Welcome to The Truth About Jesse James! That's right, the truth. That's a hard thing to find these days and a hard thing to swallow for some people. Although I'll have to admit, one reason the truth about me has been so hard to find is because I wanted it that way for a while.
Oh you'll get a few people with that age old line that goes something like..."Jesse never would have left his wife and children!" I wouldn't have left my wife and children but what they don't seem to understand is that Zee wasn't my wife and those weren't my children. Zee was the wife of my cousin, Wood Hite.
I had to get away and the only way to do it was to fake my death, change my name and move to Texas. It wasn't easy back then but it was a whole lot easier in my day; before I.D. cards and other modern advances.
All a man had to do was change his name, relocate and have a few trustworthy friends and that is exactly what I did. I had tried to stage my death three years earlier but that didn't work out to well. Turns out when you're wanted as much as I was, people like to see the body for proof.
When Wood Hite got shot I saw my chance and used it to my advantage and got away free as a bird. The fact that hardly anyone outside my close knit circle of friends and family knew what I really looked like helped a whole lot! I used to laugh hard about all the different descriptions of me...short, tall, medium...they didn't have a clue, and that's just the way I liked it.
That is until my Great-Granddaughter got involved. One of my descendants, Betty Dorsett Duke was bright enough and determined enough to actually figure it all out. Of course, I left a few clues behind to help but I didn't make it too easy. Now Betty's written another book telling the world exactly how I did it. You can read more about that below.
I've got to leave for now but I'll be back to check up on things. Before I go, I'll leave you with something to think about. A quote from Harry Truman; "I never give them hell. I just tell the truth and they think it's hell."
Jesse Woodson James
Betty Dorsett Duke’s provocative new book, The Truth About Jesse James, makes a convincing case that Jesse James pulled off one of the biggest hoaxes in American history by getting away with his own murder. Despite 1996 DNA results highly touted as proving with a high degree of certainty that Jesse James died and is buried in Kearney, Missouri just as history reports, the author presents findings from her investigation of the 1995 exhumation and subsequent DNA testing showing why they are tainted and proved absolutely nothing.
Duke heard old family stories for as long as she can remember that her great-grandfather, known in Texas as James L. Courtney, was really Jesse James. For years she just chalked them up as tall Texas tales, but upon following the trail of clues her great-grandfather cached in his personal diaries, photographs, and treasure maps she was able to determine that the old family stories are true -- her great-grandfather was Jesse James. Her matching photo case provides persuasive visual evidence that Jesse James assumed the alias of James L. Courtney, hightailed it to Texas, and lived to tell his grandchildren stories about his amazing exploits.
Book Review by Emmett C. Hoctor
Nebraskan Emmett Hoctor earned his Master's Degree in history. Mr. Hoctor conceived the idea to exhume Jesse Woodson James' reported grave in Kearney, Missouri for DNA testing, and is very disappointed in the subsequent tainted DNA results.
"I have been asked to give my impression of Betty Duke's newest masterpiece of a book: "The Truth About Jesse James." To this request I gladly assented. I have known Mrs. Betty D. Duke for nearly a decade. And I can truthfully state that I have never met a person with more tenacity in my life.
Her recent compendium of 664 pages is replete with research that took a decade to be acquired and placed into a pleasing writing style for the beginning Jesse James student; to the die-hard fanatic who prides themselves as being "up" on every obscure item concerning the history of Jesse James (that American History has appointed) to her Great Grandfather who she contends is "the real Jesse James!"
Take her explanation or leave it. The history of others who have claimed Jesse Woodson James faked his death in 1882 is presented in all its complexities. And to, is the commentary on the bogus scientist James E. Starrs; who comes across as less a scientist and even more, less a man. This well researched and painstakingly written compendium concerning all things Jesse James, is a must read for all scholars who want to be included in the latest scholarship.
It is the reviewers humble opinion that this book ought to be given some kind of medal for its many merits. It is a truly monumental work that is replete with the new research and previously published material with a new face to enhance the subject matter. Get ready for the eye strain for once you pick up this book you surely will not be able to put it down until the final page. I repeat myself: this is a masterpiece and should be recognized as such---"for those about to think!""
Note* All photographs and pictures on this page are the property of Betty Dorsett Duke. Any use of the photographs or pictures is prohibited without the express written consent of Betty Dorsett Duke. You can contact Betty at banditoutlaw13@aol.com
Buy i-Phones & iPhone Accessories - The Geek Directory provides information and resources covering the latest gadgets and gizmos available on the web.
All Content provided by Betty Dorsett Duke. You can contact Betty at banditoutlaw13@aol.com
bravenet.com