Gang Member Reveals Hoax

A former James Gang member reveals the death hoax in a candid newspaper interview. Sam Hill was named as the murder victim, a joke no doubt. So who in the sam hill was it?

He goes on to explain, “At one time I had photographs of them both taken together…” meaning Jesse W. James and the victim. We can see that the statements are true, as proven by the said photo below.

Hoax news 1885

 

Only one James Gang member grew up near the James farm in Clay County, Missouri. That would be Jim Cummins, who is explored in a bit more detail here: http://jessejamesphotoalbum.com/jim-cummins/

 

 

Three cousins named Jesse James

Three cousins named Jesse James

The article above made mention of another newspaper expose’ on the murder ruse in St. Joe, MO. The extraordinary staff at the Cincinnati Library were able to locate a copy of said article and provided the copy below for this research.

 

Cincinnati Inquirer article, courtesy of the Cincinnati Public Library archives.

Cincinnati Inquirer article, courtesy of the Cincinnati Public Library archives.