A deep investigation into historical documents that prove the notorious outlaw Jesse James faked his own death
âą Presents the legend of Jesse James and counters it with the real story, based on family records
âą Provides photographic evidence, a journal of Jesse Jamesâs, and historical records that prove James faked his death, verified by experts and civic authorities
âą Debunks the 1995 DNA test results of Jamesâs supposed remains
The story of the notorious outlaw Jesse Jamesâs assassination at the hands of Robert Ford has been clouded with mystery ever since its inception. Now, Jamesâs great-great-grandchildren Daniel and Teresa Duke present the results of more than 20 years of exhaustive research into state and federal records, photographs, newspaper reports, diaries, and a 1995 DNA test in search of the truth behind Jesse Jamesâs demise.
Explaining how the accepted version of the history of Jesse James is wrong, the authors confirm their familyâs oral tradition that James faked his own death in 1882 and lived out his remaining days in Texas. They methodically unravel the legend surrounding his death, with evidence vetted by qualified experts and civic authorities. They share the journal of their great-great-grandfather, kept from 1871 to 1876 and verified to be written in Jamesâs handwriting. They reveal forensically confirmed photographs of James before and after his supposed killing, including one of James attending his own funeral. Examining Jamesâs life both before and after his faked death, they provide an account of where he lived and who he associated with, including his interactions with secret societies. They compare the contradictory newspaper reports of Jamesâs death with accounts by his family and associates, which support that the man buried as James was actually his cousin, and reveal how James tricked authorities into believing he had been killed.
Further supporting their claim, the authors debunk the DNA test results of the exhumation of Jamesâs body in 1995. The Dukes detail the ways in which the test was fraudulent, an assertion supported by the deputy counselor for Clay County at the time of the testing. Backed by a wealth of evidence, the descendants of Jesse James conclusively prove what really happened to Americaâs Robin Hood.