Fellow gang member Bob Ford, who betrayed Jesse James for a monetary reward, shot the infamous American criminal to death.
For 16 years, robberies and murders were committed by Jesse and his brother, Frank, across the Midwest. Detective magazines and pulpy novels elevated the image of the James gang to that of mythical Robin Hoods, suggesting their criminality stemmed from the actions of unscrupulous landowners and bankers. In truth, Jesse James was a cold-blooded killer who engaged in theft solely for his own gain.
When the Civil War erupted, the teenage James brothers aligned with southern guerrilla leaders. They were involved in massacres targeting settlers and troops associated with the North. Once the war concluded, the appeal of a peaceful farming life from their youth faded, prompting them to embark on a life of crime. Jesse’s inaugural bank robbery took place on February 13, 1866, in Liberty, Missouri.
In the subsequent years, numerous bank robberies across western Missouri linked the James brothers to criminal activities. Nevertheless, many locals showed sympathy towards the former southern guerrillas and endorsed the brothers. During the late 1860s and early 1870s, the James gang engaged in just a few bank heists each year, maintaining a relatively low profile otherwise.
The year 1873 marked the James gang’s entry into train robbery. In one robbery, the gang chose not to rob southerners of their money or valuables. The train heists prompted the involvement of the Pinkerton Detective Agency, tasked with apprehending the James gang. However, a failed assassination attempt by the Pinkerton operatives led to a woman and her child being injured, generating public sympathy for both Jesse and Frank James.
In 1876, the gang encountered a major setback during their raid on Northfield, Minnesota. The Younger brothers, related to the James brothers, suffered injuries while attempting the bold midday robbery. After separating from Jesse and Frank, the Younger brothers were caught by a large posse and sentenced to life imprisonment. Meanwhile, Jesse and Frank successfully escaped and fled to Tennessee to seek refuge.
After a few peaceful years spent farming, Jesse reformed a new gang. Among the new members were Charlie and Robert Ford, who harbored deep resentment for Jesse and plotted to kill him for the reward money. On April 3, while Jesse’s mother prepared breakfast, he met with the new gang to discuss his next robbery plan. As Jesse turned his back to adjust a picture on the wall, Bob Ford shot him multiple times in the back.
His tombstone bears the inscription, “Jesse W. James, Died April 3, 1882, Aged 34 years, 6 months, 28 days, Murdered by a traitor and a coward whose name is not worthy to appear here.”
