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Reply from Betty Duke's to Phil Stewart posted January 6, 2000 on the Courtney Genforum.
January 22, 2000
To Phil,
It's been a long time since we talked, I quasi we've both been pretty
busy. I hope you're enjoying your new job. Too bad I can't pick up your
station from Texas, I'd like to hear your radio show some time.
Phil, I'm aware that you believe "traditional history" in the matter of
Jesse James. It's obvious that you have done your homework, and I believe
you'll agree that I have too. Only people who have done the amount of
research that we both have will understand my next statement. Surely you
have noticed the undeniable decscrepencies in the "traditional version,"
doesn't that put up a red flag?
Concerning the Wood Hite issue, you mentioned that you believe Wood Hite
may be pictured in the "Barrel Factory" photo. I've seen that photo, George
Warfel sent a copy to me. Wood Hite may be in that photo, but Jesse James
isn't. As soon as you have verified that the man you believe may be Wood
Hite , is actually Wood Hite, I'd love to know. By the way, what photo will
you use to compare the "Barrel Factory" photo to in order to prove your
point? Is there another known photo of Wood Hite?
Your comment on the article in The Omaha Bee," April 6, 1882; You said
that "Hites body was found " last evening"… not buried. It would have be
clearer if the writer had said: The remains of Wood Hite were found last
evening on their (The Ford boys) farm where they were buried. Poor wording
nothing more."
Answer;This is Exactly what the article stated: "Kansas City, MO., April 6 -
The remains of Wood Hite, one of the James gang, killed in a quarrel at the
house of a sister of the Ford boys, the slayers of Jesse James, was found on
their farm, where they we buried last evening," (Buried last eveing) and an
inquest was begun by the coroner of Ray County." Guess What? That's the
very night that an autopsy was done on the head of "Jesse James."
HMMMMMM…how convenient. I'm not really in to playing GOTCHA, but I just
couldn't restrain myself.
Hey I've got a great ideal! Why don't we test some of James Ross' DNA
against the DNA of a patrilineal descendant of Wood Hite?
Your Comment: "Lots of people knew Jesse James. The arrogant little cuss
rode right down the main street of Kearney to get married. He had several
friends in Jackson County, mostly old war buddies, who sheltered and
protected him, and knew him on site. Sheriff Timberlake knew him on sight.
Many of the neighbors had grown up with him."
Answer: Phil, I purchased , Goodbye, Jesse James, (a compilation of six of
the best news stories first printed in the Kansas City Journal in 1882) at
the Jesse James Bank Museum in Liberty, MO., where you used to work. I'll
quote from page 120: "Now, since his features have been closely inspected,
it is positively known that Jesse was often seen upon the streets of Kearney
and not EVEN RECOGNIZED by members of his old bushwhacking bank, who claimed
they would know him on sight. But years had wrought a change in appearance
of Jesse James, and he passed as a stranger among intimate friends and
officers who searched for him." I don't believe the years "had wrought a
change" in Jesse James, I believe the man they closely inspected in death was
Wood Hite, or perhaps someone else, and that's why none of the aforementioned
recognized him - it simply wasn't Jesse James that lay dead in the coffin.
Your Comment: "Two guys with exactly the same wounds? Oh Come On!!!!!!"
Answer: Phil I believe you have misunderstood. I did not say that two guys
had the exact same wounds. Heck, I don't even think there were two guys that
were killed on, or around, April 3, 1882. I believe there was only ONE guy
and that guy was NOT Jesse James. The dead guy was passed off as Jesse
James, and this time the scheme worked!!!! (We must not forget that George
Shepard reported that he had shot Jesse dead in Joplin, MO., in 1879. Of
course the sheriff didn't buy it because there was no corpse!) When the
authorities were finally convinced by ex-Confederate guerillas and James Gang
members (don't you just know they were tellin the truth) that the dead man
was Jesse James, they understandably noted all of the wounds on the corpse,
including his description, and voila, there you have it - "Jesse James." And
that is exactly why there is so much confusion to this very day about Jesse
James. The authorities were tricked into believeing the corpse was Jesse
James by some very intelligent men and we have had a false description of
Jesse James ever since that fateful day. But you know what? I'm awfully
glad the hoax was a success, because if I am right about my
great-grandfathers true identity, I probably wouldn't be sitting here right
now. He would have eventually been caught.
Your comment on the Charlie Ford suicide issue: You asked if I would
like a copy of the newspaper article and doctors statement as to the suicide?
Answer: Yeah, I'd like to have copies even though you stated earlier in your
letter," you don't consider the newspapers exactly reliable or accurate."
But I guess we have to make do with what we have, don't we Phil?
I am currently researching Charlie Ford and I have made many interesting
finds. Finds that back up Willie Ford's Claim. Wait until you see the
photos he has to verify his story! They're amazing. Willie has absolutely
nothing to gain by lying. Phil, there are things that I can't go into right
now, but a true descendant of Charlie Ford would know about Jesse James,
a.k.a. James Courtney. I do believe Willie Ford.
Phil, I'm having a real good time, and I think you are too. Controversy
spices things up a little doesn't it? I wish you the best of luck with your
new job and I sincerely thank you for all of your interest and help in this
matter.
As Ever,
Betty Dorsett Duke
Note to readers: You may review all the past and present correspondence on the Jesse James/James L. Courtney Debate at <http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~ivyplace/hedgpethg.html>
Also you may contact David Hedgpeth at mldv@juno.com to be added to (or deleted from) the e-mail list ("Dave's Updates") or for direct comments/questions.
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