Original subtitles

MY NAME IS JESSE JAMES,

AND THIS IS MY TRUE STORY AS IT'S NEVER BEEN TOLD.

WHAT THE HELL'S GOING ON OUT HERE?!

YOU STAND STILL, OR I'LL BLOW THE TOP OF YOUR DAMN HEAD OFF.

IF A SHOT IS FIRED FROM THIS CAR,

I WILL KILL THE CONDUCTOR!

WE'RE NOT THIEVES. WE ARE BOLD ROBBERS.

NOW, NOW, WHY DON'T YOU PASS ME THAT PISTOL?

JESSE JAMES WAS THE REBEL WHO NEVER SURRENDERED.

James: I WAS A SIMPLE SOUTHERN BOY, DRAWN INTO WAR

AND FORCED TO ANSWER VIOLENCE WITH VENGEANCE.

LATER, I FOUGHT FOR MY OWN CAUSE

AND HIT MY ENEMIES WHERE IT HURT THE MOST.

Gomber: THEY TOOK EVERYTHING THAT WASN'T NAILED DOWN,

AND IT WENT ON FOR YEARS.

James: I ELUDED THE NATION'S TOP DETECTIVES,

ONLY TO BE BETRAYED BY ONE OF MY OWN.

Hansen: JESSE MUST HAVE HEARD THE CLICKS...

[ GUN COCKS ] ...BUT DIDN'T TURN.

MA'AM. James: I AM A HERO TO SOME,

A VILLAIN TO OTHERS,

AND REMEMBERED BY ALL.

AND EVEN TODAY, PEOPLE NAME THEIR KIDS AFTER JESSE JAMES.

Bell: JESSE JAMES IS AN ICON BECAUSE ENOUGH PEOPLE BELIEVE

THAT WHAT HE WAS DOING WAS FOR A LOST CAUSE,

AND THAT HE REALLY DID HAVE POOR PEOPLE IN MIND

AND WANTED TO HELP THEM.

GOD BLESS YOU, AMERICA.

-- Captions by VITAC -- www.vitac.com

CAPTIONS PAID FOR BY DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS

Hansen: THERE WAS A FEELING THAT JESSE JAMES WAS PSYCHIC.

WE WOULD SAY HE HAD EYES IN THE BACK OF HIS HEAD,

THAT THERE WAS NO WAY

THAT YOU COULD KILL OR CAPTURE HIM ONE ON ONE,

AND EVEN A WHOLE GANG OF PERSONS COULDN'T DO IT.

THERE WAS A MYTH THAT HAD GROWN UP ABOUT HIM,

THAT HE WAS STRONGER, SMARTER, AND WAY TOO ALERT.

ALSO, THERE WAS A SENSE OF HIM ACTUALLY NOT SLEEPING.

HE WAS AN INSOMNIAC.

BUT THE REPUTATION WAS THAT HE JUST DIDN'T SLEEP,

SO THAT IF YOU TRIED TO SNEAK UP ON HIM,

YOU'D FIND HIM ALREADY AWAKE

AND SITTING THERE WITH A GUN IN HIS HAND.

James: NINE YEARS AFTER THE CIVIL WAR,

AMERICA IS STILL A DEEPLY DIVIDED NATION.

IN THE FORMER CONFEDERATE STATES,

OUR SOUTHERN PRIDE IS AS STRONG AS EVER.

BUT NOW IT IS TINGED WITH SHAME AND RESENTMENT.

THE SOUTH IS HUNGRY FOR A NEW SET OF HEROES,

PROUD REBELS WHO AREN'T AFRAID TO CHALLENGE

THE YANKEE STRANGLEHOLD ON OUR COMMERCE AND OUR FREEDOMS.

WE ARE THOSE HEROES.

Boessenecker: SOUTHERNERS REMEMBERED THE ANTEBELLUM PERIOD

AS A TIME OF GREAT HONOR AND GREAT CHIVALRY.

JESSE JAMES WAS A LIVING REMINDER OF THIS LOST CAUSE.

Hansen: HE WAS PERCEIVED AS A PERSON

WHO WAS CARRYING OUT, RIGHTFULLY, THE CIVIL WAR.

FOR HIM, THE CIVIL WAR NEVER ENDED,

AND FOR A LOT OF THOSE PEOPLE,

THEY THOUGHT THAT THEY CAPITULATED TOO SOON,

THAT THEY SHOULD HAVE CONTINUED.

SO THEY THOUGHT OF HIM AS THEIR CHAMPION.

James: WHILE THE OLD SOUTH IS LICKING ITS WOUNDS,

THE NEW WEST IS EMERGING AS A LAND OF OPPORTUNITY.

MY HOME STATE OF MISSOURI

LIES AT THE CROSSROADS OF THESE TWO WORLDS.

THOUSANDS OF MIGRANTS ARE FLOWING THROUGH

ON THEIR WAY WESTWARD FROM THE EAST AND EUROPE.

NEW TOWNS ARE POPPING UP,

AND RAILROADS ARE STRINGING THEM TOGETHER.

AND THAT MEANS MONEY IS FLOWING ON THE RAILS --

YANKEE MONEY.

Bell: IT WAS JUST TOO TEMPTING.

AND OF COURSE THE PEOPLE IN THE SOUTH HATED THE BANKS --

MOST OF THE BANKS --

'CAUSE THEY WERE OWNED BY YANKEES --

AND CERTAINLY THE RAILROADS.

AND SO THERE WAS NO LOVE LOST THERE.

ONE OF THE ADVANTAGES THAT JESSE AND FRANK HAD IS

THAT, AFTER THE ROBBERY, MOST OF THE PEOPLE DIDN'T CARE.

THEY WERE ACTUALLY KIND OF ROOTING FOR JESSE.

AND SO THAT WAS A HUGE ADVANTAGE FOR THEM.

James: NO ONE IS DOING MORE

TO DISRUPT THE YANKEES' POSTWAR BUSINESS INTERESTS

THAN US BOYS.

IN 1874, WE ARE AT THE TOP OF OUR GAME.

KNOWN FAR AND WIDE AS THE JAMES-YOUNGER GANG,

WE'RE NAMED FOR OUR TWO FOUNDING FAMILIES,

THE JAMESES -- ME AND MY BROTHER, FRANK --

AND THE FOUR YOUNGER BROTHERS -- COLE, JIM, JOHN, AND BOB.

TO OUR NEIGHBORS, WE ARE FREEDOM FIGHTERS,

A BAND OF ROBIN HOODS

CONTINUING THE GOOD FIGHT AGAINST THE YANKEES.

NOW, NOW, WHY DON'T YOU PASS ME THAT PISTOL,

YOU SON OF A BITCH?

IT'S NICE TO BE LOVED, BUT BETTER TO BE RICH.

SAFE KEY.

THAT'S RIGHT.

Gooch: I THINK THE GADS HILL ROBBERY

SHOWS HOW GOOD THEY COULD BE.

THEY HAD OBVIOUSLY SCOUTED THE PLACE WELL.

THEY PICKED AN EXCELLENT LOCATION --

A RURAL AREA, NO COMMUNICATION, NOT GONNA BE ANY INTERFERENCE.

THAT'S RIGHT, BILL. TAKE YOUR TIME.

WE'RE IN NO RUSH THIS AFTERNOON.

[ CHUCKLES ]

Gardner: THEIR PRIME VICTIM ARE EXPRESS COMPANIES,

LIKE THE ADAMS EXPRESS COMPANY, THE U.S. EXPRESS COMPANY,

BECAUSE THEY HAVE SAFES IN THE EXPRESS CARS.

AND THAT'S WHERE THE MONEY

THAT'S BEING TRANSFERRED ACROSS THE COUNTRY IS KEPT.

SO, THAT'S THE FIRST PLACE THEY HIT.

LADIES AND GENTLEMEN,

IF YOU HAD NOT ALREADY DETERMINED,

THIS IS A ROBBERY.

YOU COULD HELP US OUT RIGHT NOW BY SHOWING ME YOUR HANDS.

RIGHT NOW, SIR.

SOMETIMES, IF THERE'S NOT A LOT OF MONEY IN THE SAFE,

THE NEXT PLACE IS THE PASSENGERS.

UH-OH. GOT ONE.

Hansen: THEY GO THROUGH THE PASSENGER CAR,

ASK THEM TO SHOW THEIR HANDS

TO INDICATE WHETHER THEY'RE MANUAL LABORERS OR NOT,

USING THAT TO JUSTIFY

WHETHER THEY'RE GOING TO ROB THAT PERSON OR NOT.

SOMETIMES HE WOULD ASK THE QUESTION,

"WHO HERE IS A PREACHER'S SON?

WHO HERE FOUGHT IN THE CIVIL WAR?"

AND ASK FOR A SHOW OF HANDS.

AND "WHO'S A WIDOW OF A SOLDIER?"

AND WHEN THE HANDS WENT UP,

THEY WOULDN'T ROB FROM THAT PERSON.

LIGHTEN THE LOAD FOR THESE LADIES.

Gooch: EACH OF THEM WOULD HAVE CONDUCTED THEMSELVES DIFFERENT.

JESSE, BEING THE LIGHTHEARTED, DEVIL-MAY-CARE ONE,

HE WAS PROBABLY CRACKING JOKES WITH THE PEOPLE.

I ALWAYS THOUGHT THAT FRANK WAS THE MORE INTELLIGENT OF THE TWO.

HE HAD A VOLUME OF SHAKESPEARE

THAT HE ALWAYS CARRIED IN HIS SADDLEBAG.

HE COULD QUOTE SHAKESPEARE AT LENGTH.

"HENRY V" WAS HIS FAVORITE.

"AND THEN TO HORSE BEFORE DAY."

Boggs: THEY ARE VERY CONFIDENT. THEY ARE IN A JOVIAL MOOD.

SO, YOU CAN SEE A LITTLE BIT OF EGO STARTING TO WORK NOW,

A LITTLE BIT OF OVERCONFIDENCE.

AND IT'S GONNA COME BACK TO HAUNT JESSE JAMES.

Higginbotham: AT GADS HILL,

THEY ASKED IF THERE WAS A PINKERTON ON BOARD THE TRAIN.

YOU PINKERTON?

NO.

NO?

NO.

ANY OPPORTUNITY TO CORRAL OR CAPTURE A PINKERTON,

THAT WAS HIGH ON THE LIST OF THE JAMES YOUNGER GANG.

YOU GOT ANY TATTOOS? HMM?

NO, SIR.

GET HIM OUT OF HERE.

James: ALLAN PINKERTON AND HIS DETECTIVES

CLAIM TO BE THE BEST IN THE BUSINESS,

AND WE ARE AT THE TOP OF THEIR MOST-WANTED LIST,

BUT WE SEE RIGHT THROUGH THEM.

Bell: THEY KNEW THAT THERE WAS A PINKERTON AGENT ABOUT,

AND HIS NAME WAS WHICHER.

COME ON, NOW.

I WANT YOU TO TAKE THAT FANCY SUIT OFF.

AND THE RUMOR WAS

THAT HE HAD THOSE INITIALS -- J.W.W. --

TATTOOED ON HIS NECK.

SO, THEY FOUND ONE GUY WHO THEY THOUGHT WAS SUSPICIOUS,

AND THEY STRIPPED HIM NAKED.

FORTUNATELY FOR THE GUY,

THERE WERE NO TATTOO MARKS THERE,

BUT THEN THEY JUST LEFT HIM NAKED

THERE ON THE SIDE OF THE TRAIN.

Boggs: JESSE HANDS SOMEONE A PRESS RELEASE,

ANNOUNCING THAT THERE'S BEEN A GREAT ROBBERY AT GADS HILL.

JESSE JAMES.

James: I ALWAYS LIKED TO SAVE THE NEWSPAPER MEN A LITTLE TROUBLE

AND WRITE THE STORY FOR THEM.

"THE SOUTHBOUND TRAIN ON THE IRON MOUNTAIN RAILROAD

WAS ROBBED HERE THIS EVENING BY FIVE HEAVILY ARMED MEN."

Boggs: JESSE LOVED TO TOUT HIS OWN EXPLOITS.

YOU CAN IMAGINE A BANK ROBBER TODAY ROBBING A BANK,

AND, AS HE'S DRIVING AWAY,

HE'S PUTTING IT ON TWITTER AND FACEBOOK,

AND THAT'S THE KIND OF PERSON JESSE JAMES WAS.

"THERE IS A HELL OF AN EXCITEMENT

IN THIS PART OF THE COUNTRY."

Man: WHOO! YAHOO! [ CHUCKLES ]

YAHOO!

FOR US BOYS,

THE REWARDS OF ROBBERY FAR OUTWEIGH THE RISKS.

BUT THIS AIN'T ONLY ABOUT MONEY.

IT'S ABOUT RETRIBUTION.

WE GREW UP IN CLAY COUNTY, MISSOURI,

A REGION OF PROUD AND LOYAL CONFEDERATES,

HARD ON THE BORDER OF BLEEDING, KANSAS,

WHICH BECAME THE FIRST BATTLEGROUND

IN THE STRUGGLE TO DEFEND OUR WAY OF LIFE.

BY '63, MY OLDER BROTHER, FRANK,

HAD GONE OFF TO FIGHT FOR THE SOUTHERN CAUSE.

I WANTED TO GO, TOO, BUT AS I WAS ONLY 15,

I WAS HELD BACK TO WORK THE FARM WITH MY MOTHER, ZERELDA,

AND MY STEPFATHER, DR. REUBEN SAMUELS.

BY THIS TIME,

THE TIDE OF THE WAR WAS TURNING AGAINST THE CONFEDERACY,

AND FAMILIES LIKE OURS WERE CAUGHT IN THE CROSS HAIRS.

HEY, BOY.

WE'RE HUNTING THAT MURDEROUS REBEL DOG, FRANK JAMES.

RECKON HE'S AROUND HERE SOMEPLACE?

YOU'RE LOOKING IN THE WRONG PLACE.

[ SHOUTING INDISTINCTLY ]

Gooch: THEY HAD INFORMATION THAT FRANK WAS AT HOME.

WHERE ARE YOU --

AND APPARENTLY HE WAS CLOSE BY.

Man: ON YOUR KNEES.

GET UP! COME ON, YOU OLD...

DR. SAMUELS, OF COURSE, WOULD NOT TELL.

I'M GONNA ASK YOU AGAIN.

NO!

WHERE'S FRANK?

KISS MY ASS!

NO!

SO, THE STANDARD INTERROGATION METHOD AT THE TIME WAS

THAT THEY'D TIE A NOOSE AROUND HIS NECK,

THROW THE OTHER END OVER A LIMB,

HAUL HIM UP A COUPLE OF FEET, AND LET HIM KICK AWHILE.

[ GASPING ]

[ INDISTINCT SHOUTING ]

NO!

James: I HAD NEVER WITNESSED SUCH BRUTALITY AND HATRED BEFORE.

I BELIEVE THAT THAT WAS A SEMINAL MOMENT IN HIS LIFE.

James: AFTER THAT DAY,

THERE WAS NOTHING GONNA KEEP ME OFF THE BATTLEFIELD ANYMORE.

MY MIND WAS MADE UP.

I WAS GONNA FIND FRANK AND JOIN THE FIGHT.

BUT I HAD A SCORE TO SETTLE FIRST.

James: FOR 15 YEARS,

I, JESSE JAMES, LIVED PEACEFULLY ON MY FAMILY FARM.

BUT WHEN THE CIVIL WAR FOUND ME...

[ GUN COCKS ] ...I WAS PREPARED TO FIGHT IT.

PRAY...

IF YOU'VE EVER PRAYED IN YOUR LIFE,

'CAUSE YOU'VE ONLY GOT A MINUTE TO LIVE.

BRADLEY BOND WAS THE FIRST MAN I EVER KILLED.

HE WAS A UNION JAYHAWKER

AND A COWARD IF THERE EVER WAS ONE.

HE CAME ONTO OUR FARM TO INTIMIDATE OUR FAMILY,

BUT HE DIDN'T KNOW THE JAMESES.

IF SOMEONE ENDANGERS THE FAMILY, IF SOMEONE HARMS HIM,

OR SOMEONE GETS IN HIS WAY,

THEN HE IS GOING TO RETALIATE IMMEDIATELY.

[ GUN COCKS ]

OVER THE NEXT THREE YEARS,

I CAME OF AGE FIGHTING THE FEDERALS

WITH MY BROTHER, FRANK, AND THE BUSHWHACKERS.

FOR A TIME, "BLOODY BILL" ANDERSON WAS OUR LEADER.

IT WASN'T LONG BEFORE I UNDERSTOOD HIS NICKNAME.

Hansen: BLOODY BILL ANDERSON WAS THE WORST SORT OF GUERILLA...

HOLD UP, FELLAS.

...'CAUSE HE LOVED TO TORTURE.

HE WOULD CUT PEOPLE'S HEADS OFF.

HE WOULD CUT ELEMENTS OF THEIR BODIES APART.

HEY, ARE YOU ALL RIGHT?

[ GUNSHOTS ]

THERE WAS A MENTALITY THAT SPREAD AMONG THE GUERILLAS

THAT ALL RULES WERE OFF.

HEY, JESSE, THIS FELLA'S ABOUT YOUR SIZE.

AND SO I THINK THAT MUST HAVE INFUSED

THE CHARACTER OF JESSE JAMES.

James: THE TACTICS WE LEARNED IN THOSE RAIDS WITH BLOODY BILL

WOULD PROVE JUST AS USEFUL TO US IN OUR LATER POSTWAR PURSUITS.

Higginbotham: THEY WOULD RIDE IN VERY QUICKLY,

THEY WOULD ATTACK A NUMBER OF FEDERALS,

AND THEN THEY WOULD RIDE OUT VERY QUICKLY.

AND SO IT WAS VERY MUCH OF A STINGING-TYPE RAID --

GET IN, DO IT QUICKLY, AND THEN GET BACK OUT.

Gooch: THEIR FAVORITE ARM WAS THE REVOLVER.

NOW, YOU TAKE A UNION TROOPER -- PROBABLY HAS A REVOLVER ON HIM,

PROBABLY HAS A SINGLE-SHOT CARBINE ON HIM,

WHICH IS A GRAND TOTAL OF ABOUT SEVEN SHOTS.

A GUERILLA WHO HAS FOUR IN HIS BELT

AND ONE OR TWO ON HIS SADDLE --

WITHIN A MATTER OF MINUTES, HE CAN PUT OUT 60, 70 SHOTS.

IT GAVE HIM A TREMENDOUS ADVANTAGE

IN A CLOSE-RANGE BATTLE.

James: DESPITE OUR SUCCESS IN MISSOURI,

THE TIDE OF THE WAR INEVITABLY TURNED AGAINST THE SOUTH.

AFTER THE WAR, THOSE OF US WHO SURVIVED

WERE FORCED TO CONFRONT A HARSH NEW REALITY --

LIFE UNDER ENEMY CONTROL.

Gooch: THE UNION ELEMENT WAS NOW IN HIGH COMMAND.

AFTER THE WAR, YOU COULDN'T HOLD PUBLIC OFFICE,

VOTE, PREACH FROM A PULPIT,

BE AN OFFICER IN A PUBLICLY HELD CORPORATION

UNLESS YOU COULD PROVE THAT YOU WERE 100% LOYAL DURING THE WAR.

SO, THEY WERE TOTALLY DISENFRANCHISED.

BUT THEY STILL COULD HAVE GONE BACK AND WORKED THE FARM.

OR THEY COULD HAVE MOVED TO THE NEXT COUNTY

AND WORKED THE FARM WHERE NOBODY KNEW THEM.

James: THERE WAS ONE OTHER OPTION -- TO CONTINUE THE FIGHT,

BUT THIS TIME, FOR OUR OWN CAUSE.

Hansen: I THINK JESSE LIKED THE LIFE OF CRIME.

HE DIDN'T GO STRAIGHT

BECAUSE HE KNEW IT WOULD BE TOO DULL FOR HIM.

HE WAS BORED BY ORDINARY LIFE, AND HE NEEDED THAT RUSH.

HE LIKED DEALING WITH VIOLENCE AND BEING VIOLENT HIMSELF.

THE KEYS TO SUCCESS IN ANY VENTURE ARE TRUST AND TALENT.

I RECRUITED MEN I KNEW TO HAVE BOTH,

STARTING WITH MY OLDER BROTHER, FRANK.

WE HAVE OUR DISAGREEMENTS FROM TIME TO TIME,

BUT TOGETHER, WE COMMAND RESPECT.

FRANK WAS THE TALLEST. HE WAS CLOSE TO SIX FEET.

JESSE WAS A LITTLE SHORTER.

SO, THEY LOOKED REALLY DIFFERENT,

AND THEIR PERSONALITIES WERE ALSO VERY DIFFERENT.

FRANK DIDN'T LIKE TO DRAW ATTENTION TO HIMSELF.

HE WAS MORE CAUTIOUS, MORE CUNNING,

WHERE JESSE HAD A LARGER EGO.

HE LIKED READING ABOUT HIMSELF

AND ABOUT WHAT HIS GANG WAS DOING.

THE SENSE I GET,

JUST KNOWING THEIR PERSONALITIES AND HOW THEY INTERACTED --

I WOULD SAY FRANK WAS MORE THE PLANNER.

JESSE WAS THE EXECUTIONER.

James: TO BUILD OUR CRIMINAL ENTERPRISE,

FRANK AND I TEAMED UP WITH THE FOUR YOUNGER BROTHERS --

COLE, JIM, BOB, AND JOHN --

FELLOW BUSHWHACKERS AND PROUD SOUTHERNERS

WHO ALSO HAVE ROOTS IN MISSOURI

AND BLOOD TIES TO GENERAL LEE HIMSELF.

I THINK THE THING

THAT'S SO AMAZING ABOUT THE JAMES BROTHERS --

AND THE YOUNGERS, REALLY --

IS THAT THEY BASICALLY CAME FROM PRETTY GOOD FAMILIES,

BUT THEY BASICALLY WENT TO COLLEGE

ON HOW TO TORTURE PEOPLE AND KILL PEOPLE

AND PILLAGE AND PLUNDER.

AND SO THAT'S KIND OF THE GENGHIS KHAN PhD

THAT THEY ENDED UP WITH.

IT'S VERY EASY TO LEARN HOW TO KILL PEOPLE, OKAY,

ONCE YOU GET THE MENTALITY OF THAT.

THE PROBLEM IS, HOW DO YOU TURN THAT OFF?

AND AFTER THE CIVIL WAR, THEY COULDN'T TURN IT OFF.

James: WE MADE OUR FIRST BIG SCORE IN 1866,

WHEN WE RELIEVED THE CLAY COUNTY SAVINGS BANK OF $60,000.

NO, NO, NO. BACK INSIDE. BE SMART.

BACK INSIDE!

Gooch: THEY QUIETLY RIDE INTO TOWN.

THEY POSTED SENTRIES ALL AROUND.

IN CASE THERE WAS TROUBLE, THEY HAD EVERYTHING BLOCKED OFF.

A COUPLE OF THEM GO IN.

APPROXIMATELY $60,000 --

AND I'M NOT EVEN SURE WHAT THAT WOULD BE IN MODERN TERMS,

BUT IT WAS A LOT OF MONEY, OF COURSE, EVEN THEN.

James: BY THE EARLY 1870s,

WE WERE TAKING OUR ACT ON THE ROAD

AND GAINING A FEARSOME REPUTATION

THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY.

AH, IT DOES SMELL KIND OF GOOD, I SUPPOSE. HEY.

I TOLD YOU WE'D GET SOME MONEY AT THE END OF THIS THING,

DIDN'T I?

YES, I DID.

Boggs: JESSE JAMES IS NOT JUST A MISSOURI OUTLAW.

HE'S GONNA GO INTO KANSAS.

HE'S GONNA GO INTO ALABAMA, WEST VIRGINIA.

IOWA, DOWN ON INTO MISSISSIPPI AND KENTUCKY, INTO THAT AREA.

THEY TOOK EVERYTHING THAT WASN'T NAILED DOWN, ESSENTIALLY,

AND IT WENT ON FOR YEARS.

ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I FIND FASCINATING

ABOUT THE JAMES GANG AND THEIR TECHNIQUES IS --

AND YOU DON'T SEE THIS IN THE MOVIES.

I DON'T KNOW WHY.

BUT WHAT THEY WOULD DO IS THEY WOULD GO INTO TOWN AS BUMS,

AND THEY WOULD LITERALLY HAVE ON RAGGED CLOTHING.

AND THEN WHEN THEY WOULD ROB THE BANK

AND THEY WOULD GO OUT OF TOWN,

AND THEY WOULD CHANGE OUT OF THAT INTO SOME FINE CLOTHING,

SO THAT RIGHT OFF THE BAT, THE DESCRIPTIONS WOULD BE OFF.

AND THEY WENT THROUGH MANY POSSES THAT WAY

BECAUSE THEY WERE SO SMART IN THEIR DISGUISES.

SOME EDITORS CALL US THIEVES.

WE'RE NOT THIEVES. WE'RE BOLD ROBBERS.

IT HURTS ME VERY MUCH TO BE CALLED A THIEF.

IT MAKES ME FEEL LIKE THEY'RE TRYING TO PUT ME

ON A PAR WITH GRANT AND HIS PARTY.

WE ARE BOLD ROBBERS.

AND I AM PROUD OF THE NAME.

AS REPORTS OF OUR ROBBERIES REACHED CHICAGO BY TELEGRAPH,

THEY CAUGHT THE ATTENTION

OF AMERICA'S SO-CALLED PREMIER PRIVATE DETECTIVE,

ALLAN PINKERTON.

MR. PINKERTON, MESSAGE FROM MISSOURI.

MR. WHICHER IS STILL WAITING FOR YOU.

VERY WELL. SEND HIM.

Hutton: ALLAN PINKERTON, OF COURSE, HAD MADE A NAME FOR HIMSELF

AS A DETECTIVE FOR RAILROADS IN ILLINOIS,

WHERE HE HAD COME TO THE ATTENTION

OF A RAILROAD LAWYER NAMED ABRAHAM LINCOLN.

DURING THE CIVIL WAR,

HE HAD, IN FACT, FORMED THE SECRET SERVICE.

AND HE OFTEN PROVIDED BODYGUARDS FOR PRESIDENT LINCOLN,

ALTHOUGH OBVIOUSLY NOT THE NIGHT LINCOLN WENT TO FORD'S THEATER.

Hansen: ALLAN PINKERTON, LIKE J. EDGAR HOOVER, LATER,

JUST FOCUSED ON A FEW OF THE TOP-10 CRIMINALS

AND THOUGHT IF HE GOT RID OF THEM,

CRIME WOULD DIE DOWN,

AND IT WOULD BE SAFE TO CIVILIZE THE STATE.

SO, HE HAD A KIND OF VENDETTA OF HIS OWN AGAINST JESSE JAMES,

WHO WAS KIND OF A THORN IN HIS SIDE,

WHO HE WANTED TO ELIMINATE IN SOME WAY.

James: AFTER WE ROBBED THE GADS HILL TRAIN IN 1874,

THE ADAMS EXPRESS COMPANY, WHO OWNED ITS SAFE,

HIRED PINKERTON TO HUNT US DOWN.

I THINK IT'S FAIR TO SAY

THE DETECTIVE UNDERESTIMATED WHAT THAT WOULD ENTAIL.

YOU A PINKERTON?

Higginbotham: ALLAN PINKERTON HAD A FAIRLY GOOD DETECTIVE NETWORK

THAT HE THOUGHT WAS THE BEST IN THE NATION.

AND HE SAID, "BY GOLLY,

"THOSE MISSOURI BOYS AIN'T GONNA GET ONE OVER ON ME,

AND I'M GONNA SEND MY BEST AGENTS DOWN TO GET THEM."

James: OUR CASE WAS ASSIGNED TO AN AGENT NAMED JOSEPH W. WHICHER,

A MAN AS NAIVE AS THE MISSISSIPPI IS LONG.

MR. PINKERTON WILL SEE YOU NOW.

THANK YOU FOR COMING.

OF COURSE.

HOW CAN I BE OF SERVICE?

JUST SOME RIFFRAFF IN MISSOURI TO ROUND UP.

WON'T TAKE YOU LONG, I IMAGINE.

HIS PLAN WAS, HE WAS GOING TO FOOL THE JAMES BOYS.

AND THE WAY HE WAS GONNA DO IT WAS,

HE WAS GONNA POSE -- KIND OF A LABOR KIND OF A GUY.

WELL, THAT DIDN'T WORK.

HEY, BOY. JAMES FARM DOWN THIS WAY?

WHO'S ASKING?

JUST ANSWER THE QUESTION.

IT'S OVER THAT WAY.

[ CLICKS TONGUE ]

Boggs: HE GOES TO THE LOCAL SHERIFF.

HE TELLS HIM WHAT HE WANTS TO DO.

AND THEY TELL HIM THAT HE'S A COMPLETE IDIOT,

THAT THERE'S NO WAY

JESSE JAMES OR FRANK JAMES ARE GOING TO TRUST ANYONE LIKE THAT.

EVEN IF JESSE AND FRANK AREN'T HOME,

THEIR MOTHER WOULD KILL YOU JUST AS SOON AS LOOK AT YOU.

James: HUNTING THE JAMES BOYS

WILL PROVE TO BE THE LAST BAD DECISION THIS AGENT EVER MAKES.

James: BY 1874, OUR GANG -- THE JAMES AND YOUNGER BOYS --

HAD GAINED NATIONAL ATTENTION...

AND BROUGHT HEAT FROM AMERICA'S SO-CALLED PREMIER PRIVATE EYES.

THAT IS JOSEPH WHICHER,

A PINKERTON AGENT WHO THOUGHT

HE COULD OUTSMART THE JAMES BOYS...

AND A PRIME EXAMPLE OF WHAT HAPPENS TO THOSE WHO TRY.

Bell: ANYBODY THAT VOLUNTEERED THE ASSIGNMENT

TO GO INTO CLAY COUNTY, MISSOURI, AS A DOUBLE AGENT

WAS REALLY LOOKING FOR AN EARLY EXIT FROM THIS LIFE.

AND THE PEOPLE PROTECTING EACH OTHER THERE --

THEY COULD SMELL AN OUTSIDER A MILE AWAY,

AND IT ENDED BADLY FOR A LOT OF THOSE GUYS.

NOTHING IN HIS LIFE BECAME HIM LIKE THE LEAVING OF IT.

James: WHICHER WASN'T THE ONLY PINKERTON

WHO CHOSE TO DIE IN CLAY COUNTY.

"A SPECIAL FROM KEARNEY, MISSOURI --

"ANOTHER PINKERTON DETECTIVE KILLED BY THE JAMES GANG.

"THE VICTIM WAS FOUND DEAD, COVERED WITH BLOOD,

"ON A ROAD FOUR MILES EAST OF ELKHORN, RAY COUNTY,

"A CARD CROSSED WITH BLOOD, PINNED TO HIS COAT,

"AND INSCRIBED, 'THIS SHALL BE THE FATE

"OF ALL PINKERTON DETECTIVES

WHO COME TO HUNT THE JAMES BROTHERS.'"

James: IN A SINGLE MONTH,

THREE OF ALLAN PINKERTON'S TOP AGENTS

MET THEIR MAKER ON MISSOURI SOIL.

Bell: ALLAN PINKERTON WAS FLUMMOXED AND HUMILIATED

BY HIS ENCOUNTERS WITH THE JAMES GANG.

AND IT'S IRONIC

BECAUSE HE BASICALLY INVENTED THE MODERN PRIVATE EYE.

THEY USE HIS LOGO.

THAT'S WHERE "PRIVATE EYE" COMES FROM.

[ Scottish accent ] HENRY, TAKE A LETTER.

"I KNOW THE JAMESES AND THE YOUNGERS ARE DESPERATE MEN

"AND THAT WHEN WE MEET,

IT MUST BE THE DEATH OF ONE OR THE BOTH OF US."

James: IT HAD BECOME CLEAR TO PINKERTON

THAT HUNTING THE JAMES BOYS IS A DANGEROUS PROPOSITION.

BUT INSTEAD OF FOLDING, HE DOUBLED DOWN.

"MY BLOOD WAS SPILT, AND THEY MUST REPAY.

THERE IS NO USE TALKING. THEY MUST DIE."

Gardner: ALLAN PINKERTON WAS VERY SPECIFIC IN HIS INSTRUCTIONS

ON WHAT WOULD BE DONE.

"HERE, THE LOGS WILL BURN.

"LET THE MEN TAKE NO RISK.

"BURN THE HOUSE DOWN.

BLOT IT FROM THE FACE OF THE EARTH."

HE WANTED IT DESTROYED,

A HOUSE THAT BELONGS TO INNOCENT INDIVIDUALS, A FAMILY.

THERE'S YOUNG PEOPLE THERE. ZERELDA IS THERE.

BUT ALLAN PINKERTON --

WHAT HE CALLS THE JAMES FORTRESS --

HE WANTS IT BURNED TO THE GROUND.

WE HAVE DOCUMENTATION THAT, SHORTLY BEFORE THIS HAPPENED,

THE ORDINANCE DEPARTMENT OF THE UNITED STATES ARMY

DID TRANSFER TO THE PINKERTON DETECTIVE AGENCY A BOMB,

AN EXPLOSIVE DEVICE.

A FEW MORE MINUTES.

THEN YOU WASH UP, ARCHIE.

ARCHIE!

IT EXPLODES LIKE A GRENADE,

SENDING BIG, JAGGED PIECES OF METAL THROUGH THE ROOM.

Man: ZERELDA!

[ FOOTSTEPS APPROACHING ]

ONE OF THESE JAGGED PIECES OF METAL

GOES INTO THE BODY OF LITTLE ARCHIE SAMUELS,

THEIR HALF-BROTHER, AND IT'S A FATAL WOUND.

ANOTHER ONE RIPS OFF ZERELDA'S ARM.

[ GROANS ]

Gooch: FRANK AND JESSE'S MOTHER IS SCREAMING LIKE A BANSHEE.

HER ARM'S RIPPED OFF, AND HER CHILD IS DEAD.

MAYBE IT PANICKED THE PINKERTONS.

SONS OF BITCHES.

MAYBE THEY EXPECTED THE CABIN JUST TO GO UP IN PIECES,

AND WHEN IT DIDN'T, THEY WEREN'T SURE WHAT TO DO NEXT.

THEY RAN OFF.

A VERY PUZZLING AFFAIR

AND BOTCHED FROM START TO FINISH.

SHOW YOURSELVES, YOU COWARDS!

AND THE REAL TRAGEDY --

THE JAMES BOYS WERE NOT AT HOME THAT NIGHT.

WHOA, WHOA, WHOA. WHOA, WHOA, WHOA.

GET OFF ME, FRANK.

GET OUT OF MY WAY, FRANK!

James: THIS IS THE WORK OF PINKERTON,

A MAN WHO IN HIS CARD SAID

HE WISHED TO SET HIMSELF RIGHT WITH THE WORLD.

WELL, HE MAY VINDICATE HIMSELF WITH SOME,

BUT HE WILL NEVER SHOW HIS SCOTTISH FACE AGAIN IN MISSOURI

AND LET ME KNOW HE'S HERE,

OR, BY GOD, HE WILL MEET THE FATE OF HIS COMRADES.

Hansen: THE FACT THAT PINKERTON'S MEN DID THAT

JUST SEEMED LIKE AN INCREDIBLY VICIOUS ACT

BECAUSE THEY WERE ATTACKING HIS MOTHER AND HIS FAMILY

EVEN WHEN HE WASN'T THERE.

SO, IT SEEMED TO HIM

A JUSTIFICATION FOR ANYTHING ELSE HE WOULD DO,

THAT THESE PEOPLE WERE CAPABLE OF ANYTHING,

THEREFORE HE WAS CAPABLE OF ANYTHING AFTER THAT.

Boggs: YOU BLOW OFF THE ARM OF A MOTHER,

YOU KILL A YOUNG BOY,

AND YOU DON'T GET THE JAMES BOYS.

THAT'S GONNA TOTALLY CHANGE

THE WHOLE PERSPECTIVE PEOPLE HAVE OF JESSE JAMES.

HE'S GONNA GO FROM MARAUDING, VIOLENT KILLER TO VICTIM.

AND FOR JESSE JAMES AND FRANK JAMES,

IT'S GONNA TOTALLY CHANGE THEIR MIND-SET, TOO.

THEY'RE GONNA BE OUT FOR REVENGE, BIG TIME.

I, JESSE JAMES, AM THOUGHT BY MANY

TO BE NOTHING MORE THAN A MERE ROBBER AND KILLER,

BUT THAT IMPRESSION SELLS ME SHORT,

FOR IN THE RIGHT COMPANY, I AM THE CONSUMMATE GENTLEMAN.

I ESTIMATE THAT WAS THE FIRST HOT BATH I'VE HAD

IN FIVE OR SIX WEEKS.

I ESTIMATE YOU'RE NOT THE ONLY PERSON

WHO RECOGNIZED THAT WAS THE FIRST BATH

YOU HAD IN FIVE OR SIX WEEKS.

Hutton: THERE'S A FAMOUS STORY CALLED "JESSE JAMES AND THE WIDOW,"

IN WHICH JESSE AND FRANK ARE ON THE RUN, OF COURSE,

AND THEY STOP AT A CABIN WHERE THIS POOR WIDOW LIVES.

SHE'S OBVIOUSLY JUST DIRT-POOR,

BUT NEVERTHELESS, SHE ASKS THE BOYS IN.

BOYS, IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE I CAN GET FOR YOU?

NO, MA'AM.

NO, MA'AM.

YOU'VE BEEN AWFULLY KIND TO US.

WE JUST WISH THERE WAS A WAY THAT WE COULD REPAY THE CHARITY.

OH, PLEASE. IT'S NOTHING.

Gomber: AND THE NEXT MORNING, SHE WAS FEEDING THESE MEN,

AND ONE OF THEM NOTICED THAT SHE WAS CRYING.

[ CRIES ]

WHAT SEEMS TO BE THE TROUBLE, MA'AM?

TODAY IS THE DAY THE BANK IS GOING TO FORECLOSE ON MY HOUSE.

HOW MUCH DO YOU OWE?

Gomber: SHE SAID $500, WHICH WAS A SMALL FORTUNE IN THOSE DAYS.

WELL, ONE OF THESE MEN REACHES INTO HIS COAT

AND TAKES OUT THE $500 AND GIVES IT TO HER.

THEY THEN GET UP. SHE'S FLABBERGASTED.

THEY RIDE OFF.

I'LL NEED A RECEIPT, OF COURSE.

Hutton: WHEN THE BANKER ARRIVES,

HE'S AMAZED THAT THE WIDOW HAS SOMEHOW ACQUIRED THIS MONEY.

BUT OF COURSE HE'S NOT GONNA BE ABLE TO FORECLOSE,

SO HE TAKES THE PAYMENT.

Gomber: HE RIDES OFF, HE GETS ABOUT A MILE DOWN THE ROAD,

AND THE JAMES-YOUNGER GANG ROBS HIM.

WHAT YOU GOT IN THAT FANCY SADDLEBAG THERE, MISTER?

I ALWAYS LIKED THAT STORY. [ CHUCKLES ]

Hutton: THAT'S PART OF THE MYSTIQUE OF JESSE JAMES, FRANK JAMES,

THE YOUNGER BROTHERS, THE JAMES GANG,

THAT SOMEHOW THEY HAVE THIS CONNECTION TO THE PEOPLE.

AND EVEN THOUGH THEY'RE BAD, THEY'RE DOING BAD THINGS,

THEY'RE DOING THEM FOR THE RIGHT REASONS.

James: AFTER THE COWARDLY RAID

THAT MAIMED OUR MOTHER AND KILLED OUR HALF-BROTHER,

FRANK AND I DELIVERED A SWIFT RESPONSE.

WITHIN DAYS,

WE SENT ANOTHER PINKERTON AGENT TO HIS GRAVE

AND VOWED TO BRING VENGEANCE

TO ANY OTHERS WHO DARED SET FOOT IN MISSOURI.

Gooch: THERE WASN'T MUCH PINKERTON ACTIVITY AFTER THAT.

IT WAS A DEATH WARRANT.

THESE SOUTHERN-MINDED PEOPLE

AND JUST THE CLIMATE OF THE TIMES --

SOMEBODY HURTS YOU, YOU HURT THEM.

James: UP IN CHICAGO,

ALLAN PINKERTON HIMSELF HEARD THE MESSAGE LOUD AND CLEAR.

Boggs: AFTER THE PINKERTON RAID ON THE JAMES FAMILY HOME,

SYMPATHY STARTS POURING BACK IN FOR THESE OUTLAWS,

THESE COLD-BLOODED KILLERS.

THEY ARE STARTING TO SEE THE DETECTIVES ARE THE BAD GUYS.

James: WITH PINKERTON AND HIS MINIONS LICKING THEIR WOUNDS,

THE GANG COULD GET BACK TO ITS DAY JOB.

WE ROBBED ANOTHER TRAIN NEAR OTTERVILLE

AND SCORED $15,000,

BUT WE MADE THE MISTAKE

OF TAKING A ROOKIE ALONG FOR THE RIDE.

A FEW DAYS LATER, HE GOT BAGGED AND SQUEALED LIKE A PIG.

Gardner: HIS NAME IS HOBBS KERRY,

AND HE'S A RELATIVELY NEW MEMBER OF THE GANG.

AND HE TELLS EVERYTHING HE KNOWS ABOUT JESSE AND FRANK,

THE YOUNGER BROTHERS, WHERE THEY LIKE TO HIDE OUT,

THAT THEY HAVE SECRET SIGNS AND WAYS OF COMMUNICATING.

THIS GIVES LAW ENFORCEMENT A REAL STEP UP

ON THIS HUNT FOR THE JAMES-YOUNGER GANG.

James: FRANK, GET THE FIRE OUT.

COME ON, NOW.

Gardner: IT'S BEST FOR THEM TO GET OUT OF THE TERRITORY FOR A WHILE

UNTIL THINGS COOL DOWN.

AND OF COURSE, JESSE HAS A GREAT PLACE

THAT HE THINKS THEY SHOULD GO TO.

THEY SHOULD GO TO MINNESOTA.

MINNESOTA ALSO HAS LOTS OF FARM COUNTRY AND LOTS OF MILLS

AND PLACES WHERE THESE FARMERS NEED TO KEEP THEIR MONEY,

AND THAT'S IN THE BANKS OF SMALL TOWNS THROUGHOUT THE STATE.

SO THERE'S A POSSIBILITY FOR SOME EASY PICKINGS UP THERE.

Gomber: THEY WENT UP TO MINNESOTA

THINKING THAT IT WOULD BE EASY TO TAKE

BECAUSE -- "ALL THESE SQUAREHEADS UP HERE --

"WHAT ARE THEY GONNA --

"YOU KNOW, WE'RE THE MOST DANGEROUS MEN IN THE COUNTRY.

WE CAN DO ANYTHING WE WANT."

AND THEY WERE SADLY MISTAKEN, AS IT TURNED OUT.

James: OUR GANG DESCENDED ON MINNESOTA LIKE A DARK CLOUD.

Gardner: THEY WERE ALL HORSEBACK,

AND MOST PEOPLE IN RURAL MINNESOTA

DIDN'T RIDE SADDLE MOUNTS.

I MEAN, THEY EITHER RODE A FARM WAGON INTO TOWN

OR A BUGGY INTO TOWN.

YOU RARELY SAW SOMEBODY THAT JUST WAS RIDING ON A HORSE

AND ESPECIALLY A GROUP OF HORSEMEN COMING INTO TOWN.

WHEN PEOPLE SAW THEM, THEY WERE UNEASY.

THEY HAD A SENSE THAT JUST SOMETHING WASN'T QUITE RIGHT,

AND THEY WERE VERY SUSPICIOUS.

NICE TOWN.

THERE'S OUR BANK.

ANOTHER DAY, ANOTHER DOLLAR.

[ CHUCKLES ]

LET'S GET TO IT.

James: WE SET OUR SIGHTS

ON THE FIRST NATIONAL BANK IN NORTHFIELD.

IT'S A SLEEPY TOWN,

HOME TO HARDWORKING SCANDINAVIAN FARMERS

AND A VAULT FULL OF YANKEE CASH.

Gardner: THE THING THAT REALLY PUT NORTHFIELD

ON THE TOP OF THE LIST

WAS THEY LEARNED THAT A FORMER MISSISSIPPI GOVERNOR,

A CARPETBAGGER BY THE NAME OF ADELBERT AMES,

WAS AN INVESTOR THERE IN THE BANK.

AND THIS FIT JESSE -- I MEAN, THIS WAS PERFECT FOR HIM

BECAUSE HE WAS VERY POLITICALLY MOTIVATED, A SOUTHERN PARTISAN.

AND THE IDEA OF ROBBING A BANK

THAT HAD A CARPETBAGGER AS AN INVESTOR

AND RIDING OFF WITH A WHEAT SACK FULL OF MONEY

THAT BELONGED TO ADELBERT AMES --

HE KNEW THAT WOULD BE ALL OVER THE PAPERS.

THROW UP YOUR HANDS!

WE INTEND TO ROB THIS BANK!

James: ON THAT COUNT, MY INSTINCT WOULD PROVE CORRECT.

HE NORTHFIELD RAID CERTAINLY MADE THE PAPERS,

BUT THE STORY DIDN'T EXACTLY FOLLOW THE SCRIPT.

THE BANK ROBBERY IS A FAILURE

ALMOST FROM THE MINUTE IT BEGINS.

Gardner: THE NORTHFIELD RAID

IS THE BEGINNING OF THE END OF JESSE JAMES.

THROW UP YOUR HANDS! WE INTEND TO ROB THIS BANK!

AND IF YOU HOLLER, WE'LL BLOW YOUR BRAINS OUT.

YOU DON'T WANT TO DO THIS!

OPEN THE SAFE! I CAN'T.

OPEN IT! OPEN THE SAFE.

I CAN'T. OPEN THE SAFE.

I CAN'T OPEN THE -- JOHN, CASH!

James: THE RAID OF THE FIRST NATIONAL BANK IN NORTHFIELD, MINNESOTA,

WAS MEANT TO BE OUR FINEST HOUR.

[ INDISTINCT SHOUTING ]

BUT IT QUICKLY BECAME OUR WORST MISTAKE.

IMMEDIATELY, THE TOWNSPEOPLE KNOW EXACTLY WHAT IS HAPPENING,

AND THE JAMES-YOUNGER GANG HAS LOST THE ELEMENT OF SURPRISE.

Bell: ONE OF THE PEOPLE DOWN ON THE CORNER STARTS YELLING OUT,

"THEY'RE ROBBING THE BANK.

GET YOUR GUNS. THEY'RE ROBBING THE BANK."

AND EVERYONE CAME OUT WITH A GUN

BECAUSE THEY HAD MONEY IN THAT BANK.

Gardner: AND SO THE CLOCK IS TICKING.

ONCE THE SHOUTS GO OUT, THEY HAVE

A VERY, VERY LIMITED TIME... [ GUNSHOT ]

...TO GET THAT MONEY IN THE BANK.

AND UNFORTUNATELY, THEY'RE THWARTED ON THAT TIME ELEMENT

BY THE ACTING CASHIER, A MAN NAMED JOSEPH LEE HEYWOOD.

LOOK, YOU'RE NOT GONNA GET AWAY WITH THIS!

YOU KNOW THAT! EVERYONE KNOWS WHO YOU ARE!

SHUT UP AND OPEN THE SAFE!

I CAN'T! IT'S ON A TIMED LOCK!

I SWEAR!

THEY KNOW THAT JOSEPH LEE HEYWOOD IS LYING

BECAUSE NO BANK HAS A TIMED LOCKING GAUGE

DURING BUSINESS HOURS.

THEY COULDN'T GET IN TO THE VAULT.

SO, HEYWOOD IS PUTTING UP THIS FUSS.

THEY KEEP SHOUTING AT HIM. THEY THREATEN HIM.

CHARLIE PITTS RUNS A BOWIE KNIFE ACROSS HEYWOOD'S NECK.

OH, MURDER! MURDER!

FRANK!

WHAT THE HELL IS TAKING SO LONG?

UGH!

YOU GOT FIVE SECONDS.

[ GUN COCKS ] PLEASE. I CAN'T OPEN IT.

PLEASE DON'T DO THIS.

PLEASE. PLEASE?

IT'S BECOME A SHOOTING GALLERY ON THE STREET.

[ GUNSHOT ]

TWO OF THE EIGHT GANG MEMBERS ARE NOW DEAD

AND LAYING ON THE STREET.

AND THE OTHER GANG MEMBERS --

THEY'RE TRYING TO FEND THESE PEOPLE OFF

AND BUY TIME FOR THE MEN IN THE BANK.

[ GUNSHOT ] UGH!

YOUR TIME'S UP, FRANK.

SOME KIND OF DAMN FOOL

WON'T OPEN THE SAFE WHILE HE'S COVERED BY A PISTOL...

DESERVES TO BE SHOT.

JOSEPH LEE HEYWOOD IS LEFT THERE TO DIE IN A POOL OF BLOOD.

LET'S GO!

WE'VE BEEN BEAT, BOYS. WE GOT TO GO!

Boggs: IT'S JUST TOTAL CHAOS.

THEY'RE GONNA MAKE OUT WITH MAYBE 23 BUCKS.

AND THEY'RE GONNA LEAVE A COUPLE OF DEAD MEMBERS OF THE GANG

ON THE STREETS OF NORTHFIELD.

COLE YOUNGER AND HIS BROTHERS ARE CAPTURED.

THEY ARE TRIED.

THEY PLEAD GUILTY TO ESCAPE THE GALLOWS,

AND THEY ARE SENTENCED TO LIFE IN PRISON.

OTHER GANG MEMBERS ARE LEFT DEAD ON THE STREETS.

THE ONLY PEOPLE THAT MAKE IT OUT OF MINNESOTA

ARE FRANK AND JESSE JAMES.

"QUICKLY NATURE FALLS TO REVOLT WHEN GOLD BECOMES HER OBJECT."

JUST DON'T, FRANK.

WELL, THE NORTHFIELD RAID SPELLS

THE END OF THE CLASSIC JAMES GANG.

James: I HAD ALWAYS WELCOMED ANY PUBLICITY AS GOOD PUBLICITY,

BUT THE NEWS ABOUT NORTHFIELD AND THE DEATH OF JOSEPH HEYWOOD

DID MUCH TO SULLY OUR REPUTATIONS,

EVEN IN OUR HOME STATE.

SOBER-MINDED PEOPLE, I THINK, WERE JUST LOOKING AT IT --

"HEY, THIS IS A BUNCH OF KILLERS AND THIEVES.

WE'VE GOT TO GET RID OF THEM."

MONEY DID NOT WANT TO COME INTO MISSOURI

ON THE OFF CHANCE THAT THE JAMESES OR THE YOUNGERS

WERE JUST GONNA STEAL IT ANYWAY.

Hansen: GOVERNOR CRITTENDEN HAD SEEN

THE VALUE OF REAL ESTATE DIMINISH.

THE ATTRACTION FOR IMMIGRANTS COMING TO MISSOURI

WAS NOT AS HIGH AS IT WAS FOR OTHER STATES,

AND THEY NEEDED MANUAL LABORERS.

THEY NEEDED BODIES.

THEY NEEDED A POPULATION.

SO HE SET OUT WITH A HUGE REWARD AT THE TIME

FOR ANYBODY WHO COULD KILL OR CAPTURE JESSE JAMES.

James: THE HEAT ON US WAS STIFLING.

EVEN CLAY COUNTY NO LONGER FELT LIKE FRIENDLY TERRITORY.

SO FRANK AND I MOVED TO TENNESSEE

AND ASSUMED NEW IDENTITIES.

FRANK SETTLED DOWN AND BECAME A GENTLEMAN FARMER,

ALL TOO HAPPY TO LIVE OUT HIS DAYS IN PEACE AND QUIET.

AS FOR ME, PEACE AND QUIET DIDN'T SUIT.

I TOOK THE ALIAS OF JAMES HOWARD

AND DABBLED IN HORSE RACING AND GAMBLING.

BUT I WAS ITCHING TO GET BACK IN THE GAME.

JESSE COULDN'T OR WOULDN'T QUIT,

AND HE GOES OUT AND RECRUITS A NEW GANG.

THE PROBLEM IS, THEY'RE NOT AS LOYAL,

THEY'RE NOT AS ADEPT AT THE TRADE,

AND THE MOST IMPORTANT THING IS,

IS THAT THEY'RE NOT FAMILY, OKAY?

THAT WAS THE SECRET TO THE JAMES GANG, THE JAMES-YOUNGER GANG --

BECAUSE THEY WERE ALL BROTHERS,

AND THEY'RE NOT GONNA GO SOUTH ON YOU.

Boggs: THEY WERE A LITTLE LOOSE-LIPPED.

THEY DRANK TOO MUCH. THEY TALKED TOO MUCH.

AND EVENTUALLY, THINGS ARE GONNA TURN AGAINST JESSE.

James: THESE NEW BOYS SHOWED NO LACK OF ENTHUSIASM FOR ROBBING.

ENTHUSIASM ISN'T ENOUGH.

OUR BUSINESS ALSO DEMANDS DISCRETION...

HELLO, BOYS.

...AND, MOST OF ALL, LOYALTY.

IT'S BEEN A WHILE.

WHEN A MAN'S LOYALTY WAVERS, BETRAYAL IS NEVER FAR BEHIND.

I DIDN'T EXPECT TO SEE YOU TWO TODAY.

DO YOU MIND?

NOT AT ALL. SHOW YOURSELVES IN.

Bell: JESSE WAS REALLY SCRAPING THE BOTTOM OF THE BARREL

BY THE TIME ROBERT FORD CAME ABOARD.

LIKE MOST CRIMINALS,

HE SAW AN OPPORTUNITY, AND HE TOOK IT.

Boggs: THERE ARE TWO REASONS

BOB FORD'S GONNA HAVE TO TURN ON JESSE.

ONE IS MONEY. THERE'S A BIG REWARD OFFERED.

AND THE OTHER IS SELF-PRESERVATION.

HE'S AFRAID JESSE'S GONNA KILL HIM.

AFTER THAT, THEY ALL WENT HOME.

WELL, THAT MAY BE SO, BOYS,

BUT I BELIEVE

A MAN'S GOT TO SETTLE DOWN AT SOME POINT IN HIS LIFE.

James: THE MURDER HAPPENED ON APRIL 3, 1882.

IT WAS THE DAY AFTER PALM SUNDAY, A MONDAY MORNING.

IT WAS GONNA BE A HOT DAY.

JESSE JAMES STANDS UP,

AND HE SAYS, "I THINK I'M GONNA TAKE MY GUNS OFF

FOR FEAR SOMEONE WILL SPY THEM WHEN THEY WALK BY THE HOUSE,"

'CAUSE THEY HAD BIG, TALL WINDOWS

THAT WERE OPEN BECAUSE OF THE HEAT.

YOU DON'T MIND IF I SHED MY WEAPON WHILE WE EAT, DO YOU?

AND SO HE TOOK OFF HIS TWO GUNS IN A VERY DRAMATIC WAY

AND SET THEM ASIDE.

AND THAT'S WHEN THE FORD BROTHERS, WHO WERE WEARING GUNS,

RECOGNIZED THAT THEY'D NEVER SEEN HIM

WITH HIS GUNS OFF LIKE THAT.

AND THEN HE SAID...

I BELIEVE THIS PICTURE'S A BIT DUSTY.

THE PICTURE WAS OF A RACEHORSE NAMED SKYROCKET

THAT HE ONCE OWNED.

AND HE GOT A FEATHER DUSTER AND STARTED DUSTING IT OFF.

[ GUN COCKS ]

JESSE MUST HAVE HEARD THE CLICK, BUT DIDN'T TURN.

AND IT ONLY TOOK ONE BULLET.

James: PEOPLE HAVE ALWAYS PUT CONTRADICTORY LABELS ON ME --

LOVED AND HATED,

SOUTHERN GENTLEMAN AND COLD-BLOODED KILLER,

ROBIN HOOD AND RUTHLESS OUTLAW.

ANY OF THESE CAN BE ARGUED,

BUT HISTORY WILL MAKE WHAT IT WANTS OF ME.

Boggs: WHEN YOU CONSIDER AN OUTLAW LIKE JESSE JAMES,

YOU HAVE TO LOOK AT THEM THROUGH THE LENS

OF THE TIME IN WHICH THEY LIVED.

I DON'T THINK, IF JESSE JAMES WERE ALIVE TODAY,

PEOPLE WOULD CONSIDER HIM A ROBIN HOOD.

THEY WOULD CONSIDER HIM FOR WHAT HE IS --

A DARING, A BRAVE,

AND A DASHING FIGURE, CERTAINLY,

BUT HE'S A THUG.

HE'S A COLD-BLOODED KILLER.

Hansen: THE JESSE JAMES STORY

WAS A PERFECT EXAMPLE OF AMERICANA.

HERE WAS A GUY WHO WAS AN OUTLAW,

WHO WAS CONSIDERED THE ENEMY OF THE PEOPLE,

AND YET, EVEN IN HIS OWN LIFETIME,

THERE WERE COMIC BOOKS WRITTEN ABOUT HIM.

HE WAS KIND OF AN EVEL KNIEVEL OF HIS DAY.

THEY COULDN'T WAIT TO SEE WHAT WAS GONNA HAPPEN NEXT.

NO, NO, NO. BACK INSIDE. BE SMART.

Gooch: THEY SAY THAT JESSE JAMES

IS THE SECOND MOST RECOGNIZABLE NAME IN THE WORLD TO THIS DAY,

RIGHT BEHIND MICKEY MOUSE.

HE HAS SPAWNED MORE MOVIES, MORE BOOKS,

MORE PLAYS, MUSICALS -- YOU NAME IT --

'CAUSE AMERICA LOVES ITS ROGUES.