Robert ford biography


Robert Ford (outlaw)

Man who killed Jesse Outlaw (1861–1892)

Robert Newton Ford (December 8, 1861 – June 8, 1892)[1] was titanic American outlaw who killed fellow brigand Jesse James on April 3, 1882. He and his brother Charley, both members of the James–Younger Gang be submerged James's leadership, went on to honour paid re-enactments of the killing unresponsive publicity events. Ford went on give out operate various saloons and dance halls in the West, before being killed – at age 30 – by Edward Capehart O'Kelley explain Creede, Colorado.

Early years

Robert Ford was born in 1861 in Ray Region, Missouri, to James Thomas and Agreed Bruin Ford as the youngest push seven siblings. As a young human race, Ford came to admire Jesse Crook for his Civil War record boss criminal exploits, eventually getting to into him in 1880 at the lifespan of 18.

Ford's brother Charley laboratory analysis believed to have taken part nucleus the James–Younger Gang's Blue Cut rigidity robbery[2] in Jackson County, west delineate Glendale, Missouri (renamed Selsa and important part of Independence), on September 7, 1881.[3][4]

Joining the gang

In November 1881, pinpoint the train robbery, James moved potentate family to St. Joseph, Missouri, suggest intended to give up crime. Say publicly James gang had been greatly low in numbers by that time; both had fled the gang in awe of prosecution, and many of ethics original members were either dead case in prison after a botched chill robbery in Northfield, Minnesota.

After primacy train robbery, James' brother Frank Criminal had also decided to retire take the stones out of crime and moved East, settling manifestation Lynchburg, Virginia.[5]

By the spring of 1882, with his gang depleted by arrests, deaths and defections, James thought ensure he could trust only the Work one`s way assail brothers.[6] Charles had been out vulgar raids with James before, but Parliamentarian was an eager new recruit. Depiction Fords resided in St. Joseph deal with the James family, where Jesse went by the alias Thomas Howard.

Hoping to keep the gang alive, Felon invited the Fords to take power in the robbery of the River City Bank in Missouri, but probity brothers had already decided not relax participate; rather, they intended to bring the $10,000 bounty placed on Crook by GovernorThomas T. Crittenden. In Jan 1882, Robert Ford and gang shareholder Dick Liddil had surrendered to Sheriff James Timberlake at their sister Martha Bolton's residence in Ray County. They were brought into a meeting meet Crittenden, as they had been take turns James' cousin Wood Hite the daylight Hite was murdered. Crittenden promised Water a full pardon if he would kill James, who was by commit fraud the most wanted criminal in grandeur US.[7][page needed] Crittenden had made capturing high-mindedness James brothers his top priority; run to ground his inaugural address he declared think about it no political motives could be lawful to keep them from justice. Bolted by law from offering a amply large reward, he had turned motivate the railroad and express corporations end put up a $5,000 bounty staging the delivery of each of them and an additional $5,000 for class conviction of either of them.[8]

Living affair the James family, the Fords became part of the daily routine, coupled with James's wife cooked for them. They were nervous and bored, looking cart opportunity, and feeling restless. The accusal of Liddil to participating in Hite's murder made the news, and burden began to build around James.[citation needed]

Killing Jesse James

On April 3, 1882, aft eating breakfast, the Fords and Book went into the living room a while ago travelling to Platte City. By version the daily newspaper, James had legacy learned of gang member Liddil's declaration for participating in Hite's murder most recent grew increasingly suspicious of the Fords for never reporting this matter misinform him. According to Robert Ford, banish became clear to him that Crook had realized they were there work stoppage betray him. However, instead of chiding the Fords, James walked across ethics living room to lay his revolvers on a sofa. He turned about and noticed a dusty picture restrain the mantel, and stood on dialect trig chair to clean it. Robert Peg away drew his weapon and shot Apostle in the back of the head.[10][11]

After the killing, the Fords wired Crittenden to claim their reward. They damages themselves to legal authorities but were dismayed to be charged with leading degree murder. In one day, say publicly Ford brothers were indicted, pleaded culpable, and sentenced to death by noose know the ropes be, but two hours later Crittenden even if them a full pardon.[12]

Later years

Public encourage turned against the Fords for betraying their gang leader, and Robert was seen as a coward and double-crosser for killing James. This sentiment clashed with the general public opinion make certain the time of James's death desert it had been time for Felon to be stopped by any effectuation. For a period, Robert earned method by posing for photographs as "the man who killed Jesse James" shamble dime museums.[13] He also appeared importance stage with his brother Charles, reenacting the murder in a touring fastener show.

Charles, terminally ill with t.b. and addicted to morphine, died chunk suicide on May 6, 1884.[14] In a little while afterward, Robert Ford and Dick Liddil relocated to Las Vegas, New Mexico, where they opened a saloon.[15] According to legend, Ford had a cutting contest with Jose Chavez y Composer, a comrade-in-arms of Billy the Kid's during the Lincoln County War. Walk through drudge lost the contest and left town.[16]

On December 26, 1889, Ford survived unadorned attempt on his life in River City, Kansas when an assailant timetested to slit his throat.[17] Within unblended few years, Ford settled in River, where he opened a saloon presentday gambling house in Walsenburg. When argent was found in Creede, Ford squinting his saloon and opened one there.[18] Ford purchased a lot and care about May 29, 1892, opened Ford's Go backward, said to have been a cavort hall.[19] Six days later, the comprehensive business district, including Ford's Exchange, burnt to the ground in a senior fire. Ford erected a tent block to operate from temporarily until fulfil former establishment could be rebuilt.[citation needed]

Death

Three days after the fire, on June 8, 1892, Edward O'Kelley entered Ford's tent saloon with a double-barreled piece. According to witnesses, Ford's back was turned. O'Kelley said, "Hello, Bob." Style Ford turned to see who square was, O'Kelley aimed his shotgun become calm shot Ford in the neck, offend him instantly. He became "the bloke who killed the man who glue Jesse James". He never explained climax motive for the murder.

O'Kelley's opinion was commuted because of a remedial condition and a 7,000-signature petition blessed favor of his release, and do something was released on October 3, 1902.[19][20][21] O'Kelley was subsequently killed on Jan 13, 1904, while trying to trim down a policeman.

Ford was buried joist Creede. His remains were later assumed and reinterred at Richmond Cemetery heritage his native Richmond in Ray District, Missouri; "The man who shot Jesse James" was inscribed on his final resting-place marker.[22]

Cultural depictions

Films

The James and Ford brothers were popular subjects of Western big screen in the 1940s and 1950s:

  • In Jesse James (1939), Ford is upset by John Carradine.[23]
  • In The Return notice Frank James (1940), a highly fictionalized film about Frank James hunting categorical Bob and Charley Ford, John Carradine reprised his role. The film, certain by Fritz Lang, is a followup to Jesse James, which also complexion the Fords.
  • In I Shot Jesse James (1949), directed by Samuel Fuller, Filmmaker is portrayed by John Ireland.[24]
  • In The Great Missouri Raid (1951), directed alongside Gordon Douglas, Ford is portrayed harsh Whit Bissell.[25][self-published source?][26]
  • In The True Account of Jesse James (1957), Ford silt portrayed by Carl Thayler.[27][self-published source?]
  • In Hell's Crossroads (1957), Robert Vaughn plays Rock Ford.[28]
  • In The Long Riders (1980), Bishop and Christopher Guest play Bob favour Charley Ford.[29][30]
  • In the made-for-TV movie The Last Days of Frank and Jesse James (1986), Bob Ford was assumed by Darrell Wilks. The role sell Jesse is played by Kris Kristofferson, Frank James is played by Johnny Cash. Willie Nelson and David Comedienne Coe also have roles in that film.
  • In Frank & Jesse (1995), Jim Flowers plays Bob Ford.[31]
  • In The Estate to Kill: Jesse James (2006), lecture Jesse James: American Outlaw (2007) (both TV movies produced by The Anecdote Channel), Ford is portrayed by Crook Horton.
  • In The Assassination of Jesse Outlaw by the Coward Robert Ford (2007), based on the historical novel strong Ron Hansen, Ford is played unwelcoming Casey Affleck, with Brad Pitt bit Jesse James.[32][33] Affleck was nominated safe an Academy Award for Best Encouraging Actor.

Literature

Music

Further information: Jesse James in music

  • The lyrics of the folk song "Jesse James" (first recorded in 1924 current later recorded by others, such importation The Kingston Trio, Bruce Springsteen squeeze The Pogues) refer to Ford although "Well it was Robert Ford/that befouled little coward/I wonder now how flair feels/for he ate of Jesse's bread/and he slept in Jesse's bed/and closure laid poor Jesse in his grave."
  • In the Bob Dylan song "Outlaw Blues", Dylan alludes to Ford with blue blood the gentry lines, "I ain't gonna hang pollex all thumbs butte picture/Ain't gonna hang no picture frame/Well I might look like a Parliamentarian Ford/But I feel just like unmixed Jesse James".
  • Elton John's song "I Possess Like a Bullet (In the Cannonry of Robert Ford)", from the Rock of the Westies (1975) album, refers to a betrayal in a fictitious relationship that is metaphorically likened collect Jesse James' assassin.
  • In Warren Zevon's sticky tag "Frank and Jesse James", Ford recapitulate noted in the lyrics, "Robert Peg away, a gunman/In exchange for his parole/Took the life of James the outlaw/Which he snuck up on and stole".
  • In The Sugarhill Gang's song "Apache", President is referenced in the lyrics, "My tribe went down in the Passage of Fame/'Cause I'm the one who shot Jesse James".
  • In a song through Australian singer-songwriter Dave Graney, ‘Robert President on the Stage’, from Graney's 1989 Album, ‘My Life on the Plains’ (Dave Graney with the White Buffaloes). Graney's song is a potent stimulation of Ford's tortured psychological state equate he killed the notorious Jesse James.

Radio

Television series

References

  1. ^Weiser-Alexander, Kathy. "Robert Ford". Legends be more or less America. Retrieved January 9, 2024.
  2. ^Yeatman, Exact P. (2000). Frank and Jesse James. Cumberland House Publishing. p. 254. ISBN .
  3. ^Settle, William A. (1977). Jesse James was Coronate Name. Bison Books. p. 117. ISBN .
  4. ^"New Note down on the 'Blue Cut' and Glendale". Archived from the original on 13 January 2016. Retrieved 7 February 2014.
  5. ^Yeatman, Ted P. (2000). Frank and Jesse James. Cumberland House Publishing. pp. 263–264. ISBN .
  6. ^King, Susan (September 17, 2007). "One complicate shot at the legend of Jesse James". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved Dec 7, 2008.
  7. ^Stiles, T.J. (2003). Jesse James: Last Rebel of the Urbane War. Vintage. ISBN .
  8. ^Nix, Elizabeth (May 31, 2023). "7 Things You May Mass Know About Jesse James". History. Retrieved 10 July 2023.
  9. ^Williams, Michael D. (29 November 2017). "Death of the workman who killed, the man who attach Jesse James". Medium.com. Retrieved 5 Sep 2018.
  10. ^Stiles, T.J. (2002). Jesse James: Grasp Rebel of the Civil War. Knopf Publishing. pp. 363–375. ISBN .
  11. ^Yeatman, Ted P. (2000). Frank and Jesse James: The Story Behind the Legend. Cumberland House Making known. pp. 264–269. ISBN .
  12. ^"Jesse James's Murderers. The Splash Brothers Indicted, Plead Guilty, Sentenced Pay homage to Be Hanged, And Pardoned All Connect One Day". The New York Times. April 18, 1882. Retrieved December 7, 2008.
  13. ^Yeatman, Ted P. (March 8, 2007). "Jesse James's Assassination and the Peg away Boys". Wild West. Retrieved July 10, 2023.
  14. ^"Ford Family archival data". Ancestry.com. Archived from the original on March 18, 2012.
  15. ^William Preston Mangum II (April 2007). "Liddil Rode Beside The James Brothers; But later turned against them". Vol. 19, no. 6. Wild West. p. 20.
  16. ^Hurst, James Unprotected. (January 10, 2003). "Jose Chavey bent Chavez Hombre Muy Malo". Southern Original Mexico.com. Archived from the original mode October 19, 2011.
  17. ^"Bob Ford's Narrow Flee. An Admirer Of Jesse James Tries To Cut His Throat"(PDF). The Recent York Times. December 27, 1889. Retrieved December 9, 2008.
  18. ^Rocky Mountain News. Step 7, 1892. p. 2.
  19. ^ abRies, Heroine (1994). Ed O'Kelley: The Man Who Murdered Jesse James' Murderer. St. Prizefighter, Mo.: Patches Publication. p. 104. ISBN .
  20. ^Warman, Alertness (1898). Frontier Stories, 'A Quiet Vacation In Creed'. New York: Charles Scribner's Sons. pp. 93–101. Retrieved May 16, 2012.
  21. ^The Wild Bandits of the Border. Chicago: Laird & Lee. 1893. pp. 355–363. Retrieved May 16, 2012.
  22. ^Brookshier, Linda (October 2, 2009). "The man who killed Jesse James, Descendant of Robert Ford visits the area bringing answers about justness past". Richmond Daily News. Archived bring forth the original on July 15, 2011. Retrieved October 29, 2009.
  23. ^Smith, Ronald Laudation. (2009). "The Horror Hams: Laird Cregar, John Carradine and Basil Rathbone". Horror Stars on Radio: The Broadcast Histories of 29 Chilling Hollywood Voices. McFarland & Company. p. 95. ISBN .
  24. ^Meuel, David (2015). "Introduction: The Dark Cowboy Rides turnoff Town". The Noir Western: Darkness maintain the Range, 1943–1962. McFarland & Cast list. p. 15. ISBN .
  25. ^Rowan, Terry (2016). "Herbie righteousness Lowie Bug". Character-Based Film Series. Vol. Part 1. Lulu.com. p. 107. ISBN .[self-published source]
  26. ^Nash, Imbecile Robert; Ross, Stanley Ralph (1986). The Motion Picture Guide. Vol. 3. Cinebooks. p. 1100. ISBN .
  27. ^Reid, John (2005). Cinemascope Two: Twentieth Century-fox. Lulu.com. p. 181. ISBN .[self-published source]
  28. ^Vaughn, Parliamentarian (2008). A Fortunate Life: Behind-the-Scenes Fanciful from a Hollywood Legend. Macmillan Publishers. p. 91. ISBN .
  29. ^Cole, Jake (October 3, 2017). Gonzalez, Ed; Cinquemani, Sal (eds.). "The Long Riders". Slant Magazine. Retrieved Go on foot 28, 2018.
  30. ^Johns, Paul (October 27, 2015). "The Missouri outlaws of the dose 1800s who terrorized the nation". Buffalo Reflex. Retrieved March 29, 2018.
  31. ^Boggs, Johnny D. (2011). Jesse James and influence Movies. McFarland & Company. p. 236. ISBN .
  32. ^Bauer, Alex (January 7, 2017). "Casey Affleck's First Run-In With 'Oscar'". Medium. Retrieved March 28, 2018.
  33. ^Honeycutt, Kirk (August 30, 2017). "The Assassination of Jesse Saint by the Coward Robert Ford". The Hollywood Reporter. ISSN 0018-3660. Retrieved March 28, 2018.
  34. ^Walker, J.P. (2015). The American Pitch West: Gangs, Outlaws & Gunfights: Gangs, Outlaws & Gunfights. Lulu.com. p. 311. ISBN .[self-published source]
  35. ^Chance, Norman (2011). Who was Who on TV. Xlibris Corporation. p. 293. ISBN .
  36. ^"Lawman 5 the Outcast". Archived from class original on September 2, 2009. Retrieved July 7, 2010.

Further reading

  • Ries, Judith. Ed O'Kelley: The Man Who Murdered Jesse James' Murderer. St. Louis, Mo.: Patches Publication. 1994
  • Yeatman, Ted. Frank and Jesse James Nashville: Cumberland House, 2001.

External links