Name/Title
James, Jesse Reward Poster, July, 1881Entry/Object ID
1993.1H.82Description
James, Jesse Reward Poster, July 1881. b/w. Photo of the reward poster put out by the Governor of Missouri for the arrest of Express & Train Robbers in July 1881. as below:
"Proclamation of the Governor of Missouri!
Rewards for the Arrest of Express and Train Robbers.
State of Missouri, Executive Department
"Whereas it has been made known to me, as Governor of the State of Missouri, that certain parties, whose names are to me unknown, have confederated and banded together for the purpose of committing robberies and other depredations within this State: and
Whereas, said parties did, on or about the Eighth day of October 1879, stop a train near Glendale, in the county of Jackson, in said State, and with force and violence take, steal and carry away the money and other express matter being carried thereon: and
Whereas, on the fifteenth day of July, 1881, said parties and their confederates did stop a train upon the line of the Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railroad near Winston, in the county of Daviess, in Said State, and with force and violence take, steal and carry away the money and other express matter being carried thereon; and in perpetration of the robbery aforesaid, the parties engaged therein did kill and murder William Westfall, the conductor of the train, together with John McCulloch, who was at the time in the employ of said company, then on said train, and
Whereas Frank and Jesse W. James stand indicted in the Circuit Court of Daviess County, for the murder of John W. Sheets, and the parties engaged in the robberies and murders aforesaid have fled from justice and have absconded and secreted themselves.
Now, therefore, , in consideration of the premises, and in lieu of all other rewards heretofore offered for the arrest and conviction of the parties aforesaid, or either of them, by any person or corporation, I, Thomas T. Crittenden, Governor of the State of Missouri, do hereby offer a reward of five thousand dollars ($5000.00) for the arrest and conviction of each person participating in either of the robberies or murders aforesaid, excepting the said Frank and Jesse W. James: and for the arrest and delivery of said Frank and Jesse W. James, and each or either of them, in the sheriff of said Daviess County, I hereby offer a reward of five thousand dollars ($5000.00) and for the conviction of either of the parties , last aforesaid of participation in either of the murders or robberies above mentioned, I hereby offer a further reward of five thousand dollars ($5000.00).
In Testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and caused to be fixed the Great Seal of the State of Missouri, done at the city of Jefferson on this 25th day of July, A.D. 1881.
Thos. T. Crittenden."
Label at bottom of photo:
"Governor Crittenden's proclamation offering $5000 for the arrest and $5000 additional for the conviction of the James brothers for train and bank robbery. The proclamation is the property of the late John. L. Zeidler, insurance man, of St. Joseph and is one of the few in existence."
Original digital scan located on History CD 03.Lexicon
Nomenclature 4.0
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Jesse James, James, Jesse, James, Frank, James Bros. Reward, GovenorsRelationships
Related Person or Organization
Person or Organization
Jesse JamesPerson or Organization
Frank JamesPerson or Organization
Thomas T. Crittenden