The Hoax That Let Jesse James Live

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More than a century ago, Jesse James was America’s most notorious outlaw, viewed as either a demon or an avenging angel due to the Civil War. On April 3, 1882, in Saint Joseph, Missouri, Robert Ford shot an unarmed Jesse in the back of the head while he was adjusting a picture on the wall. Although Ford was arrested and labeled a coward, he was pardoned. Meanwhile, Jesse’s brother, Frank James, was rumored to be seeking revenge. However, their eventual meeting was anticlimactic, resulting in a handshake rather than violence. Frank later surrendered to the governor and lived out his life without consequences for his crimes. Decades later, in 1948, a newspaper claimed that Jesse James was alive, based on the assertions of an old man named J. Frank Dalton. Dalton alleged that he had survived the assassination and that the death of Jesse was an elaborate ruse. He claimed to be involved with the Knights of the Golden Circle, a pro-Confederate group. Among those intrigued was Ola Mae Everhard, who believed she was related to Jesse. After meeting Dalton and establishing a bond, she aimed to publish a manuscript proving his identity as Jesse James. After Dalton's death in 1951, Ola’s notes were passed to her husband, who entrusted them to Bud Hardcastle. For over 40 years, Bud has researched the truth, uncovering significant archaeological evidence linking Jesse James to the Knights of the Golden Circle.