In 1984 Abner Somebody held up the First National Bank in Northfield, Minnesota.  As he fled the bank, townspeople chased him down, beat him up, then delivered him up to the sheriff.  All the money was recovered.

You’d think people would learn by the mistakes of others, but they don’t.  That robbery happened in 1984.  Now, turn back your calendars 108 years-that’s where the truth of this lesson was first revealed.

It was September 7, 1876.  Seven members of an outlaw gang rode into Northfield on horseback and robbed the very same bank.  You figured it right: As the outlaws left the bank, the townspeople opened fire on them.  Two of the gang were killed and three others were wounded and later captured.  The leaders got away.  You may remember them as Frank and his younger brother, Jesse.  The James boys out of Missouri.

So infuriated by that first robbery was the bank president that he posted a $5,000 reward for each of the James boys.  That was 122 years ago, when cowboys made only about $30 for a month’s work.  Five grand was a fortune.

It took six years, but some rogue finally found Jesse living in Missouri under the name-“Mr. Howard.”

A former member of Jesse’s own gang shot him in the back of the head and killed him dead.  Since that day, the backshooter has been immortalized in folk songs as: “The dirty little coward that shot Mr. Howard and laid poor Jesse in his grave.”

Jesse’s confessed killer was none other than the outlaw, Bob Ford.

Oh no you don’t.  He weren’t no kin of mine.  He was one of the Missouri Fords.  I’m out of the Pennsylvania bunch.