Video: 'The Tragic Life Of Notorious Outlaw Jesse James'

(Monday, April 3, 1882) — Outlaw Jesse James, 34, was shot to death today in St. Joseph, Missouri, by Robert Ford, a new recruit to James’s gang who hoped to collect a reward on James’s head and a promised amnesty for his previous crimes.

With his gang nearly annihilated, James trusted only the Ford brothers, Charley and Robert. Although Charley had been out on raids with James, Bob Ford was an eager new recruit. For protection, James asked the Ford brothers to move in with him and his family. James had often stayed with their sister Martha Bolton and, according to rumor, he was “smitten” with her.

By that time, Bob Ford had conducted secret negotiations with Missouri Governor Thomas T. Crittenden, planning to bring in the famous outlaw. Crittenden had made the capture of the James brothers his top priority; in his inaugural address, he declared that no political motives could be allowed to keep them from justice.

Video: 'Death and Exhumation of Jesse James: Bullet Hole, Coffin Remains and a Replica of his Skull'

Barred by law from offering a large reward, he had turned to the railroad and express corporations to put up a $5,000 bounty for the delivery of each of them and an additional $5,000 for the conviction of either of them.

After eating breakfast on this day, the Fords and Jameses went into the living room before traveling to Platte City for a robbery. From the newspaper, James had just learned that gang member Dick Liddil had confessed to participating in Wood Hite‘s murder.

Robert Ford later said he believed that James had realized they were there to betray him. Instead of confronting them, James walked across the living room and laid his revolvers on a sofa. He turned around and noticed a dusty picture above the mantle, and stood on a chair to clean it. Robert Ford drew his weapon and shot the unarmed Jesse James in the back of the head.