MRS. JESSIE JAMES / THE OUTLAW'S WIFE TELLS THE STORY OF HER HUSBAND'S MURDER

Many, LA: Southron of Sabine, 1883. First Thus. Soft cover. Collectible Fair. New York Truth article reprinted on front page of Southron of Sabine, Many, Louisiana, Saturday, December 8, 1883. Four full-size newspaper pages, folded twice. Some stains, browning, and chips, but not brittle. In this article Mrs. James, with Jesse misspelled as Jessie twice in the article and also spelled correctly a couple of times, is identified as Mrs. Annie James. Interestingly, Annie was the name of Jesse James sister-in-law who was married to his brother, Frank. In the article, Mrs. James has just given a lecture at the Globe Dime Museum, No 298 Bowery, New York City. She also put on a performance of fancy shooting, "possessed of rare skill with both revolver and rifle." She describes her marriage in opposition to the "bitterly opposed" feelings of her parents. Jesse James' wife's real first name was Zerelda and she was a first cousin to Jesse. THIS Mrs. James on stage is quoted as saying, "I was born in the State of Missouri. (Note: Zerelda James was born in Kentucky) I do not wish to give my real name, as my parents are still living." In brief terms she describes the betrayal of Bob and Charlie Ford and the event of Jesse's murder and her immediate reaction to it when she ran into the room and found him on the floor dying. Many, Louisiana, is located in Sabine Parish about 80 miles south of Shreveport and just east of the Texas-Louisiana state line. The newspaper was a weekly and was published 1878-1892. IT IS OUR CONSIDERED OPINION that this was not James' wife (neither Jesse's nor Franks), but a woman taking on the name for a crowd-attracting performance. Website Legends of America says of the real Mrs. Jesse James: "Donning entirely black clothing, she never changed out of it, never remarried, and became a recluse. Young Jesse James, Jr. was forced to go to work at the age of eleven to help support his mother and little sister. Though the family suffered emotionally and financially for the rest of Zee's life, she refused all offers to publish books or other information regarding Jesse's life." Wiki says the Globe struggled to survive until 1910. Research says that a house was built at this address in1910.