名人轶事:Frank and Jesse James

Broadcast: February 13, 2005

VOICE ONE:

People in America, a program in Special English by the Voice of America.

(THEME)

Two of the most famous outlaws¹ of the old American west were brothers. I'm

Tony Riggs. Today, Maurice Joyce and I tell about Frank² and Jesse James. We

begin their story on a cold day in February, eighteensixty-six.

(MUSIC)

VOICE TWO:

Liberty, Missouri. Two o'clock in the afternoon.

((SFX))

Twelve men on horses ride slowly into town. Their hats are low on their

faces. They stop in front of the Clay County³ Savings⁴ Bank. Two of the men get

off their horses and enter the bank. The bank manager asks if he can help

them. The two men pull out guns from under their heavy coats. They demand

money.

In less than two minutes, they return to the street. Now the gang⁵ is in a

great hurry. All twelve men begin shooting.

((SFX))

Several people are wounded. A young college student is killed.

((SFX))

(MUSIC)

VOICE ONE:

What happened on that day was the first bank robbery⁶, during business hours,

in peacetime, in the United States.

History books say the two men who went into the bank were Frank James and his

younger brother Jesse. But this was never proved. Frank and Jesse James told

lawmen they were home that day. Several of their friends confirmed the story.

True or not, during the next sixteen years, the James brothers did become two

of the most famous outlaws in America.

1 outlaws   

歹徒，亡命之徒( outlaw的名词复数 )； 逃犯

参考例句：

• During his year in the forest, Robin met many other outlaws. 在森林里的一年，罗宾遇见其他许多绿林大盗。
• I didn't have to leave the country or fight outlaws. 我不必离开自己的国家，也不必与不法分子斗争。

2 frank   

adj.坦白的，直率的，真诚的

参考例句：

• A frank discussion can help to clear the air.坦率的谈论有助于消除隔阂。
• She is frank and outgoing.她很爽朗。

3 county   

n.县，郡

参考例句：

• When the good news reached there,the whole county rejoiced.喜讯传到那里时，全县的人都欢欣鼓舞起来。
• In that year county after county fell to the enemy.那一年一个又一个的县城沦入敌人手中。

4 savings   

n.存款，储蓄

参考例句：

• I can't afford the vacation,for it would eat up my savings.我度不起假，那样会把我的积蓄用光的。
• By this time he had used up all his savings.到这时，他的存款已全部用完。

5 gang   

n.一伙，一帮；结伴的朋友

参考例句：

• The gang live abroad,beyond reach of the British police.这帮匪徒住在国外，英国警方鞭长莫及。
• Some gang came in and shot the place up.有股匪帮进来对这个地方开枪扫射。

6 robbery   

n.抢劫；抢劫案

参考例句：

• A man is being questioned in connection with the robbery.一名男子就那起抢劫案接受查问。
• The police are offering a big reward for information about the robbery.警方出大笔赏金要求提供那起抢劫案的破案线索。

7 postal   

adj.邮政的，邮局的

参考例句：

• A postal network now covers the whole country.邮路遍及全国。
• Remember to use postal code.勿忘使用邮政编码。

8 stagecoaches   

n.驿马车( stagecoach的名词复数 )

参考例句：