Volume 14 , Issue 6

Jesse James (1847-1882)

PBS had a program on a few days ago concerning Frank and Jesse James that got me to thinking of what lead those two brothers to a life of crime. Was it the Civil War? Were Were they a part of the Missouri "Border Ruffians" that battle the "Jayhawkers" of "Bleeding Kansas," who fought for a "Free State." Anyway, it reported that frank James was the quiet brother and Jesse James was the brother who craved the attention for his crimes.

The Cheyenne Transporter Supplement, dated Monday, 10 April 1882, Vol. 3, No. 16, published at Darlington, I.T. (Indian Territory), Editor & Publisher, W. A. Eaton, page 5, had this to say about the James gang surrendering and the assassination of Jesse James.

The article mentions, "Dick Liddel, one of the most efficient men in the James gang, came in and surrendered to a sheriff. He gives the whole business of the Glendale, Blue Cut and Winston train robberies away, and acknowledges that he was one of the gang engaged in these daring outrages. Not long after the Winston affair he had a row with a member of the gang named Hite, in which the latter was killed. Liddel knew that this act would cost him his life if he was ever overtaken by James & Co. He finally decided to give himself up settle down to some honest calling. In this he is likely to come to grief, for, the James boys are bent on taking his life."

Jesse's Assassination

It was the morning of April 1882, when Jesse James was killed at his house in St. Joseph, Missouri, by Robert Ford, a young desperado whom Jesse had under training. Charles and Robert Ford had been currying their horses and making ready for a trip to Nebraska, where they intended to rob a bank.

Returning to the hues the Ford brothers met James who remarked that it was very warm and threw off his coat and pistols. Then what has always puzzled this NW Okie was why would Jesse James (a.k.a. Mr. Howard) get up on a chair to dust off some pictures? The Fords saw their opportunity, and Robert fired, the ball hitting James in the lower part of the head and coming out over the left eye.

The boys then telegraphed the news to the Governor and the authorities of Kansas City for several months, and this was the first time they had caught him unarmed. The departed desperado was married 1874, and left a wife and two small children. Mrs. Samuels, mother of Frank and Jesse James, was present at the inquest and identified the body as that of her son. Two large bullet scars were found in the right breast near the nipple. By these several parties identified him. There was no doubt but that the greatest desperado Missouri ever produced was dead this time. Jesse James was 37 years old at his death.

April 7, 1882, page 2 Weekly Graphic, Kirksville, Adair Co., Missouri, had these headlines that read, "That $10,000 Corpse" and further particulars of the Jesse James Assassination.

This article is about Robert Ford that appeared in The County paper, in Oregon, Missouri, 14 April 1882, page 3. It was a sketch of Robert Ford, whose name was then familiar in every section of the country as that of the youth who killed Jesse James, the most famous outlaw and bandit of the nineteenth century, must possess a thrilling interest for all who have read of the last act in this memorable and tragic drama.

Robert Ford first saw the light in the old domain which has produced so many brave and heroic men. He was born in Fouquier county, Virginia, in the year 1862. Of him it may be truthfully said he was rocked in the storms and strifes of Civil War. The march of armies, the clash of arms, the blood stained battle fields were familiar scenes and sounds to the father of Robert Ford. At last he seems to have imbibed the courage, the daring, the iron nerve, the fearlessness of death, so characteristic of those unhappy days.

When the parents, longing for a wide field and greater opportunities to acquire a livelihood and sought a home among the fertile prairies of Missouri, Robert Ford was only ten years of age. Mr. Ford settled in Ray county, was engaged in tilling the soil. The boys attended school and received a fair education, and as they grew to manhood assisted their father in the labor of the farm.

They come of sturdy stock, for John Ford was a man of industry, physical powers and determined will. A quiet man, slow to provoke a quarrel, he knew his rights and dared to maintain them at every hazard. The family consisted of nine children, five sons and four daughters.

We must now pass rapidly on to the more exciting scenes in which Charles and Robert Ford have played such a conspicuous part of the James gang.

Strange that justice so long delayed, yet with iron heel and noiseless step, was pursuing like some avenging Nemesis the bold outlaws who had struck terror to every community and whose name, like that of Richard the Lion Heart, could only be spoken have in a whisper; whose hands were red with innocent blood and the clatter of whose horses' hoofs oft made the midnight air resound and the village weep over their fierce and bloody deeds. These avengers of blood were living in the same county, and within a few miles of the Samuels farm, constantly hearing of the train robberies and other daring crimes of Frank and Jesse James. They soon became acquainted with the James boys, frequently visiting Mrs. Samuels' house, and Jesse urged Charles Ford to join the gang. Charles Ford finally did, in order to further the ends of justice, and assist the officers in hunting down these cold blooded murderers, who had so long defied the law and spurned his officers, to return to a quiet and peaceful life.

Last November Gov. Critierden offered a reward of $50,000 for the apprehension, dead or alive, of Jesse and Frank James and their accomplices.

Several of the gang, Dick Liddil and others, surrendered themselves to the authorities and betrayed the history, the deeds of violence of which they had been a part, and afforded valuable information in regard to the whereabout of the band.

On the 4 November 1881, Charles Ford and Jesse James came to this city and rented a house at 13th and Lafayette streets. Jesse James gave his name as Thomas Howard and the Ford boys passed as Charles and Robert Johnson. They traveled much together, took a trip into Kansas and Nebraska to see how the banks looked, and which offered the best facilities for making a haul. Charles Ford went on this expedition in order not to alarm Jesse and not because they wished to participate in any robberies or murder.

About two weeks before Charles Ford and Jesse James went down to Clay county to bring up Robert Ford. They were planning the robbery of a bank and Jesse wanted some assistance. Charles suggested his brother. This was agreed to. Charles and Jesse returned with Robert, and both the boys lived with Jesse and his wife at their residence. It was agreed that they, Jesse, Charles and Robert should rob the Platte City bank. Jesse said he would kill the cashier, cut his throat, and shoot any one who interfered. The boys did not want to engage in this deed and stimulated by the governor's proclamation offering a reward on his life they decided to kill him.

On the Monday in April, 1882 Jesse James was shot from behind while standing on a chair dusting a picture, his back turned towards Robert Ford, who fired, shooting Jesse in the head and killing him in minutes.

The Kansas City Journal Comments As Follows:

"The state of Missouri is at last rid of the most daring outlaw that has ever disgraced the Western country. Jesse James has met the fate due him. Blood, though it sleep a time, yet never dies. 'The great King of Kings hath in the table of his law commanded that thou shalt do no murder.' Spurning this edict, the outlaw whose remains are now lying in St. Joseph to be gazed upon by gaping thousands, roamed the country for many years -- in fact from his early boyhood, committing murder after murder, defying the laws of God and man with impunity, until the very earth cried for vengeance upon him. Vengeance hath been taken and no honest man will shed a tear over his fate. He deserved it a thousand times over, and the maudlin sympathy expressed for him and his by some people, particularly in St. Joseph, only disgraces those who give expression to it. Jesse James was a curse to the land that gave him birth, a red handed murderer and highway robber, at whose taking off good people in every section of the union will rejoice. The old gang of robbers led by the James boys is now pretty well broken up. Frank lives, but nearly all of his followers are gone, and recruits will not be easily obtained. Frank will yet meet the same fate which overtook Jesse."

This is more on the story of Jesse James and the man who shot him as it appeared in The Cheyenne Transporter, 13 October 1882, page 8, when Ford, who shot Jesse James had gone back to Missouri to die of consumption.

Cheyenne Transporter, 25 July 1881, Vol. 2, No. 23, page 5, had this article concerning "Murder and Robbery" of Missouri and the James gang, and the most daring murder and robbery lately recorded was perpetrated at Winston, Missouri, on the night of the 15th inst., by men who are supposed to belong to the James brothers gang. A Kansas City Journal reporter took the testimony of a number of eye witnesses, the following being the most concise. It is from Harry Coleman, a brake man on Mr. Westfall's train:

"All the shooting of which I had any knowledge occurred in the smoking car. I sat in the rear of the car. Several seats in front of me sat a tall, spare man with heavy, black whiskers. Between me and their party Westfall was taking tickets. Suddenly the tall man sprang to his feet and shouted, 'Keep your seats; don't move.' When I saw the two revolvers and heard them go off I began to think he meant business. Westfall was leaning over putting a check in a passenger's hat. Before he could straighten up the revolver went off. I saw the wadding fly from Westfall's coat. He staggered past me to the platform and fell from the car. The shooting was kept up by the man who shot Westfall and by another man in the front end of the car. Another man who was standing on the platform was shot and fell from the car. Westfall is one of the most honest, upright and companionable men I know."

There seems to have been seven men concerned in the affair. They mounted fleet horses as soon as the train stopped and had not yet been captured. Four of the parties were thought to be Jim Cummings, Jesse James, Miller and Dick Little. It is well known that Jesse James vowed vengeance upon several men for guiding the detectives to his mother's house. Westfall was among the number. After doing all the butchering they cared to, the desperadoes robbed the express safe, taking from between $1,000 and $3,000. There was much talk of punishing the outlaws, but the State of Missouri has suffered so many outrages to go unpunished that there is little hope that these desperadoes would get their deserts.

Jesse James, Jr.

The Guthrie Daily Leader, 12 November 1898, page 1, Jesse James, Jr.'s Trial, by Scripps-McRae League, Kansas City, Nov. 12, had this short mention of "The trial of Jesse James, Jr. was set for January yesterday." This must have been the son of the famous outlaw, Jesse James.

It seems Jesse James, Jr. was wanted in connection to a robbery of the Missouri Pacific Train at Leeds. Was the son following in his father's footsteps? Or was the law enforcement harassing the son of Jesse James? Here is the article dated 12 October 1898, page 1 -- "Jesse James Is Wanted" - written by Scripps-McRae League, Kansas City, Mo., October 12 -- "Jesse James, Jr., was arrested last evening in connection with the robbery of the Missouri Pacific train at Leeds. He was suspected of complicity in the crime, and for some time had been under police surveillance."

Here is another story concerning the son of Jesse James that appeared in a Kansas City, Moissouri newspaper October 12 -- "Jesse James, Jr. was released on habeas corpus this morning, but was rearrested on a warrant charging him and Andy Ryan with complicity. The police feel sure that they are able to establish his participation."

The Guthrie Daily Leader, 20 October 1899, page 4, reported that Ed Vanderpool was the only person in Guthrie who was intimately acquainted with Jesse James, Jr., of Kansas City. He has just received a letter from Mr. James stating that he will be here next Tuesday.

The Guthrie Daily Leader, dated 19 October 1898, page 3, had the following to report on Jesse James, Jr. -- "Cushing Herald - Jesse James Jr., son of the notorious outlaw of Missouri, appears to have been implicated in a late train robbery in the Cracker Neck District near Kansas City. The young man no doubt was encouraged to enumerate his noble father's career, and why should he not. His father was referred to as a hero in place of the red-ha-de murderer that he was, who should have even caught and hung by the neck until he was dead. So long as the people glory the bloody crimes of outlaws so long must they expect that their conduct will breed plenty more such pests to prey upon society."

Whether this is true or not . . . It does seem the James family was being ruined through the newspapers of that time period. BUT . . . Can/could you believe everything you read in the paper back then?   |  View or Add Comments (0 Comments)   |   Receive updates ( subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

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