39adamstrand:Robert Ford shot and killed Jesse James on 3 April 1882, with his brother Charlie watch

39adamstrand:

Robert Ford shot and killed Jesse James on 3 April 1882, with his brother Charlie watching. The brothers immediately turned themselves into the law and were charged with the murder of Jesse James, plead guilty, were sentenced to be hanged and then pardoned by Missouri Governor Thomas Crittenden (all on the same day). 

Crittenden had made capturing Jesse James a priority, but was barred by law from offering a large reward. Sources indicate that he made a deal with Robert Ford to pay him $10,000 (about $250,000 in today’s money) to bring in the outlaw (Charlie Ford was already a member of the James Gang). The brothers claimed they were ever only paid a small fraction of the bounty.

After the killing of Jesse James, Charlie and Robert Ford toured from stage to stage re-enacting the killing in a show titled, The Brother’s Vow; or, the Bandit’s Revenge, which they performed hundreds of times for more than 2 years. Charlie played the role of Jesse James and became depressed from pretending to be shot night after night.

Charlie Ford developed an addiction to morphine, was in financial trouble, and diagnosed with tuberculosis when he took his own life on 4 May 1884 (newspaper accounts cite 6 May, but his grave is marked as the fourth).