Shot in the Back Read Free Page A

was complying with his signal.
    â€œGet out of sight, boys,” Jesse said. “He’s stopping.”
    Only Jesse remained alongside the track, and when the train stopped, the engineer stuck his head through the cab window.
    â€œWhat’s up? What did you stop me for?”
    â€œWhy, we stopped you so we could hold up the train,” Jesse said, almost jovially.
    The others came out of hiding then, and, boarding the train, held the passengers and the conductor at gunpoint while Jesse and Frank climbed into the express car. There were two safes in the car.
    â€œListen to me just real close, Messenger, because what you do next could mean the difference between whether you live or die. I see there are two safes. Would you please be kind enough to open them for me?”
    The messenger didn’t respond right away, and Jesse pointed his pistol at the messenger’s head and pulled the hammer back.
    â€œBecause if you can’t open them, we’ll just kill you now and blast them open. But blasting is so messy, I’d rather not do that, and I know you don’t want a big mess in your car. Oh, what am I talking about? It wouldn’t make any difference to you, would it? I mean, after all, you would be dead.”
    â€œNo! I can open them, I can open them!” the messenger shouted.
    â€œGood. I was hoping you might see it my way.”
    The entire operation was over within ten minutes, and Jesse and the others were on horseback, galloping away.
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    The robbery netted fifteen thousand dollars, and it would have been an unmitigated success had Hobbs Kerry not been captured a month later. He gave the authorities the names of everyone who participated in the robbery. Fortunately for Jesse and the others, they were already on the train on their way to Minnesota. Jesse, Frank, Clell Miller, and Jim Younger were on one train. Bob and Cole Younger, Bill Chadwell, and Chuck Pitts were on a second train. They had shipped their horses up on the stock cars that were attached to each train.
    It was the middle of August when they arrived in Minnesota, and they had no idea what bank they wanted to rob, so they split up into four pairs to scout out several small towns before finally deciding that they would rob the First National Bank of Northfield, Minnesota.
    â€œThese Yankee bastards ain’t never run in to the likes of us,” Clell Miller said. “When it goes down, they won’t know whether to scratch their ass or pick their nose.”
    On the morning of September 7, the eight men met just outside Northfield.
    â€œWe’ll break up into three groups. Frank, Bob, and I will be the ones who actually go into the bank,” Jesse said as he laid out the plans. “Cole, you and Clell stay out front of the bank to stand guard. Jim, I want you, Chuck, and Bill to cover our escape route. Any questions?”
    â€œWe’re all wearin’ our guns,” Chuck Pitts said.
    â€œWell, yeah, don’t you think we might need them?” Clell Miller asked.
    â€œIt’s just that, if you notice, there ain’t nobody in any of these towns we’ve been through that’s been wearin’ guns. Don’t you think maybe we ought to put on our dusters so as to cover them?”
    â€œGood idea, Chuck,” Jesse said. “Yes, let’s do that.”
    â€œAll right, Frank, Bob, and I will ride into town first. We’ll have lunch and sort of scout the town over. Cole, you and Clell give us about an hour or so before you two come in. When we see you two arrive, we’ll go on into the bank. Jim, you and your group stay back at the bridge. Don’t let anybody block it, because after we come out of the bank, this is where we’ll gather up. Cole, that’s when you and Clell will cut the telegraph lines, so they can’t get any word out about us.”
    The others nodded, then all of them put on their dusters. With a little wave, Jesse, Frank, and