ta, which ended so
disastrously to the bandits who undertook it, is interesting as showing
what brute courage, and, indeed, what fidelity and fortitude may at
times be shown by dangerous specimens of bad men. The purpose of the
robbery was criminal, its carrying out was attended with murder, and the
revenge for it came sharp and swift. In all the annals of desperadoes,
there is not a battle more striking than this which occurred in a sleepy
and contented little village in the quiet northern farming country,
where no one for a moment dreamed that the bandits of the rumored bloody
lands along the Missouri would ever trouble themselves to come. The
events immediately connected with this tragedy, the result of which was
the ending of the Younger gang, were as hereinafter described.

Bill Chadwell, alias Styles, a member of the James boys gang, had
formerly lived in Minnesota. He drew a pleasing picture of the wealth
of that country, and the ease with which it could be obtained by bandit
methods. Cole Younger was opposed to going so far from home, but was
overruled. He finally joined the others--Frank and Jesse James, Clel
Miller, Jim and Bob Younger, Charlie Pitts and Chadwell. They went to
Minnesota by rail, and, after looking over the country, purchased good
horses, and prepared to raid the little town of Northfield, in Rice
county. They carried their enterprise into effect on September 7, 1876,
using methods with which earlier experience had made them familiar. They
rode into the middle of the town and opened fire, ordering every one off
the streets. Jesse James, Charlie Pitts and Bob Younger entered the
bank, where they found cashier J. L. Haywood, with two clerks, Frank
Wilcox and A. E. Bunker. Bunker started to run, and Bob Younger shot him
through the shoulder. They ordered Haywood to open the safe, but he
bluntly refused, even though they slightly cut him in the throat to
enforce obedience. Firing now began from the citizens on the street, and
the bandits in the bank hurried in their work, contenting themselves
with such loose cash as they found in the drawers and on the counter.
As they started to leave the bank, Haywood made a motion toward a drawer
as if to find a weapon. Jesse James turned and shot him through the
head, killing him instantly. These three of the bandits then sprang out
into the street. They were met by the fire of Doctor Wheeler and several
other citizens, Hide, Stacey, Manning and Bates. Doctor W