Name/Title
Ford Brothers Sentencing Order for Murder of Jesse James by Buchanan County Court, April 17, 1882Entry/Object ID
2020.1.226Scope and Content
Ford Brothers Sentencing Order for Murder of Jesse James by Buchanan County Court, April 17, 1882. Copy of the court order sentencing Charles & Robert Ford to death by hanging on May 19, 1882. (both brothers were pardoned the next day.) Back of copy is "The Demise of Jesse James".
This was a document provided by the Buchanan County Commission to visitors to the Court. In this particular case, Judge Ron Taylor provided the document to school children visiting as part of the St. Joseph Museum "Let's Go St. Joe" summer camp program.
Text of document:
"Monday, April 17, 1882 and 19th day of term.
Court met pursuant to adjournment
Present: Hon. Wm. H. Sherman, Judge
Sam D. Cowan, Clerk
R. W. Thomas, Sheriff and
O. M. Spencer, Pros. Atty.
Comes now the ? Jung and return into open Court here 11 indictments each marked 'a true bill' and 'Issac T. Wasen, foreman'.
State of Missouri
vs
Charles Ford and Robert Ford
Murder 1st degree
Comes now the Prosecuting Attorney and dismisses as to the second count of the indictment. Comes now again the Prosecuting Attorney and the defendants Chares Ford and Robert Ford being in open Court are each formally arraigned and each enters a plea of guilty of murder in the first degree by the killing of one Jesse W. James as charged in the indictment against them and being now asked by the Court if they had any legal cause to show why judgment should not be pronounced against them according to law, and still failing to show such cause, it is therefore sentenced, ordered and adjudged by the Court that the said defendants Charles Ford and Robert Ford having plead guilty as aforesaid, be, on the 19th day of May, A.D. 1882 between the hours of 12 n and 2 o'clock P.M. by the Sheriff of Buchanan County, Missouri, or some of this deputies at or near the city of St. Joseph Missouri, hanged by the neck until he is dead. And, it is further ordered by the Court that the said defendants be now remanded to the County jail of the County aforesaid and there be securely kept and treated in the manner directed by law until the said day of their execution.
Ordered that Court adjourn until 9½ o'clock tomorrow morning.
Judge."
Back side:
"The Demise of Jesse James"
Buchanan County courtrooms are rich in history and high drama. Perhaps the most famous incident was the sentencing of the Ford Brothers for the killing of Jesse James. The killing itself attracted national attention and has inspired many books and movies since.
This is an authentic reproduction of the historic document of the event. On April 17, 1882, just 14 days after the killing of Jesse James, the Ford brothers were indicted, pleaded guilty, and were sentenced to 'hang by the neck until dead' for shooting Jesse in the head while his back was turned.
The sentencing did not disturb the rough Ford brothers. They had the word of Missouri governor Thomas J. Crittenden that hey would be pardoned. They had also been promised a $10,000 reward.
News accounts of the sentencing reported that Bob Ford smiled and indicated a laughing contempt for a 'trivial circumstance of this nature'. Charles Ford, one reporter wrote, 'entertained a fuller appreciation for the gravity of the situation'
Both Fords were pardoned the next day and released from jail with only a part of the $10,000 reward that had been promised for Jesse James dead or alive.
The Ford brothers from the time of their arrest until the day they were freed from jail were treated like celebrities. Protected by their promised pardon, they talked freely about their crimes.
Charles Ford even volunteered that a gold watch found in Jesse's home was one that he, Charles, had stolen from the Governor of Arizona in 1875.
The Fords went west from here and lived lives of debauchery with their money and ill fame. Charles committed suicide and Bob was fatally shot in a Colorado dance hall".Lexicon
Search Terms
Jesse James Assassination, Jesse James Death, Ford Brothers, Jesse James Award, Ford Brothers Sentencing for Death of Jesse James, Ford Brothers PardonRelationships
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Jesse JamesPerson or Organization
Charles FordPerson or Organization
Robert FordPerson or Organization
Governor Thomas CrittendenPerson or Organization
William H. ShermanPerson or Organization
Samuel D. CowanPerson or Organization
O. M. SpencerPerson or Organization
R. W. Thomas