On This Date in Minnesota History: October 19

October 19, 1902 – Jim Younger, the hero of a hundred dime novels, committed suicide this morning in his St. Paul hotel room. This dead shot in bank robberies and skirmishes with sheriffs’ posses, fired a gun for the first time in 26 years, but this time he was his own victim. Aiming at the side of the head above the ear, he killed himself instantly.

The belongings of the dead man had been neatly arranged in preparation for his intended death. His clothing, including his kid gloves, were folded upon a chair. A table bore his watch and chain and his red leather purse, which was empty, with a single dime lying atop it. A large brown envelope beside the purse was filled with messages and papers. It is believed that Younger’s injuries—bullet wounds in his back and mouth from his previous criminal exploits—were beginning to wreak havoc with his thoughts and mental health. A failed romance, however, was suspected to be the main reason for his actions.

A wounded Jim Younger after his arrest in 1876

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jim_Younger

Jim and his brothers Bob and Cole, entered Stillwater prison on Nov. 20, 1876. Bob Younger died in prison of tuberculosis on September 16, 1889. Cole and Jim were paroled on July 10, 1901. Soon after Jim’s release, it was announced that he was going to marry Miss Alice (or Alix or Alexis, depending on the account) Mueller, a young woman closely related to one of the most prominent families in St. Paul society. Another member of the same family labored for years to further Jim and Cole Younger’s release. During this period, Jim became intimately acquainted with Miss Mueller. She was a writer for St. Paul newspapers and other publications. But the marriage was not to be, as authorities declared that as a paroled life prisoner, Jim Younger could not participant in such a civil contract unless he received a pardon.

After his release, Jim was employed by a manufacturer of headstones. The unique suggestions of this employment attracted too much public curiosity, and Jim obtained a clerkship at Schoch’s grocery store, Seventh and St. Peter Street. He lived for a while at Miss Mueller’s home, but when gossip of their intended marriage became general knowledge, Younger left the house. While Miss Mueller’s relatives had worked to gain Younger’s parole, they were not happy about the her intensions to marry the former criminal, and after much discussion and persuasion, Miss Mueller left St. Paul six months ago and is now said to be living in Boise, Idaho.

Subsequently, Jim began working at Elwin’s cigar store on Washington Ave. S. in Minneapolis. Several weeks ago, Younger resigned his position and returned to St. Paul. He has had no situation since, but he would have found no difficulty in securing work once more. His industry, his steady habits and his genuine dislike of notoriety were recognized by every one that knew him.

The prospects for a full pardon have not been discouraging, although the state board of pardons has held that the Youngers should be satisfied to remain on parole longer than one year. As soon as he was pardoned, Jim would have been enabled to contract the marriage he so looked forward to.

Younger’s body was brought back to Missouri and buried in the family plot in Lee’s Summit, MO.

James Younger

  As he looked in 1889                  As he looked in 1899

The Minneapolis Journal; Oct. 20, 1902; p.1.

The Minneapolis Journal; “Jim Younger’s Tragic Finish. The Famous Bandit of Years Ago Makes an End of It With a Revolver. He Leaves Incoherent Letter Evidently Prompted by Hopeless Affair in Love. Warden Wolfer and Cole Younger Both Believe That His Mind Was Unbalanced.”; Oct. 20, 1902; p.1.

http://www.richmond-dailynews.com/2012/08/two-women-who-stood-by-their-man-outlaw-jim-younger/

The Saint Paul Globe; “Love of James Younger for Alix Mueller.” October 26, 1902; p. 30.