The James Gang: Before Joe Walsh
By Bob Ford Special to
Editor’s Note: This column contains graphic descriptions of Jesse James’ murders.
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How much distance in the saddle could the James Gang cover in one day? At times they would travel 30, 40 or 50 miles to get to their target.
As you may know, I frequent Civil War battlefields. For years I would meet my old friend Bob Maxey, who didn’t make it through COVID, RIP Bob. He always set up exceptional guides that shared the passion.
On our final trip, we were meeting in Corinth, Mississippi, to tour the Shiloh Battlefield, 15 miles to the north. The escort chosen on this adventure was Woody Harrell, who seemed like an unassuming fellow until he revealed himself to be the recently retired Superintendent of the Shiloh and Corinth National Battlefields, in other words, “the man.” He had a great slow draw and charm about him that has led to a nice friendship and several podcasts.
We got in a car, left Corinth for the short drive to the battlefield, which was along the same trails taken by the 40,000 attacking Confederate troops on April 5, 1862. In the car Woody blurted out, “I can’t believe I’m in a car with Bob Ford from St. Joseph, Missouri!”
Well, that was nice, I have interviewed several Civil War “experts,” in different states. Thinking someone must have dropped my name, I was feeling pretty good … nope!
Woody continued, “The James Gang came to Corinth, Mississippi, and robbed our largest bank in 1874 and Bob Ford, that dirty little coward, killed Jesse in St. Jo!” With my ego now properly deflated, he knew my name and city because of Jesse James.
I was stunned that Jesse and the boys rode this far and robbed a bank in the deep south. Part of the mystique about Jesse depicted in newspapers justified his thievery as “liberating” for confiscating southern money from Yankee banks? There were no Yankee dollars in Corinth I assure you.
The Tishomingo Savings was the only bank in northern Mississippi at the time and it was loaded. Jesse and his five comrades rode up to their front door on the morning of Dec. 7, 1874, while court was in session down the street. Alonza Taylor, the owner and president, had never been robbed before. The small lobby was nearly vacant when Jesse and two others entered to make their withdrawal. With guns drawn and threats made, Taylor refused to open the vault. Jesse pulled out his bowie knife and cut the president’s forehead, letting blood flow into his eyes.
The gang escaped with $15,000 in cash, diamonds and gold jewelry, it was a big haul.
A job like that takes time and preparation. The day before the robbery they rode into Corinth and had all their horses shod, knowing some hard riding was about to come. The raiders had stayed as polite paying guests in several farms on their way down. They professed to be cattle buyers as they had in the past and would in the future.
The James-Younger Gang took part in many criminal firsts.
Shortly after the end of the war on Feb. 13, 1866, Frank James and friends rode up to the Clay County Savings Association on the square in Liberty, Missouri, and committed the first daylight robbery of a bank in the United States. No doubt nervous, the gang left the bank with the loot when someone started shooting. Unfortunately a stray bullet hit and killed William Jewell College student George “Jolly’’ Wymore who was across the square.
People in Liberty recognized members of the gang but didn’t come forward out of fear. Frank and his band got away with over $60,000 in cash and bonds. Not a bad day’s work, Jesse would soon join and the legend was off on a gallop.
Another first occurred just outside Adair, Iowa, July 21, 1873, when the gang masterfully planned to rob a scheduled train. They derailed the Chicago Rock Island & Pacific engine and coal car by stealing a spike-bar and hammer, allowing the robbers to pull out spikes on a curve, forcing the moving train off the tracks and into a ravine. The engineer was killed and the fireman later died from his injuries, but the gold shipment that was speculated to be on board was not. The second best option was to rob the traumatized passengers, which happened with minimal success.
By now, the James-Younger Gang had a following. Some newspapers and dime novels added to the legend because it was the wild west and people loved reading about shootouts, posses and good versus evil. Especially if evil had a hint of justification.
Going back to 1871, the Pinkerton Detective Agency had been hired by railroads, banks, freight haulers and mining companies to bring in the James Gang dead or alive. They failed miserably for years, adding to the outlaw’s legacy.
Once an agent, Jack Ladd disguised himself as a field worker on Dan Askew’s farm that neighbored the James homestead near Kearney, hoping to spot the brothers. Thinking they were back, the Pinkerton’s surrounded the James house at midnight, hurling two explosive devices into the kitchen window. The explosion could be heard for miles as the attackers listened to the groans and screams coming from inside.
As day broke, Archie Samuel, Jesse’s 9-year-old step brother, was killed by the blasts and the right arm of Jesse’s mother had been “blown to bits,” causing it to be amputated a short time later. It’s not known whether Jesse or Frank were even in the state!
Later that year, at separate times, Pinkerton detective Jack Ladd and farmer Dan Askew were both found with bullet holes in the back of their heads.
Newspapers jumped all over the story, adding to the James’ growing lore with sympathy.
Towards the end, the gang had been lucky and stolen a lot of money. As with most successful ventures, they planned on pressing their luck just one more time and then lead a quiet law-abiding life … after a visit to Northfield, Minnesota.
