In 1876, with their notorious gang falling into disarray, the James brothers (Frank and Jesse) attempted to settle in Nashville, Tennessee, using the pseudonyms B. J. Woodson and Thomas Howard; but Jesse remained restless. In 1879 he recruited a new gang and went on a spree of crimes. By 1881 the Tennessee authorities were beginning to suspect that Woodson and Howard were in fact the James brothers, and they returned to Missouri. Their gang had been reduced to the two of them, and their only trusted associates were the Ford brothers, Charley and Bob.
The James brothers asked the Fords to move in with them for protection. But unbeknownst to the Jameses, Bob Ford had already been negotiating a deal with Thomas T. Crittenden, Governor of Missouri, to capture the James brothers and bring them to justice.
On 3 April 1882, after eating breakfast, the Fords and Jameses went into the living room before travelling to Platte City where they planned to commit a robbery. Jesse James had just learned that gang member Dick Liddil had confessed to participating in the murder of James's cousin Wood Hite, in December 1881. Hite had actually been murdered by Bob Ford, and James was suspicious that the Fords had not told him about it Liddil's confession. Robert Ford later said he believed that James had realised they were there to betray him. But instead of confronting them, James walked across the living room and laid his revolvers on a sofa. He turned around and noticed a dusty picture above the mantle, and stood on a chair to clean it. Robert Ford drew his weapon, and shot the unarmed Jesse James in the back of the head.
The death of Jesse James became a national sensation. The Fords made no attempt to hide their part in it; they surrendered to the authorities and were dismayed to be charged with first–degree murder. Within 24 hourse they were indicted, pleaded guilty, were sentenced to death by hanging, and were granted a full pardon by Governor Crittenden. The quick pardon suggested that the Governor knew the brothers intended to kill James rather than capture him. The implication that the chief executive of Missouri had conspired in the murder of a private citizen startled the public, and added to James's notoriety.
After receiving a small portion of the reward, the Fords fled Missouri. Public opinion was divided; some condemned the Fords for murdering Jesse, but others believed it had been time the outlaw was stopped.
The Ford brothers made the most of their notoriety, and starred in a touring stage show in which they re–enacted the shooting. Suffering from tuberculosis (then incurable) and a morphine addiction, Charley Ford committed suicide on 6 May 1884. Bob Ford was shot dead on 8 June 1892 by Edward O'Kelley, of whom little else is known (but who may simply have felt that to kill Bob Ford would make him a hero).
Frank James surrendered to the authorities five months after his brother's murder. He was tried for two offences, both allegedly committed in 1881: a train robbery in Missouri, which also involved the murder of the train driver and one passenger, and a payroll robbery in Alabama. He was acquitted on both counts. He then retired to Oklahoma to live with his mother. He worked in a variety of jobs including shoe salesman, ticket collector in a Burlesque theatre, and telegraph operator. He died in 1915, aged 72.
A famous folk song began to circulate after Jesse James's death, and was first recorded in 1919. Its chorus tells of "that dirty little coward, [who] shot Mr. Howard, [and] laid poor Jesse James in his grave." It has since been recorded by numerous artistes including Woody Guthrie, Pete Seeger, the Pogues, Van Morrison, Bob Seger, and Bruce Springsteen. It has also been used on the soundtracks of several films and television series.
The 2007 film The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford starred Brad Pitt as Jesse James and Casey Affleck as Robert Ford. It makes reference to the James brothers' use of the surname Howard.
Jesse James's mother, Zerelda, chose the following words to serve as an epitaph on his gravestone: "In loving memory of my beloved son, murdered by a traitor and coward whose name is not worthy to appear here."
© Haydn Thompson 2017