Island wreck.

21. THE TRUTH ABOUT JOHN YOUNGER

John, my brother, was fourteen when the war closed and Bob under twelve.
One day in January, 1866, John, Bob and my mother drove into Independence
to mill, and to do other errands in town, one of which was to get one of
my pistols fixed.

A young fellow named Gillcreas, who had served in the militia and was
several years John's senior, hit the boy with a piece of mackerel, and
warm words ensued.

"Why don't you shoot him?" shouted Bob from the wagon.

John told the fellow if Cole were there he would not dare do that, and
Gillcreas said Cole should be in prison, and all Quantrell's men with him.
Gillcreas went away, but returned to the attack, this time armed with a
heavy slungshot. In the meantime John had gotten the pistol which had
been in the wagon. Gillcreas came up to resume the fight and John shot
him dead. The slungshot was found with the thong twined about Gillcreas'
wrist.

[Illustration: John Younger]

John Younger

The coroner's jury acquitted John, and there were many people in
Independence who felt that he had done just right.

When I went to Louisiana in 1868 John went with me, afterward accompanying
me to Texas. Clerking in a store in Dallas, he became associated with
some young fellows of reckless habits and drank somewhat.

One day, while they were all in a gay mood, John shot the pipe out of the
mouth of a fellow named Russell. Russell jumped up and ran out of the
room.

"Don't kill him," shouted the crowd in ridicule, and John fired several
random shots to keep up the scare.

Russell swore out a warrant for John's arrest, and next morning, Jan. 17,
1871, Capt. S. W. Nichols, the sheriff, and John McMahon came up