KinSource - Tale of the Week - Frank James Is Their Only Hope

KinSource

Minnesota Tales

The St. Paul Globe, February 13, 1903, p. 10

FRANK JAMES IS THEIR ONLY HOPE

Theatrical Syndicate Wants Him to Take the Place of Cole Younger.

By the stringent terms of its pardon to Cole Younger the Minnesota board of pardons has possibly blasted the future of a most thrilling drama and deprived the sensation-loving public of an inspiring and edifying spectacle. One last hope rests upon Frank James and should he refuse to come to the rescue by assuming the leading role in a realistic production of "The Younger Brothers, Bank Robbers," it is feared that the great project will fall flat.

This piece, it is said, was conceived by the Crescy Theatrical syndicate, of Chicago, and report has it that most elaborate scenery; property and constumes have already been prepared at great expense on the assumption that Cole Younger could be induced to assume the leading role. From all descriptions it would appear that the play is a triumph in the line of bloodcurdling tragedy and posters already prepared annouce "a hundred shots a minute."

To those who know Cole Younger best it is well understood that even though the pardon board had placed no strictures upon him as to his future occupation he would not have consented to exhibit himself in public under any consideration, and least of all in a theatrical production of this character.

Since it has been convincingly demonstrated to the Crescy syndicate that Younger is not available, it is understood that the leading part in the new drama will be offered to Frank James, and in case he should accept the name changed to the "James Brothers, Bank Robbers."