The two men spent the day strolling around town or lounging at the hotel. They were waiting for a late afternoon appointment with the governor. Their names on the hotel register read John Edwards, and B. F. Winfrey. Edwards said he was from Sedalia and Winfrey claimed to be from Marshall. Winfrey had just recently come to Missouri from Tennessee where people called him B. J. Woodson, but that wasn’t his real name either.
Late that afternoon, the governor called several state officials and newsmen to his office and showed them an important letter. While the guests in the office were discussing the letter the two men strolled in. The one whose name really was John Edwards introduced the other whose name was neither Winfrey nor Woodson. “Governor Crittenden,” said Edwards, “I want to introduce you to my friend Frank James.”
