Dalton Surfaces As Jesse James: He and His Affidavit "Go Public" On May 19, 1948
The following affidavit ( signed by J. Frank Dalton in the presence of Reece L. Russell, notary public, in Lawton, Oklahoma on April 24, 1948 ) appeared in full on the front page of The Lawton Constitution newspaper, issue of Wednesday, May 19, 1948:
KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS: That I, J. Frank Dalton, being of sound mind and body, wish to state that I am the son of Robert James, a Baptist minister, and Zerelda Cole, and that I was born at Centerville, Missouri, on September 5th, 1847. The town of Centerville was later changed to Kearney, Missouri, same being located and situated in the present County of Clay, the State of Missouri. I have used many different names and aliases over many years, but my real name is and always has been JESSE WOODSON JAMES. My full brother was ALEXANDER FRANK JAMES, four years older than myself. We were members of QUANTRILL'S MISSOURI IRREGULARS that fought through the Civil War on the side of the Confederacy, later we became outlaws or bandits who operated over a wide area of several states.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I hereunto set my hand and seal this the 24th day of April, 1948.
( Signed ) J. Frank Dalton
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