State

Volume IV Number 27 THE STATE A Weekly Survey of North Carolina December 5 1936 Kntorfd ■■ iccood clou Dialler, Jane 1, 1033. al the Poetoflee at lulrlch. North Carolina, under lha Acl of March 3. 1479 Jesse James in Carolina Mil. ШМННЧОЧ submits two inlorexli.it* tales to substantiate the fact that the no¬ torious bandit aetually did visit this state while engaged in his aets of outlawry. «?/ том iii:m>i:uso\ FEW people know Unit Jesse James, the nineteenth century’s most noted bandit and outlaw, once passed through t lie village of Yan- ceyville, or rather, that there ore al¬ most irrefutable facts of evidence lead¬ ing to the substantiation of the claim that lie did. Lieutenant Governor J. Elmer bmg, himself a native Yancey- villian. recently related to me these facts, told to him by his illustrious father, the late Hon. Jacob Л. Long. "Jake” Long at that time lived in Ynnccyvillc and had his law office in the Caswell courthouse, in the same room where “Chicken" Stephens had his office and met his death at the hands of the Ivu Klnx Elan, after duo trial and condemnation of death by the Klansmen. One day "Jake," while sitting at his desk, heard his office door quietly open, and, looking up, saw a stranger enter, wearing a very long raincoat. The strnnged stated that he was an officer of the federal government on his way to Danville, hunting a murderer. Be¬ ing temporarily short of funds ho de¬ sired a loan of t wo dollars. The stranger unbuttoned his topcoat and disclosed an officer's uniform, along with a hol¬ ster of murderous-looking pistols. “Jake” made the loan graciously with¬ out any argument. Subsequent Developments A year or so afterwards, Bill Wel¬ lington, the one nn«l only, and North Carolina’s most uniquely celebrated wanderer, entered “Jake’s” office and narrated this experience and occur¬ rence : “‘Jake’,” said Bill, “I was out in the great anil wild state of Arkansas a few weeks ago, when the stage coach I was riding in was held up by n bandit. When we passengers had lined up outside, the bandit asked: "‘Is there a Confederate soldier among you gentlemen?’” Bill Wellington never in bis life bad any hashfulncss about proclaiming himself a follower of Lee. In fact, it was the one thing in his life of which he boasted loudest and oftencst. Bill spoke up promptly, whereupon the bandit told him to stand apart from the other passengers. About this time, a badly scared lit¬ tle man, dressed in the garb of the clergy, pleaded between clattering teeth : “You wouldn’t rol» a man of God, would you?” “Who are you ?” asked the bandit. “I’m a Catholic priest,” said tin- frightened little man. “You'll l*e treated in the same man¬ ner ns the rest,” said the bandit coldly. The bandit then relieved the other passengers of their money and valua¬ bles, and turned to Bill Watlington: “You say you are a Confederate soldier?” “I fought, bled and almost died for the South.” “Where are you from?” “North Carolina.” “What county?” "Caswell County.” “What is the county sent?” "Ynnccyvillc.” “Do you know anv lawyers in Van coyville!” “Yes sir-ree. There’s Col. Robert Watt, Col. Benton Withers, ‘Baldy’ Henderson, ‘Jake’ Long- "Hold on tliar, you’ve struck the right one. You must lie telling me the truth. I’m letting you go. and when you get back to Yancey ville. you toll Mr. Long that Jesse James sent his re¬ gards and thanks him and says that lie hasn't forgot them two dollars he borrowed from him when he passed 1 1 1 rough Y a neey v i Ho.” And if that is not sufficient evidence of the presence of the notorious bandit in North Carolina, here is sonic addi¬ tional substantiation of facts: “Uncle Si" McKinney, grand obi Re¬ publican wurhorse of Rockingham County, tells me that Mrs. Eliza Walk¬ er Dix. who died last year, narrated this story to him : When she was a girl, a man came one night to her father’s home, which was located northwest of Mayfield and asked for lodging and food. Tie re¬ fused. however, to sleep in the house, saying that he preferred to stay in the barn. Pays for Lodging The next morning, he asked Mr. Walker how much ho owed for the lodging and breakfast. “We do not charge for our humble hospitality." Mr. Walker told him. Whereupon the strnnged pulled out a five-dollar bill and tendered it. “Jesse James,” said lie, “does not accept such generous hos¬ pitality without reimbursing his host.” And so, gentlemen of the jury, the evidence is before you. I believe I have authenticated the fact- in my case as well as the proponents of the "Meck¬ lenburg Declaration myth, or the story of Marshal Noy having lived in North Carolina. At any rate. I'll leave it for you to judge.