william pinkerton, a brother of the chief detective, was sent to kansas city immediately with five of the most trusted men in the force. upon arriving at that place the sheriff of clay county was sent for, after which twelve citizens of known pluck and reliability were engaged to watch the samuels homestead and report from hour to hour by a rapid means of communication, which had been established. the greatest secrecy was enjoined upon all engaged in the undertaking and every possible precaution was taken to prevent any alarm reaching the bandits.

on the afternoon of january 25th, jesse and frank james were both seen in the yard fronting the samuels residence and report of this quickly reached the sheriff and mr. pinkerton who were in liberty. arrangements were made for the immediate capture of the two bandits, who it was confidently supposed would spend the night in their mother's house. accordingly the two officers rode to kearney late in the afternoon, where they organized a party of twelve men who were to assist them, and preparing several balls of cotton saturated with turpentine and two hand-grenades, the well armed body of men proceeded to the samuels residence, which they reached about midnight. a reconnoissance was first made[pg 76] with great care for indications of possible surprise, and after completely surrounding the house four of the men, with turpentine balls, were sent forward to open the attack. a window on the west side of the residence was stealthily approached, but in the act of raising it an old colored woman, who had for many years been a house servant in the family, was awakened, and she at once gave the alarm. but the window was forced up and the two lighted balls were thrown into the room, and as the flames shot upward, threatening destruction to the house and its contents, the family were speedily aroused and efforts were made to extinguish the fire. at the moment every member of the household, consisting of mr. and mrs. samuels, a son eight years of age, and the daughter, miss susie, and the old colored woman, had partially subdued the flames, one of the detectives, or at least one of the party leading the attack, flung a hand-grenade into the room among the affrighted occupants, and a heavy explosion was the prelude to the dreadful havoc made by that instrument of death. a scream of anguish succeeded the report and groans from within, without any evidence of the outlaws' presence, convinced the detectives and citizen's posse that they had committed a grave and horrible crime; so, without examining the premises further the party withdrew, apparently with the fear that the inexcusable deed they had just committed would be avenged speedily if they tarried in the vicinity.

[pg 77]

when the lamp was lighted by dr. samuels he found his little boy in the agonies of death, having received a terrible wound in the side from the exploded shell. mrs. samuels' left arm had been shattered, and hung helpless by her side; but she forgot her own misfortune in the anguish she suffered at seeing the dying struggles of her little boy. what a terrible night was that memorable 25th of january to the samuels family! alone with their dead boy, whom they worshipped, and with a desperately wounded mother, who would certainly have bled to death but for the thoughtfulness of the old colored servant who hastily bandaged the arm and staunched the flow of the crimson life-current.

the funeral of the innocent victim did not take place until the second day after the midnight attack, and then mrs. samuels, who had suffered an amputation of the injured member, was too greatly prostrated to attend and witness the last service over her darling boy, but the remains were accompanied to the grave by a very large body of sympathizing people of the neighborhood.

this unfortunate and indefensible attack, for a time allayed public animosity against the james boys and turned the sympathy of people in western missouri somewhat in their favor. those who had been most earnest in their desire to see jesse and frank james brought to punishment, began to think more lightly of their crimes, attributing them partly, at least, to[pg 78] the manner in which they had been hunted and persecuted. it is a notorious fact that for some time this sentiment predominated in clay and jackson counties, and the same feeling extended to other parts of the state, and in march following led to the introduction of an amnesty bill in the legislature, granting immunity for past offenses committed by jesse and frank james, coleman younger, james younger and robert younger. the bill was introduced by gen. jeff. jones, of callaway county, and contained a provisional clause that amnesty would be granted the parties named in the instrument for all offenses committed during the war, provided they would surrender to the lawful authorities and submit to such proceedings as might be brought against them in the several states for crimes charged against them since the war. after a stormy debate the bill was defeated, although had it passed none of the bandits named would have accepted the terms, for surrender meant either execution or life imprisonment. a rejection of the terms of surrender, by the legislature, afforded a fresh pretext, however, to the bandits to pursue their crimes of blood and pillage, and it was not long before the country was again startled by the daring deeds of the outlaws.