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Definitve Proof! James Lafayette Courtney was not Jesse James!
Science and current technology have proven that the fables alleging the infamous outlaw Jesse Woodson James is buried in Blevins, Texas are untrue!
History records that Jesse James was shot by Bob Ford on April 3, 1882 in St. Joseph, Missouri. Current legends, including the 1998 book "Jesse James Lived and Died in Texas" by Betty Dorsett Duke, claim Jesse James faked his death, moved to Texas and lived out his days as James Lafayette Courtney. Another Texas group claims Jesse James died at the ripe old age of 103 in Granbury, Texas and had used the name J. Frank Dalton.
One of these legends may now be put to rest.
Descendants of Stephen Courtney, James Lafayette Courtney's father, have copperated to let science determine if there is a DNA relationship. Oral swabs taken from Jack Courtney of Crockett, Texas - a grandson of James Lafayette Courtney and great grandson of Stephen Courtney; Lee Haun of Parkerville, Kansas - a grandson of James Lafayette Courntey's brother Theodore N. Haun and also a great grandson of Stephen Courtney and Harold Haun of Topeaka, Kansas - a son of Lee Haun, were sent to the Department of Forensic Biology of the New York City Office of the Chief Medical Examiner in March of this year.
DNA tests performed by Dr. Mechthild Prinz, Assistant Director of the Department of Forensic Biology, confirmed that Harold Haun, Lee M. Haun and Jack Courtney DO have a common paternal ancestor. In other words -- James Lafayette Courtney's descendants and the descendants of his brother Theodore Hauan show consistent Y chromosome specific alleles and DO have a common paternal ancestor, according to Dr. Prinz.
This proves that James Lafayette Courtney and his brother, Throdore Haun, descend from the same father.
I will skip a Courtney/Haun Family Genealogy as most of you on this GenForum have seen it discussed but do encourage you to examine photos related to this controversey at: www.andruss.net/courtney.htm
DNA Tests Explained:
Dr. Prinz explains the DNA results, "Twenty Y chromosome specific STR loci were tested in order to determine if Harold and Lee Haun share the same paternal lineage with Jack Courtney. The conclusion is that is is very likely Jack Courtney, Harold Haun and Lee M. Haun have a common paternal ancestor."
She continues, "All Y Chromosone specific alleles were consistent between the three tested individuals with one exception: James Courtney shows a different allele at locus DYS385."
Dr. Prinz explains that the three generations between the subjects and the common paternal ancestor likely accounts for the one mutation. Outside influiences, such as exposure to radiation, X-rays, etc., could also play a role in the difference noted.
She added, "We consider it more likley that this difference is caused by a mutation. Except for one allele at the DYS385 locus, all of the Y STR alleles determined for Harold and Lee Haun and Jack Courtney are identical. Blood and other physiological fluids and tissues contain polymorphic (many forms) genetic markers which can differ from person to person. These genetic markers are inherited, that is, they are passed from generation to generation and can be used to compare biological samples from different sources. Genetic markers occur because of changes (mutations) that occur in a person's hereditary material - DNA."
"Based on the European Y STR database (http://ystr.charite.de) of 4115 people the nine locus haplotype determined for the Hauns has been seen once in a German individual. This means the haplotype is rare. The modified haplotype seen for Jack Courtney has not been observed in the database, which confirms the likelihood of a mutation." she concludes.
"Therefore it is concluded that Harold Haun, Lee Haun and Jack Courtney are very likely to have a common paternal ancestor," Dr. Prinz states in her letter.
For more information, or for a photo copy of the laboratory report, please email me.
CeCe Taylor
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