"I am aware that my name has been connected with all the bank robberies in the country; but positively I had nothing to do with any one of them. I look upon my life since the war as a blank, and will never say anything to make it appear otherwise"

Cole Younger’s statement reflects both a denial of accusations and a deeper resignation about his postwar identity. By acknowledging that his name has been “connected with all the bank robberies in the country,” he reveals an acute awareness of his notoriety and the widespread public perception of him as a criminal. The phrase suggests frustration; he implies that his reputation has become so tainted that any such crime, regardless of his involvement, is automatically attributed to him. There is a sense of injustice in the way he distances himself from all allegations, “positively I had nothing to do with any one of them,” emphasizing his desire to be dissociated from the acts for which he is blamed.

His reference to his “life since the war as a blank” shows a man deeply affected by transformative events, likely the Civil War and its aftermath. With these words, Younger expresses an emotional void or sense of disconnection from the period following his involvement in the war. The use of “blank” suggests emptiness, perhaps even a sense of being lost or stripped of purpose. This could reflect a struggle with reintegration into society, a feeling that his earlier life carried meaning or direction, whereas the years after the conflict are characterized by obscurity, guilt, or lack of fulfillment.

By insisting he “will never say anything to make it appear otherwise,” Younger communicates staunch resolve to leave this period undefined and unsullied by confession or explanation. This determination can be interpreted as both defiance and self-protection; he refuses to provide details or stories that might implicate him or feed the public’s fascination with outlaw legends. His silence becomes a shield, preserving his dignity or perhaps concealing inconvenient truths. Younger’s declaration, rooted in denial, detachment, and guardedness, underscores the profound personal and reputational consequences faced by those whose lives become public legend, and hints at the emotional toll such notoriety exacts.