By the latter part of the nineteenth century train robberies had become big business among western outlaws. During one period trains were being...
The Social Bandits
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Jesse James
A Meal and Meeting of Legends
Did Jesse James and Billy the Kid really break bread together? July 26, 1879. Dr. Henry Hoyt (photo) has dinner at the Adobe Hotel in Las Vegas, NM....
Aliases, Flintlocks and Cowboy Vests
Were there are any instances of small-time outlaws using the name of more famous outlaws as an alias? Jeffery Stafford Hyde, Cheshire, UK We do know...
They Showed me a Good Time
Last May I had the privilege of visiting a whole slew of Jesse James history sites in the great state of Missouri. Thanks to the knowledge and...
Truth or Adair
The James-Younger Gang turns to train robbery. A half dozen men crouched next to the railroad tracks near Adair, Iowa, on July 21, 1873. The Rock...
Shooting Back
Our readers remind us of the variables and vagaries of historic truths, “well-established” facts, headlines and historical photographs. Did Bob Ford...
Riding with the James Gang
For 70 years, True West’s editors have been publishing stories about the legendary Missouri outlaws. In the summer of 1953, True West’s founding...
The Dirty Little Coward Gets His Due
“I remember telling Ron once that I considered The Assassination of Jesse James as by far the best Jesse James movie ever made. He replied that he...
The Strange and Mesmerizing Death of the Outlaw Jesse James
For over 140 years, Bob Ford’s cowardly killing of Jesse James has fascinated historians seeking the truth behind the assassination. “That man is...
One Legit Brit
New research changes the long-accepted story of how Jesse James cashed in his chips. We pride ourselves on telling the true stories of the...
Little by Liddil (Jesse Goes Down)
Wood Hite vs. Dick Liddil Maps & Graphics by Gus Walker. Based on the research of Dr. Sam Palmer and Dan Thrapp. December 4, 1881 James...
The Power of Pictures
The very best historical photographs from our treasured vaults define our idea of the West. In honor of our 70th year, the editors of True West have...