Major Cobb’s eulogy for Jesse James

“There’s no question about it—Jesse was an outlaw—a bandit—a criminal—even those that loved him ain’t got no answer to that. But we ain’t ashamed of him! I don’t know why, but I don’t think even America is ashamed of Jesse James. Maybe it’s because he was bold and lawless, like we all of us like to be sometimes. Maybe it’s because we understand a little that he wasn’t altogether to blame for what his times made him. Maybe it’s because for ten years, he licked the tar out of five states! Or maybe, it’s because he was so good at what he was doing. I don’t know. All I do know is, he was one of the doggonest, goldingused, dadblamedused buckaroos that ever road across these United States of America!”

[He reveals the monument, and reads its epitaph: ]

IN LOVING REMEMBRANCE

JESSE W. JAMES

DIED APRIL 3, 1882

AGED 34 YEARS, 6 MONTHS, 28 DAYS

MURDERED BY A TRAITOR AND COWARD

WHOSE NAME IS NOT WORTHY TO

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