Oklahoma Stories: Lawton Man Really Jesse James?

OETA
OETA
16,602
0
Published 2013-08-01
In 1948, a 100-year-old Lawton man named Frank Dalton came forward claiming to be notorious outlaw Jesse James. Although James was widely believed to have been assassinated by Robert Ford in 1887, a crowd of 30,000 people came to hear Dalton speak.
All Comments (17)
  • @lsfreese
    I remember back in the 50’s a tv program called We The People sponsored by Gulf Oil. They interviewed this old gentleman claiming to be Jesses James. I believe Bob Smith, who later became Buffalo Bob, was the host of the show. The old man laid on a chaise lounge as he was not able to get up or walk. He was very convincing to me being just a very young boy.
  • @terrihenricks4160
    J. Frank Dalton eventually took up residence at Meramec Caverns in Stanton, MO (billed as "Jesse James Hideout"), as an added attraction for the visitors. In 1950 he went to court in Union, MO to attempt to have his name of Jesse James "restored." He brought in witnesses who claimed to have been members of the James Gang to support his claim. The trial attracted spectators from miles around and was heavily covered by the news media. The judge avoided having to decide the issue; he determined that if Dalton was ever Jesse James, he was still Jesse James in name and there was nothing upon which the court needed to rule. It was a colorful chapter in the local history of the area.
  • @josephbragg5020
    Would you really believe that they would say it was anyone else instead.
  • @tencooktcats
    jesse james was an alien sent to earth to accumulate gold
  • @cannonrogmatt
    His name was J. Frank Dalton he lived in south Lawton. Frank James lived a while in Fletcher but the old times in Fletcher ever saw Jesse James or any resemblance of a person visiting Frank.
  • @Tuscoro
    Why do you open the video with Frank James photo?
  • @wildestcowboy2668
    Jesse James ain't dead, he built me a motor cycle last year....kinda expensive tho...
  • @phillfoote
    wasnt bud dalton uncle to the daltons ( bob, grat, and emmet) and jesses mothers maiden name
  • @No-en4vv
    Bob killed him in April 3rd end of story
  • @martybrown8965
    He didn't die and Frank Dalton isn't and never was , Jesse had worts on side face and under left eye and on neck also he wore gloves because he had worts on left hand so frank Dalton was in with quantrell raiders and rode with uncle Jesse James so get your facts straight ok ,
  • @martybrown8965
    Frank Dalton isn't Jesse James, he was a member of Jesse James gang from quantrell ranch, along with billy the kid and Pat Garrett as well, get your facts straight Buddy