Wild Wild South

"We tried a desperate game and lost. But we are rough men used to rough ways, and we will abide by the consequences."

-Cole Younger, member of the James-Younger gang, upon his 1876 capture following the attempted robbery of a Northfield, Minnesota bank. Younger, along with his two brothers, was sentenced to life in prison. Bob Younger died in prision in 1889. Cole and Jim younger were paroled in 1901, but Jim committed suicide in 1902. Cole went on to tour the south with Frank James in a wild west show, and he became a Christian in 1912. He died in his Missouri hometown in 1916, age 72.



"Governor, I haven't let another man touch my gun since 1861."

-Frank James, while surrendering himself and his firearm in 1882 to Missouri governor Thomas Crittenden. Five months earlier, his brother Jesse had been assassinated by fellow gang members under Crittenden's employ. Due to his voluntary surrender, James stood trial in Missouri and Alabama only, avoiding extradition to Minnesota to face murder charges for the Northfield robbery, where he shot and killed a cashier. James' status as a confederate hero and champion of southern rights garnered sympathy and led to his acquittal in both trials. He went on to work as a shoe salesman, theater guard, telegraph operator, and entertainer. He died on his farm in Missouri in 1915, age 72.