Talk:Frank James

MeanMug

Notice in the photo of the brothers the mean mug, he's like, you want some? Come get some. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 72.234.3.77 (talk) 18:06, 10 October 2008 (UTC)

i have a picture with the inscription "mrs. frank james" on it .it is very old and i would like to know if this is frank's wife . any help would be appreciated. my email address is: grandmajosy@centurytel.net

Edited Introduction

The introduction formerly indicated that the James' life of crime was due to injustices from railroad companies and "untimely" death of their mother leading them to take revenge on railroads. In fact, their mother outlived both of them, surviving to the age of 86. Their first robberies were banks, not railroads. They didn't rob a train until at least five years into their criminal career. Dabarkey 06:37, 14 November 2006 (UTC)

I believe Frank James did outlive his mother. The Daily Oklahoman, an Oklahoma City, Oklahoma paper tells of Zeralda's death on a train trip from Oklahoma City back to Missouri. She had been been visiting Frank in OKC. I do not have the date of print but have seen the microfilm of it in the past. The article and her death occurred in 1910 or 1911. I will be unable to verify this for quite some time so I leave this only as a guide in case someone else cares to verify.

No jury

No Missouri jury would have sentenced James after that demonstration. This opinion needs a reliable source. Surely there were at least 12 men who didn't admire rebels and thieves. Nitpyck (talk) 21:36, 13 April 2009 (UTC)

Embezzler or shoplifter

Aaron Mittenthal, the future grandparent of composer Aaron Copland, who would go on to romanticize the life of the contemporary outlaw Billy the Kid in his 1938 ballet, hired Frank James to work at a Dallas wholesale and retail dry-goods store. It was James's running off with the store's profits that convinced the Mittenthals to leave Texas and return to New York City. Seems to me the fact that Frank James was also a petty thief in Texas belongs in the article but the crimes should be dated. And a citation would not hurt. The date and whether charges were filed seems more important that the name of the grandson of the shop owner. Also as written it is unclear with whom Billy the Kid is contemporary: Aaron M, Aaron C, the 1938 ballet, or Frank J. In my opinion, a list of other people who were robbed by Frank and Jesse and were also famous or had famous friends or relatives is not needed.Nitpyck (talk) 06:12, 6 July 2009 (UTC)

Racing and 50s tv

I want to see how these 2 essentially broke ex-cons established racing in several states. It seems likely that people who owned thoroughbreds and had money established race courses and this sport. Give me a source please. What does an obscure episode of a forgotten tv show have to do with the section? Nitpyck (talk) 04:59, 23 August 2009 (UTC)

Illinois State Fair had a race course in 1894 Cole Younger was in prison until 1901. I'm taking the racing out. Nitpyck (talk) 06:32, 6 October 2009 (UTC)

How many murders

Article says involvement in 4 murders but the Jesse James article says at least 8; not counting the 320 killed during the Civil War (at least 200 were unarmed civilians or surrendered soldiers). Clearly Jesse didn't kill them all but under current law he would have been guilty as part of either the gang or terrorist group.Nitpyck (talk) 05:10, 7 October 2009 (UTC)

Family?

How about a little info about Frank's family? The only source noted for his wife and son is his NYT obit -- which doesn't actually mention either of them. Jesse has a number of living great-grandchildren, but I don't know whether Frank has living descendants or not. --Michael K Smith^Talk 16:46, 27 November 2011 (UTC)