The Durham daily globe. (Durham, N.C.) 1889-1894, 1892-02-19
BOB FORD ISN'T & A
The Man Who Killed Jesse James Wasn't
Shot,, After an.

Shot, After All
CREEDE, Col Feb 1S-Tbe report that
Bob Ford, the slayer of Jesse James, had
been shot and killed here, is false. Ford
is alive, and says he has not been engaged
10 any shooting ARRAYS for some time
Bob Ford, since he sprang into noto
riety by shooting the famous outlaw.
Jesse James. has been somewhat of a
"wcnder on the face of the earth" He
always said that he could no STAY away
from the familiar scenes of his old life in
the West, and lie knew that sooner or
later he would meet death at the muzzle
of a revolver.
Ford killed Jesse lanes April 3. 1882,
in a small frame shanty in the suburbs of
st. Joseph, Mo. James, who had long
been a fugitive from justice because Of
his daring train robberies and cattle STAN
peding, was in close hiding. Nobody
knew where he was except Bob and Char.
ley Ford, who were members If his band
and enjoyed the intimacy and confidence
of its chief.
The detectives had vainly tried to cap
ture him, and at last Governor Critten
den, OF Missouri, set a price of SO, 900 on
his lead. IG was for this that the Fords
killed him. They pretended to have come
in from a raid in a western county, and
sought shelter in Jesse James asylum.
FOr several days the three men lived to.
gether on good terms, and yet the oppor.
out his weapons, until, at last, one day
they were in the living room, and James,
who was rearrangiDg some articles of
furniture, took off his belt, and laid it,
with his pistols, on the bed. He climbed
on a chair and was dusling off a picture
when Bob Ford drew his pistol and sent
a bulle: thr ugh his head from behind.
The Frrds told what had been done
and gave themselves up to the. authori-
ties. The cold blooded and treacherous
murder, sanctioned as it was by the legal
reward, created the most profound SEN
sation throughout the West. At first it
was necessary to lock the murders in
Jail and put a large posse to protect them
from the popular fury. Jesse James was
deified in cheap literature and made a
hero of in the Dick Turpin, Cartouche
style, and t~r Il long time the Fords
were held''p TO popular ~execration.
Bob Ford was indicted and brought to
trial. He pleaded guilty and was
promptly convicted. Governor Critten-
den pardoned him in the court room. 1t
then leaked out that Crittenden had ar
ranged with Ford to kill the bandit
James. lie promised him $4,000 and a
pardon. The money was paid. Since
then Governor Crittenden has not been
heard Of in Missouri politics. 1t politi-
cally gave him his quietus.
The Fords went into theatrical ven
lures, and figured in a wild Western
drama, in which the scene Of the shoot
ing Of Jesse James was reproduced. Ii
was not a success, although it drew in
some of the cities, like Cincinnati and
Chicago, in the dime museum. Ford
used to tell his friends that he was a con.
sumptive and had not long to live, but
be was sure he would die with his boots
on, for all that. lie said II can't keep
away from the West. feel drawn back
there, and they despise me there now,
slice | got the drop on Jesse"
Strange to say, Frank James never at
tempted to avenge his brothers death,
converted from n desperate into a lie
5 ectable citizen in Kansas City.