Random Bizarre Saga Of When Jesse James's Corpse Went On A Cross-Country Tour (13 items)

• 

  (#2) The James-Younger Gang Earned Public Support In Missouri For Loyalty To The Confederacy

  The James-Younger Gang is credited with murdering anyone that interfered with its crime spree, during which members of the gang robbed nearly two dozen banks and trains. They reportedly pocketed $200,000. And while you would think the bandits would be hated for their crimes, fellow Missourians supported the James-Younger Gang for their loyalty to the confederacy.
• 

  (#3) Even In His Own Lifetime, James Was A Larger-Than-Life Outlaw Legend Known Around The Country

  
• 

  (#7) His Tales Were Retold (And Exaggerated) in Serials Not Long After His Death

  
• 

  (#13) The Ford Brothers Reenacted James's Death To Loathing Audiences

  While the governor of Missouri pardoned Robert Ford for killing Wood Hite and Jesse James, Ford didn't get the full $10,000 reward, and was publicly looked down upon for murdering James.

  Strapped for cash and on the outs with society, Robert and his brother Charley thought they could make money reenacting the shooting of James as a live theater performance. Audiences were unkind to the brothers, booing them during shows. Charley struggled following Jesse's death, battling health problems and morphine addiction. He was also scared Frank James, Jesse's brother, would try to find them and avenge his brother's death. Charley committed suicide on May 4, 1884.
• 

  (#8) Jesse's Widow And Her Landlord Charged Admission To The House In Which Jesse Died

  Following James's assassination, his widow, Zerelda, was faced with raising their children, Jesse Edwards, 6, and Mary Susan, 2, by herself.  In order to support the family, she sold some of her and Jesse's belongings, including their dog. She also charged curious members of the public 10 cents to visit their rented home in St. Joseph, Missouri. In addition to buying items from Jesse's widow, people stole what they could for souvenirs, including chunks of the fence, house, and surrounding buildings.

  The house's owner, Henrietta Saltzman, moved into the home a few weeks after Jesse's death in order to profit off its notoriety. Her tourist attraction included over 50 bullet holes, despite the fact that only one bullet struck Jesse, and it remained in his brain until it was removed during an autopsy. Saltmzan reportedly made $1,500 from her scheme.
• 

  (#12) Some, Including His Great Grandson, Believe James Faked His Death To Escape The Outlaw Life

  Jesse James's great-grandson, Jesse James IV, believed Jesse faked his death and lived a long life incognito. He claims Jesse changed his name to J. Frank Dalton, and used a number other aliases, to keep his true identity a secret. Jesse James IV told reporters in 1995 that Dalton/James supported himself by working on railroads, in mines, and at cattle ranches.

  Dalton died in 1951, and was buried in Granbury, Texas. His headstone claimed the deceased was Jesse Woodson James, who died "August 15, 1951. Supposedly killed in 1882." If Dalton was, in fact, Jesse James, he would have lived until the age of 107.

  In 1995, the remains buried under the presumption of belonging to Jesse James were exhumed, and their DNA compared to that of living maternal relatives of his. Though the study wasn't 100% conclusive, the remains in question most likely belong to James, ruling out the possibility of him faking his death. 

New Random Displays    Display All By Ranking