Stella James Vs Turilli: The Ethel James Owens Letter, Jesse died in St. Jo Missouri on April 3rd 1882. (c)

 On 05/10/2025, the following letter was shared online. It appeared on the Jesse James group Facebook page, and it was posted by a gentleman by the name of Robert Basil. According to Basil, his father C.W. Basil, a writer who was published in Lost Treasures Magazine, was corresponding with Jesse James granddaughter, Ethel James Owens because of his interest in Jesse James, I asked Robert about the story, and he told me:

"Back in those days he and a friend were always metal detecting, writing stories of the old west gangs such as Jesse James. He and his friend would write stories for lost treasures magazine. They just were into that really heavy back then. He just found a way to reach Ethel Rose James Owens Jesse's granddaughter and they hit it off. They talked quite a bit until her death. She actually told my dad that if he would have contacted her a week prior that she would have given my dad Jesse's guns. Instead she donated them to be museum in Kearny Missouri." 

The following letter was handed down to him by his Father. The letter written by Ethel James Owens tells the story of Frank Dalton who falsely claimed to be Jesse James. And tells the story of a law suit, filed by Stella James the widow of Jesse E. James (Jesse Woodson James’s son).

Quotes from the letter;

"I have received the books, and was quite surprised, with the book and wish I had known what its was all about - of more about it, I have read it and just can't believe that it is filled with so many lies."

"I am quite acquainted with Mr. Dalton who claimed to be Jesse James, them having killed a Mr. Bigelow to take Jesse James place in the casket. He was here in Los Angelas one time and I went to see him. I couldn't help but feel sorry for the "old" man, because he really didn't know what he was doing. It was just the promoters making a side show of him."

"(My mother) Got so many copies of affidavits from people who had seen Jesse James killed, etc. etc. The judge and jury decided in her favor, but she  never got the $10,000, as Mr. Turrili had no money, and died shortly after this in bankruptcy."

Stella James the widow of Jesse E. James (Jesse W James’s son) and her daughters knew that Jesse was shot and killed on April 3rd, 1882 by Robert Ford who pled guilty to the murder. the defendant Rudy Turilli, operator of the “Jesse James Museum” claimed that James was not the man killed and had lived at his museum under the alias of J. Frank Dalton into the 1950’s. Turilli was apparently so confident in his statement that he was willing to offer $10,000 to anyone that could offer evidence to prove him wrong. Upon hearing Turilli’s statement, Stella James had immediately sought to prove him wrong.

From Time magazine Oct 18th, 1971 The Law Decision:

"Rudy Turilli of Stanton, Mo., found a vocation in his belief that Jesse James was not killed in 1882, but lived into the 1950s under the alias of J. Frank Dalton. After meeting Dalton in 1948, Turilli opened the Jesse James Museum in Stanton and published a book arguing his thesis. In 1967 Turilli announced on a television program that he would pay $10,000 to anyone who could prove him wrong. Stella James, daughter-in-law of the outlaw, and her two daughters tried to collect after supplying affidavits from James family members that Jesse had indeed died in 1882. When Turilli refused to pay, the women sued and won in the Franklin County circuit court. The verdict, recently upheld on appeal, put the courts in the unusual position of considering an academic point of history. Turilli now says that he will ask for a new hearing on the grounds that his television boast was not legally binding."

The Law: Decisions | TIME

From the court of appeals:

Problem lies with the definition of the word “prove” Defendant says prove means “to determine or persuade that a thing does or does not exist” Court says it is an ordinary word spoken by laymen and we are unable to interpret it technically. Stella James had began to seek people close to the James family who could help prove Turilli wrong. On Feb 27, 1967 defendant publicly offers $10,000 to anyone who could prove him wrong on national television. In hearing this, plaintiffs submitted evidence from the James family each stated facts that Jesse James was “in fact killed as alleged in song and legend on April 3, 1882 by Robert Ford. One of the statements that was approved by the court was given by Thomas M. Mimm’s who stated “his sister had been a widow of Jesse W. James and on April 3rd 1882, his sister had sent him a telegram stating Jesse W. James had been killed, and he had in fact went to the funeral and viewed the body knowing it was that of Jesse W. James.” He claims the man killed on April 3, 1882 and buried as Jesse James is an imposter. He claims the real Jesse James lived under the name J. Frank Dalton in the museum into the 1950’s.Defendant says they (the plaintiffs) neglected “to establish what it was they were to prove me wrong about” He also claimed that the evidence given by the plaintiffs was insufficient and the jury had made an error as far as accepting the plantiffs statements. The Court decided that the statements given by the Plaintiff were admissible as independently relevant declarations and there was no hearsay rule violations. They stated that the evidence given by the plaintiff was not confusing to the jury as the defendant had claimed.

Therefore, the plaintiff shall be granted the money.

This video shows some of the things that Jesse James has done in the past

By Michael Haferkamp

Stella James v. Rudy Turilli

Court of Appeals of Missouri, St. Louis District

September 28, 1971

Rudy Turilli claims James was not the man killed in 1882

Turilli offers money to anyone who thought they were right

Stella James went to prove Turilli wrong

Jesse W. James (famous outlaw) was shot and killed on April 3, 1882

Overview; James submitted facts from Jesse James’ family to Turilli Stella James states “Jesse W. James was in fact killed as alleged in song and legend on April 3, 1882 by Robert Ford.” Turilli claims Jesse W. James lived as J. Frank Dalton with him into the 1950’sTurilli offered $10,000 to anyone who “could prove him wrong” on national television . The court decided that the plaintiffs claims were admissible and did not find any error. The judgment is affirmed Court’s Ruling The plaintiff is granted $10,000.

Additional Information:

Ethelrose Owens; Last Grandchild of Outlaw Jesse James - Los Angeles Times

Ethel Rose James Owens (1908-1991) - Find a Grave Memorial

There is no proof whatsoever that J. Frank Dalton Was Jesse James.

Jesse James and Turilli in c - Genealogy.com

Ruling on Jesse

J. Frank Dalton - Wikipedia

Note: I was given full permission by Robert Basil to use his information.

Copyright (c) 2025

Terms; Free to use, please cite the author and CSL&OH.A.