WHEN DID JESSE JAMES DIE?
EXAMINING THE AVAILABLE EVIDENCE
This article does not purport to be the absolute final word about
the death of Jesse James, but attempts to examine the best evidence available.
1967
In 1967, The book "Good Bye Jesse James" was compiled and published by
the Jesse James Bank Museum in Liberty Missouri. The book contained the work of the Kansas City Journal, which was established in 1854. The Journal had sent reporters to St. Joseph Missouri to cover the killing of Jesse James first hand. The book contains six stories, which were a direct result of that reporting. The stories were reprinted as the first appeared in 1882.
PREFACE
Jesse James was spawned of the Civil War as a confederate guerilla fighting under the black flag of Bill Quatrill. It was Jesse's fast gun hand, his bravado, and tenacity that made him a legendary outlaw. One can also attribute the success of he and his gang, to the new Navy Colts cap and ball revolvers which set a faster pace, and provided more fire power in combat and crime. The end of war was devastating for the south and Missouri. The people of Missouri suffered a very strong divide within the state which resulted a very difficult transition back to prosperity. Jesse and his Brother Frank were caught in the crossfire of a post war world. With the shame of losing the war to no good bluecoats, it was easy for a Missourian to saddle up, ride out, and do harm to anything Republican. Whether it was train, stagecoach, or bank. Jesse W. James found good company in his brother Frank James, Clell Miller, Jim Poole, George White and a host of other rugged men including other cousins, Some seventeen men. Before their crime spree was done, the gang had robbed seven trains, thirteen banks and five other various targets including a hold up at a Fairgrounds ticket office of $1000.00 in Kansas city on September, 26th 1872. But it wasn't until 1881, when the government in Missouri had enough of Jesse James and the ongoing crime spree. On July 15, 1881, Frank and Jesse James, Wood and Clarence Hite, and Dick Liddil robbed the Rock Island Railroad near Winston, Missouri, of $900. Train conductor William Westfall and passenger John McCullough were killed, as the gang had seemingly lost control of the situation which resulted in two people being shot and killed , in what was described as a chaotic situation where the outlaws fired their weapons indiscriminately on board the train. On September 7, 1881, Jesse James carried out his last train robbery, holding up the Chicago and Alton Railroad. The gang held up the passengers when the express safe proved to be nearly empty. In 1881 the Governor Thomas T. Crittenden, probably due to the pressure from the railroads, issued a proclamation for the arrest of Frank and Jesse James.
DECEPTION AND ASSASSINATION
By 1882 Jesse James had moved his family back to St. Joseph, Missouri. Still using his alias Mr. Howard, James passed himself off as a cattle buyer and brought in two new men, Robert and Charley Ford, to join his gang to help him scout banks for future robberies. James was unaware that Robert Ford had already talked with Governor Crittenden about getting a reward for killing him. On April 3, 1882, Robert Ford shot and killed Jesse James. The Ford brothers were tried for murder and found guilty, but the governor pardoned them. In the aftermath, several actions were taken very quickly, to ensure that first, Jesse James body was identified and that Bob and Charley Ford were implicated in the killing of Jesse James. And inquest was assembled and the legal process began.
CHAIN OF EVIDENCE
The Ford boys were rounded up, though at the undertakers in St. Joseph, the Police were fearful of a possible attack by a gang of sympathizers would take place, so the crime scene was turned over to the Kansas City police. The governor was sent a wire by Commissioner Craig, and the release of Bob and Charley Ford was secured. Then Sheriff Timberlake sent for authority to seize Jesse James body and personal property, with the exception of a few items that were turned over to Jesse's wife. The order was given to proceed. Chain of evidence had been secured.
THE INQUEST
CHARLEY FORD
Wednesday April 5TH 1882; Kansas City DailyJournal
During the inquest, Charley Ford explained that he had been transient in the weeks before the shooting and he had desired scope out banks to rob in Kansas, but had ended up at the James Farm on the Friday before the shooting and then went to his brothers (Bob) place and they left together for the city on Saturday, where they had met with Jesse and discussed robbing a bank in Plattsburg Missouri. Then Jesse complained about being warm and removed his coat. He then also removed his gun belt out of concern for be seen with a weapon. Then Charley stated; "Then he got up on a chair, to brush off some pictures, and when he turned his back, I gave my brother a wink and we both fired our pistols, but he, Bob , was a little quicker than I. And fired first. I had my finger on the trigger and was just going to fire, but I saw his shot was a death shot, and did not fire. He heard us cock our pistols and began to turn his head, the ball struck him in the back of the head and he fell.
Charley's statement would also corroborate Bob Fords statement. Meeting the legal standard of proof.
Bob (right) and Charley (left) Ford were both
were present at 1318 Lafayette St, in St. Jo Missouri when Bob Ford
shot Jesse James in the back of the head, killing him, on April 03rd, 1882.
Photos courtesy the Missouri state Historic Society and Find A Grave.
BOB FORD'S STATEMENT
It was 8 or 9 O'Clock when he and his brother and Jesse were in the room. Jesse pulled off his pistols and got on a chair to dust off some pictures when he (Bob) drew his pistol and shot him. Jesse was about four feet from the end of the pistol. Only one shot fired, and he fell off the chair backwards.
Both Bob and Chaley also both stated that their next move was to telegraph Governor Crittenden.
"They (the Ford boys) went to the telegraph office, sent a message to Sheriff Timberlake, of Clay County; to Police Commissioner Craig, of Kansas City; to Governor Crittenden, and other officers, and then surrendered themselves to Marshal Craig."
IDENTIFICATION
The following excerpts were reprinted from
the Kansas City Daily Journal 1882
In the court of law. Identification is the CASE. Without identification
no evidence can be entered into the record.
Others to Testify; Dick Liddil, James Finley, Sheriff Timberlake,
Chas Alderman, And Mrs. Samuels (Jesse James Mother)
Dick Liddil stated " Have recognized it as the
body of Jesse James. I was with him a great deal
last summer, and have no doubt."
Deputy Marshall James Finley entered the James
residence and saw his body there establishing chain
of evidence. He observed two men leave the house
on horse-back, "the two Fords surrendered to us
and told us that the body was that of Jesse James and
the youngest (Ford) it was he who killed him.
Sheriff Timberlake testified that he was acquainted
with Jesse James and saw his remains, and recognized
the body at once. Stating; "He had not the slightest doubt
of it being the body of Jesse James. He also identified the body
by his face and the loss of one of his fingers. This last fact could not be faked.
Chas. Alderman testified to recognizing the body
as a man with whom he had traded a horse to a month
earlier. This was Jesse's modus operandi. Fast sleek
horses were part of Jesse's life.
Jesse's mother takes the stand. She testified that she was the
mother of Jesse James. When asked if the body of the deceased was
her son? She sobbed and stated, "Would to God it was not" And placed
her hands on her grandchildren and said "these are his orphans."
SPECIAL DISPATCH TO THE KANSAS CITY JOURNAL
ST. JOSEPH MO. APRIL 5TH
The body of Jesse James still lies today in its plain coffin at
the undertakes rooms. Mrs. Samuel and Mrs. James are at the
hotel awaiting the delivery to them of their dead, and the
authorities are awaiting word from the Governor. The body
will probably be given to the two women and taken to Clay County
tonight for burial.
WHO KILLED JESSE JAMES?
1. "I've got him sure." was the telegram that came to the city yesterday. It was meaningless to
to almost everybody. And yet, it contained new of greatest importance. Jesse James was the person referred to, and he was a corpse, the sender of the dispatch was confident that he had him. Sure.
at 9:00 O'clock yesterday morning the notorious outlaw was short dead, at St. Joseph Mo. By Robert Ford, a young man about 21 years of age, from Ray County.
-The Kansas City Daily Journal 1882.
2. Deputy Marshall James Finley entered the James
residence and saw his body there establishing chain
of evidence. He obtained observed two men leave the house
on horse-back from "the two Fords surrendered, to us
and told us that the body was that of Jesse James and
the youngest (Ford) it was he who killed him."
-The Kansas City Daily Journal 1882.
3. Robert Fords Testimony Written in the Third Person
It was 8 or 9 O'clock when he and his brother and Jesse were in the room. Jesse pulled off his pistols and got on a chair to dust off some pictures when he (Bob) drew his pistol and shot him. Jesse was about four feet from the end of the pistol. Only one shot fired, and he fell off the chair backwards.
Both Bob and Chaley also both stated that their next move was to telegraph Governor Crittenden.
As written by the Kansas City Daily Journals 1882.
4. The Following Verdict of the Jury (Coroners Inquest)
"We the jury find that the deceased if Jesse James, and that
he came to his death by a pistol shot in the hands of Robert Ford"
The two ford brother are confined in jail.
Charged with murder.
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MODERN SCIENCE INVESTIGATES
mtDNA identified Jesse James remains
The following information was published at
Your DNA Guide, by Author Diahan Southhard
the article recaps the investigation in the remains of
Jesse James in the 1990's
"In case you weren’t paying attention to genetic genealogy news in 1996 (or in the following years when related research was published and discussed), here’s a quick recap of the Jesse James case:
Jesse James was a famous outlaw in the United States who supposedly died in 1882—except that rumors persisted that his death was staged, and that the body buried under his name in a Nebraska cemetery wasn’t his. In 1995, his body was exhumed and DNA was recovered from two teeth (and from hair strands recovered from his original burial site). Next up was getting a DNA sample from a known James relative and comparing all the samples. Here’s where mtDNA came in. Jesse had a sister, Susan, with whom he would have shared the exact same mtDNA signature they both received from their mother, Zerelda. As shown in the tree below (taken from this report in the Journal of Forensic Sciences, Susan had daughters for several generations, thus preserving her mtDNA, until the last in the line had a son, who also would have gotten that same mtDNA from his mom. So that son took an mtDNA test. And guess what? His mtDNA was an exact match to the DNA samples pulled from the burial sites of Jesse James, meaning that those two individuals shared the same maternal lineage.
Jesse James after death. Copy From the authors collection
Original Photo by
- Photo by R. Uhlman, St. Joseph, Mo.
Conclusion comments by the author;
It has been 142 years since the killing of Jesse James. Much as changed since that time. We currently live in a time in human history, where information and disinformation move at the speed of light. This miracle of electronic history has also provided fertile ground for the expression of alternative ideas an theories. The case of Jesse James life and death is a historic playground of fact, fiction and old west legend. I've spent many months investigating Jesse James, his life and his crimes. And I wanted to professionally weigh in on the conversation.
This is my professional opinion of the assassination of Jesse W. James. And I am only utilizing the best evidence available to determine the cause and authenticity of the death of Jesse James. And that evidence leads me to conclude that Jesse James died on April 03rd of 1882 at the hands of Robert Ford while is brother Charley ford acted as an accessory to homicide. As a professional law enforcement Officer and Investigator, based upon the in depth reports generated by the Kansas City Daily Journal Reporters, I recognize that the law officers initially involved in the early part of the investigation of the James death showed due diligence and immediately established a proper chain of custody, and that chain of custody continued with oversite from Sheriff Timber Lake, and the governor until the body of Jesse James was turned over to next of kin.
The inquest Jury, did their due diligence, they heard the testimony of people
who were direct witnesses to the crime, and people who knew the deceased who gave unwavering testimony in the way of identification of the body of Jesse James.
Exculpatory Evidence; There did seem to be minor inconsistencies between things that Bob and Charley Ford said concerning the killing. The record reflects that Charley at one point said that he did fire his gun, but probably did not, And Bob told Deputy Marshall James Finley that he would find six or seven wounds in Jesses body, there were only two. But the statements are in fact incriminating. But the big thing that falls into question in the entire situation is the behavior of the state and its approach to the justice for Jesse James. The actions of the governor and other law officials involved with this case would be considered and outrage by modern standards. And perhaps the true victims of this deceptive manipulation were Robert Ford and his brother Charley Ford. Bob was killed by Ed O'Kelly in revenge for Jesse James. Charley committed suicide.
Acknowledgements and sources;
The James Farm,
Jesse JamesThe Best Writings on the notorious Outlaws and His Gang. By Harold Delinger
The Kansas City Daily Journal,
Your DNA guide.
Copyright 2024 (c) Dusty Trails
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