Fake Jesse James Con Man Goes to the Devil

[Eric James]

This story is just too amusingly sweet not to post. When linking Jesse James to stuff that just isn't factual or true, turnaround becomes fair play.

[Melvin Graf]

The perfect forum for Ron Pastore.  Sounds like a great spot for that Liberty Hill, TX, con woman as well.  People could suspend their belief in historical facts and join her in her delusions that Jesse James didn't die in 1882, faked his death, stole the identity of a well documented Union veteran, and totally abandoned his mother, brother, wife and children.  On the show, the merits of Jeremiah James, James L. Courtney, and J. Frank Dalton as the "real" Jesse James could be explored.  To top it off, the Missouri Image Scammer could provide the numerous Jesse James images he has "identified" and the teenage whiz kid "researcher" they both so heavily rely on could provide his "expert" opinion.  They could present:  "the proof as we know it." 

 

Thanks for the great post!  I needed a good laugh!

 

Mel

[Chuck Rabas]

I couldn't agree more.  The forums on which the conspiracy nuts discuss the "proof" of their inane theories provide us with a great deal of amusement.  The downside is that some of them are accomplished snake-oil salesmen, and gain access to respectable media outlets.  (No, although it has a large listening audience, I don't consider Coast to Coast to fall into that catagory.)  Such exposure gives them an undeserved cloak of credibility among those with minimal knowledge of the subject.  The current issue of another magazine dealing with the Old West includes a short article that amounts to a press release by the Liberty Hill fraud.  It includes her recently acquired group photo that she claims to be Frank and Annie James' wedding party in Texas.  Since Caroline Quantrill, Reuben and Zerelda Samuel are in the photo, it was obviously taken in Clay County, Missouri around October of 1888, when Caroline stayed with the Samuel family.  Some of the clothing and hairstyles of other women in the photo comfirm dating it to the late 1880s.  As we know, Frank and Annie were married in 1874 -- most likely in Omaha, Nebraska.

[Dolan]

Anyone with any knowledge of Jesse James would never fall for Pastore's fantasies.  Chuck, you're right about many of these people being accomplished snake-oil salesmen.  As you say, they seek those with minimal knowledge and the unwary.  Knowledgeable people always know better.  Unfortunately, reporters are rarely knowledgeable about Old West subjects and are attracted to sensationalism since they know sensationalism sells.  Facts:  Jesse James died in 1882, Elvis died in 1977, John Wilkes Booth died in 1865, and Bloody Bill Anderson died in 1864.  Though the frauds may attract a small following, the recorded historical facts have overcome, and will always overcome, their deceptions.