For American history buffs and historic true crime fans, especially that generous percentage furiously interested in outlaws, it’s Christmas in June.
NewspaperARCHIVE has opened its vaults to offer us a free archive of historic newspapers, a collection of old articles about the most famous criminal legends who ever appeared on the American scene.
To some, they were firecrackers, men and women with the guts to give corporate America some much-deserved gunshots in the ass. To others, they were vicious widow-makers who followed no code.
Say their names to anyone on the continent and the names are known; most everyone can picture their faces. Jesse and Frank James. Billy the Kid. Wyatt Earp. Wild Bill Hickok. Bonnie and Clyde. Butch Cassidy & the Sundance Kid. "Ma" Barker and her gang of gay sons. Pretty Boy Floyd. Baby Face Nelson. John Dillinger. Doc Holliday. Machine Gun Kelly.
The best way to know them is to see them as the people of their time saw them. Many of these famous outlaws had one thing in common: they were so good at their craft – crime – that their careers lasted for years. And a lot of newspapers devoted barrels of ink to their exploits.
The archive is found at http://www.outlawarchive.com/.
I have often been puzzled by my family's view of the James brothers. They lived in Phelps co. near Rolla Mo. My grandfather was born in 1866 and this folk lore was passed down in our family for over 100 years. My G Ggrandfather ThomasHeddy(Civil War record Headdy) was a blacksmith. He was born in 1840 in Ill but moved to Crawford co. Mo when just one year old. He was in the Union Army and served in the Mo 9th and 10th volunteer calvary> His father Jacob served in the 3rd Mo vol. calvary. His borhter Elisha and three Overlease uncles were in the 9th and 10th calvalry................It seems that the James brotherwere considered with idol status. Supposedly when going through Phelps co. they stopped at my g grandfather's blacksmith shop and had their horses shod. While Thomas was doing the ferrier's work my grandfather held the horse. In many ways the war was still being fought in my youth and the puzzle is why did former Union soldiers hold the James brothers in such a high regard with his Confederate past? In the 1940's there was a trial at Union, Franklin county Mo. with a man claiming to be Jesse James. This man was claiming to be alive which would have made him 99-100 yrs of age. Franklin county is where the Meramec Caverns are located. The verdict was this man was an imposter. During the Trial the St.Louis newspapers were full of front page stories. My great aunt Della was living with us at the time so there were many stories told and much debate. The Headys held a very favorable view of the James brother. But my Parker family in Maries county(north of Phelps) and Texas county 9south of Phelps had a totally different view. My g g grand father Cornlious Parker was bushwacked in Texas co. and his brother John Wesley was bushwacked in Maries co. Their farms were a mere 30 miles apart. Both murders took place in 1863. There was a man indicted for Cornelious's murder but nothing was ever done about John Wesley. Even after the war their was a strong Confederate loyalty and some of the elected officers refused to take the loyalty oath. In one family I had the tow camps of opinion about the James brothers. After all these years understanding the injustices to the James family committed by the Union Army makes me understand why he took the path he did. I might have done likewise. We all know there are no winners in war. Jim Heady
Posted by: Jim Heady | June 27, 2006 at 10:23 PM