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The true story of Jesse James and sonNot until the elder James was shot did the younger James know his true identity. After Bob Ford shot James on April 3, 1882, at their St. Joseph home, the son grabbed a gun and started to shoot the Ford brothers.By Donna Biddle Of The ExaminerWhen Jesse Edwards James was just a lad, he knew of himself only as Tim Howard and his father, the legendary outlaw Jesse James, only as Tom Howard.One day the young James boy was out riding with his father and the discussion turned to the Quan-trill gang. The lad was fascinated that his father knew the gang members. At dinner that night, still entranced with the subject, he asked his father, “Did you ever know Jesse James?”The boy’s quick-thinking mom answered first, addressing her husband, “Tom, you did meet Jesse James once or twice, didn’t you?“Oh yes,” the outlaw told his son. “He always seemed a nice person to me.”Not until the elder James was shot did the younger James know his true identity. After Bob Ford shot James on April 3, 1882, at their St. Joseph home, the son grabbed a gun and started to shoot the Ford brothers.His mother stopped him. “I’ve lost one Jesse, I’m not gonna lose two.”Stories such as these, California Superior Judge James R. Ross well remembers hearing from his grandfather, the younger Jesse James. He told the stories Thursday during the opening session of the National Association for Outlaw and Lawman History.The association, affiliated with the University of Wyoming, concludes its convention Saturday night with a banquet for descendants of Jesse James and Bob Ford.Ross recounted a scene from a popular movie of the James family and told the audience, “If you think that’s the real story, you can leave the room. But that’s what we’ve had to live through.“I’m going to tell you the real story of Jesse Edwards James. ”Jesse Edwards James was born Aug. 1, 1875, near Nashville. At a time when names typically were carried through several generations, the name Edwards was a departure from family tradition.Ross says it happened this way: Although the family was living in Tennessee at the time, the outlaw Jesse James always wanted his son to be bom in Missouri.At one point during his wife’s pregnancy, she was visiting in Kansas City. Well, a rumor started circulating that Jesse was in town. Authorities surrounded the Kansas City home.Although Jesse wasn’t in the house, Major John Edwards was. Edwards confronted the lawmen, identified himself, told the lawmen they could shoot him if they wanted and denied that James was in the house.The lawmen dispersed, loiter when Edwards and Jesse were together, Jesse told Edwards he would name his son after him. “Jesse, that would be an honor,” Edwards said.From the time he was 1 year old until the time he was married, he lived with his grandfather, the younger Jesse James, Ross says. And even after he was married, Ross says, he lived about a mile away until his grandfather’s death about two years after his marriage.“He always used the name Jesse James. He didn't try to hide. That’s a little different from the movie, hiding out for 15 years,” says Ross. “But that’s Hollywood.”His grandfather, Ross says, had to quit school to put his sister, Mary, through high school. His first real job was at 11 years old, working for the son of Gov. T.T. Crittenden, who had posted the reward for the capture of his father.Then on Sept. 23, 1893, another train was robbed. Authorities obtained a confession from a man who said the leader of the gang that robbed the train was Jesse James.Bail was posted and many witnesses came forward identifying the whereabouts of James far from the robbery site.The jury was out 45 minutes, took one vote and acquitted James of the robbery.“I don’t want to imply my grand-fater was a saint,” says Ross. “He was an extremely pampered and spoiled individual. But on the other hand he was the breadwinner.“He did not drink, smoke or chew.”Around the time that Ross’s parents were married, the family went for a drive with Jesse James and decided to stop for a drink. Ross’s father, a drinking man, was excited. He was ready to imbibe a bit of whiskey.“My grandfather stopped at Swope Park and went over to a drinking fountain and had a drink.” Perhaps because of the trial, James decided to go to law school, Ross says. He pulled out James’s certificate from the Kansas City School of I^aw, dated May 31, 1907. “Summa Cum I^aude,” it said.Ross said James practiced law in the Kaasas City area for 13 years. Many were criminal cases in which
Newspaper Details
Independence Examiner
Independence, Missouri, US
Fri, Jul 24, 1987
Page 1
Full Page
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Joplin P.
MO, USA 20 Sep 2024
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