Wondering about wild grapes

Tuesday, July 22, 2014

Wondering About Half of the James Brothers.

Who do you think of when the James Brothers are mentioned?  Now be honest.  I bet the first one that comes to mind is Jesse.  OK, which one do you think was the most cold blooded killer?  Well, I suppose that title could be bestowed on both of them, but most people today would answer that it was Jesse.  If they think of Frank at all, they think of him as the better brother.  But Frank was a cold blooded killer.  You wouldn't think that from this picture postcard of Frank at the gate of the James family farm, where he sold admission to the farm of a half buck a person.  He looks more like an old preacher than and old outlaw and killer:

The above was originally a black and white photo taken at the family farm three months before Frank's death and was later colored and turned into a postcard.  The picture was taken in 1914.

During a bank robbery, a teller stood in his way to get at the money in the vault, and Frank had hit him with the butt of his gun.  The teller was trying to get up, his head bleeding from his hit on the head, and Frank shot him dead, only because that fellow had hindered Frank from getting into the vault.  Yep, I guess Frank had a temper.  Fighting as raiders for the south during the Civil War, gave him a lot training for his life of crime.  Now you all be good boys and girls and have a great day today, you hear?

2 comments:

  1. War trains a lot of people for nasty things.
    Happy Tails and Trails, Penny,

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    1. Yes, and I believe that the Civil War was the worst one, it turned brother against brother.

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