Robert Ford, forever etched in history as the “dirty little coward” who ended the life of the legendary outlaw Jesse James, remains a controversial figure in American folklore. Born on January 31, 1862, in Ray County, Missouri, Robert Ford‘s path was irrevocably linked to the notorious James Gang, culminating in one of the Old West’s most infamous betrayals.
As a young boy, Ford became captivated by Jesse James’s audacious exploits. His admiration eventually led him and his older brother, Charles Ford, to meet James in 1880. With the James Gang’s numbers dwindling due to various setbacks, Jesse welcomed the Ford brothers into their outer fringes, though neither played a significant role in the gang’s most notable actions. Charles Ford allegedly participated in the Blue Cut robbery near Glendale, Missouri, on September 7, 1881, which was the James Gang’s last train robbery, yielding approximately $3,000 in cash and jewelry. However, there is no official record of Robert Ford‘s direct participation in any robberies, suggesting he largely served as a ‘hanger-on,’ performing minor tasks like holding horses.
The Governor’s Reward and a Deadly Alliance
By November 1881, Jesse James had moved his family to St. Joseph, Missouri, under the alias J.D. Howard, intending to transition to a more legitimate life. Despite these aspirations, he still planned one final bank robbery in Platte County, Missouri, hoping to secure enough wealth for retirement as a gentleman farmer. However, the State of Missouri had grown weary of his criminal activities. Governor Thomas Crittenden, determined to end James’s reign, issued a substantial reward of $10,000 for any information leading to the capture of either Frank or Jesse James.
A critical turn of events occurred in January 1882. Wood Hite and Dick Liddel, two James Gang members on the run, sought refuge at Martha Bolton’s home, Robert Ford’s widowed sister. During breakfast one day, Hite and Liddel engaged in a heated argument that quickly escalated into a shootout. As the two men exchanged fire, with Liddel wounded and Hite struck in the arm, Robert Ford drew his own weapon. Being a close friend of Liddel, Ford fired a fatal shot, striking Hite in the head. Hite died moments later. Ford then buried the body in a shallow, unmarked grave in the woods. This act, coupled with Ford’s burgeoning greed and desire for recognition, inadvertently set the stage for Jesse James’s demise.
Word of the shooting reached authorities, leading to Ford’s arrest. However, upon revealing his access to the highly sought-after Jesse James, Ford was promptly released. He then secretly met with Governor Crittenden, who offered him a full pardon for the murders of both Wood Hite and Jesse James, along with the reward money, if he delivered the notorious outlaw. Ford readily accepted, solidifying a clandestine plan with the Sheriff of Clay County to capture James.
The Assassination of Jesse James
By March 1882, many James Gang members had either turned themselves in or moved on, leaving Jesse with only Charles and Robert Ford to plan his next robbery. Despite an instinctive distrust of Robert, Jesse proceeded. On the morning of April 3, 1882, the Ford brothers were having breakfast with Jesse James in his St. Joseph home. After the meal, the men retired to the parlor, where Jesse outlined his plans for the Platte City bank robbery.
In a moment that would become legendary, Jesse noticed a framed needlepoint picture, crafted by his mother, hanging crookedly on the wall. He climbed onto a chair to adjust it, his back turned to the Ford brothers. Suddenly, he heard the distinct click of Bob Ford’s pistol being cocked. As Jesse began to turn, Robert Ford fired a single shot just below James’s right ear. Jesse James toppled to the floor, dead at 34 years old. The ‘dirty little coward’ had betrayed his leader.
Aftermath, Public Scrutiny, and Charles Ford’s Tragic End
Initially, Ford faced charges for the murders of both Wood Hite and Jesse James. However, Governor Crittenden honored his word, granting Ford a full pardon while he stood trial. Despite the pardon, Ford received only a fraction of the promised reward money. Returning to their hometown of Richmond, Missouri, Bob and Charles were met with universal disdain. Residents found the cold-blooded killing of Jesse James so reprehensible that life became unbearable for the brothers.
Fearful that Frank James was actively seeking them for revenge, Charles Ford embarked on a desperate flight, moving from town to town and changing his name repeatedly. For two years, he lived as a hunted man, unable to escape the psychological toll of his actions and his brother’s notoriety. In 1884, overwhelmed by the pressure and guilt, Charles Ford tragically committed suicide.
Robert Ford’s Declining Years and Violent Demise
Robert Ford, in contrast, attempted to profit from his infamy. He took to the stage, performing in an act titled Outlaws of Missouri. Night after night, Ford recounted his version of events, conveniently omitting the detail that he had shot James in the back. This charade was short-lived, as audiences frequently greeted him with catcalls, jeers, and challenges, condemning his cowardly act. Ford eventually abandoned the stage, relocating to Las Vegas, New Mexico, where he operated a saloon for a period before moving on to the burgeoning silver mining town of Creede, Colorado.
Life in Creede remained tumultuous for Ford. During a boxing match, he gambled heavily on the losing prizefighter, and in a drunken fury, decided to kill the man. Along with Joe Palmer, a member of the notorious Soapy Smith gang, Ford began shooting out windows and street lamps along Main Street. Soapy Smith, a cunning criminal figure, helped Ford and Palmer evade arrest, though they were initially banned from Creede. Through influential friends and business partners, they eventually managed to return.
On May 29, 1892, Ford opened Ford’s Exchange, a dance hall. However, his luck proved fleeting, as a mere six days later, on June 6, the entire business district of Creede, including Ford’s dancehall, was destroyed by fire. Undeterred, Ford swiftly reopened another saloon in a makeshift tent. But his final day was fast approaching.
The very next day, June 8, a man named Edward O’Kelley entered Ford’s makeshift saloon. As Ford’s back was turned, O’Kelley uttered, “Hello, Bob.” As Ford turned to acknowledge him, O’Kelley discharged both barrels of a sawed-off shotgun, killing Ford instantly. Some historians speculate that Soapy Smith might have been involved in orchestrating Ford’s assassination. Ford was initially buried in Creede but was later exhumed and reinterred in his hometown of Richmond, Missouri.
The Fate of Edward O’Kelley
Edward O’Kelley was arrested and subsequently tried for murder, receiving a twenty-year sentence in the Colorado Penitentiary. After serving ten years, he was released in 1902. His freedom was short-lived; in January 1904, lawmen gunned down O’Kelley in the streets of Oklahoma City, bringing a violent end to another chapter in the saga of the Old West.
Conclusion
Robert Ford’s life, marked by a desperate ambition and a singular act of betrayal, serves as a stark reminder of the complexities of frontier justice and moral ambiguities. His infamous deed irrevocably altered the course of American history, immortalizing him not as a hero, but as the ‘dirty little coward’ who brought down one of the era’s most legendary figures. The echoes of Jesse James’s distrust, “Bob Ford, I don’t trust; I think he is a sneak, but Charlie Ford is as true as steel,” underscore the bitter irony of Robert Ford’s ultimate legacy, a life forever defined by a moment of calculated treachery.
