The La Honda Voice Friday, February 25, 2005

Army. In November 1861 he sought No News this Week revenge for the people who had killed his father and sister. He is said to have For possibly the first time in La Honda killed 100 men that had something to do history, there has been no news over the with his father's and sister's death. When past week. All local events have been the war was over he had to flee to the previously announced, and although the Ray Ranch in La Honda. Because La Honda message board had over a Cole’s younger brother, John, was a hundred new posts, they were primarily Younger, he got in trouble with the law the continuing saga about the winery in Austin, Texas and was killed trying to issue and whether people like to drink the escape the law. local water. The Younger Brothers – the I interviewed several “old-timers” who Conclusion said that once back in the mid-fifties they “Cole, Jim, Bob and their sister Mollie recalled there being a week without any and John Jarret, left for California…the new news, but they weren’t positive or three brothers and John Jarret went to sure exactly when it occurred. work on the store…John Jarret married Cole’s sister, Mollie, thereby becoming The Voice will continue to follow this his brother-in-law as well as cousin. story for any late-breaking developments.

The James brothers were planning to rob the Northfield Bank in Minnesota, as The Final Segment of the their next big job…They could not accomplish this by themselves and [said] History of La Honda if the Younger Brothers refused to come, Last week I said that I had met Bud they would have them exposed to the Foss, who wrote the “History of La law…The brothers and Giles went by Honda” just prior to his service in World way of Oregon to the James Gang War II. hideout.

Last week we also started the story of The James brothers told the Youngers the La Honda Bandits. They were the their plan and how they could rob the four Younger brothers, Cole, Jim, Bob, bank and make a clean getaway…The and John from Forsyth, Mo. Cole, the stage was set, Jesse [James] and Cole oldest son , joined the Confederate

entered the bank first, with Frank right behind, Jim and Bob were to stage a …an old sweetheart of Jim Younger fight to attract a crowd, while the three visited him regularly. She promised Jim were robbing the bank…[but] the that when he got out of prison she would sheriff’s posse was right on their marry him…However, the girl, for some heels…a lucky shot hit Jim Younger in reason turned him down. This broke the lower jaw. This slowed up the gang Jim’s heart…he rented a cheap and left a trail of blood. told room…took a gun out of his pocket and Cole. ‘We had better kill Jim or they will shot himself through the head, dying surely trail us.’ Coles answer was cold; instantly… ‘Here’s where we break up. I didn’t think much of you James brothers was paroled on July 14, anyway.’ Jesse and …made 1901, just one day after his brother Jim, a clean getaway. Cole, Jim and Bob gave on the condition that he would leave the themselves up so they could save Jim state…He died on March 21, 1916, after from bleeding to death. years of illness from dyspepsia and heart disease. He had seventeen bullets Dick Bartley, La Honda rancher and embedded in his body when he died, he teamster, visited the Younger brothers at had been wounded 26 times…his body Stillwater Penitentiary in Minnesota. rest beside those of his brothers James and Robert and that of his mother.” …Bob had died in prison from the wounds he received…

A photograph is from a postcard showing La Honda Park Lake (Reflection Lake?) – year unknown

Send your comments, suggestions, etc. to: [email protected] Bob Dougherty - PO Box 132, La Honda, 94020 650-747-0102