John Younger Is Shot

The Adams Express Company turned to the Pinkerton National Detective Agency in 1874 to stop the James-Younger Gang.

The Chicago-based agency worked primarily against urban professional criminals, as well as providing industrial security, such as strike breaking. Because the James-Younger gang received support by many former Confederates in Missouri, they eluded the Pinkertons. Joseph Whicher, an agent dispatched to infiltrate Zerelda Samuel's farm, shortly afterwards was found killed. Two others, Louis J. Lull and John Boyle, were sent after the Youngers; Lull was killed by two of the Youngers in a roadside gunfight on March 17, 1874, fatally shooting John Younger before he died. A deputy sheriff named Edwin Daniels was also killed in the skirmish.

On 17 March 1874 Jim and John were headed to some friends in Roscoe, Missouri. Three men, a local Deputy Sheriff Edward Daniels and two Pinkerton Detectives came up to them and asked them for directions. Suspecting that they were Detectives Jim and John ambushed them. One of the Agents fled instantly. While interviewing the remaining two the Detective, Louis Lull, drew a hidden pistol and shot John through the neck. Jim killed Deputy Daniels. while John pursued Lull on horseback to a nearby wood, fatally wounding him in the chest. Emerging from the woods, still on horseback, as Jim ran towards him John swayed and fell dead. Jim buried him by the roadside to avoid the law digging him up. Later he dug him up again and buried him in an unmarked grave in the cemetery. Louis Lull died three days later.