Frank and Jesse James

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To some, he was a Robin Hood, a figure of righteous retribution; to others, he was the devil incarnate, a bloodthirsty killer. The contrasting views of Jesse James stem from the blurred line between Civil War guerrilla bands and the lawlessness of the Old West. The legend of the James brothers began in 1866 with the first successful peacetime daylight bank robbery. Their criminal careers spanned sixteen years, ending with Jesse's death in 1882 at the hands of Bob and Charlie Ford during a robbery plot. Frank James was never captured but eventually surrendered to the governor of Missouri. The exploits of the James gang have since become legendary. This account details the lives of the James brothers during the Civil War, their notorious years, and the lives of those who survived Jesse. Ted Yeatman’s thorough research over twenty-five years involved reviewing materials across several states and uncovering previously unpublished items, including Pinkerton letters related to the firebombing of the James farm in 1875 and overlooked documents in the National Archives about their banditry. Yeatman also participated in the 1995 exhumation and forensic examination of Jesse's remains. The result is a well-documented narrative that appeals to both newcomers and those familiar with the James brothers, featuring numerous unpublished illustrations and photographs.