But, the State of Missouri had had enough, and about this same time, Missouri Governor Thomas Crittendon rewarded $10,000 for any information leading to the capture of Frank or Jesse James.
In January 1882, two James Gang members — Wood Hite and Dick Liddel, on the run from the law, took refuge in the home of Martha Bolton, Bob Ford’s widowed sister. One day at breakfast, Hite and Liddel began to argue while Ford sat by watching. The dispute soon accelerated with the feuding pair drawing their guns. The sound of four rapid shots from Hite’s gun soon echoed through the room, one of which struck Liddel in the leg. Falling to the floor, Dick returned the fire, hitting Hite in the arm. In the meantime, Bob Ford drew his own gun and, being Liddel’s close friend, fired one shot, hitting Hite in the head. Collapsing to the floor, Wood Hite died just a few minutes later. Ford then wrapped the corpse in a blanket, carried it outside and placing it on a mule, took it into the woods, where he buried Hite in a shallow, unmarked grave. This killing, coupled with Ford’s greed and desire for notoriety, would be a death sentence for Jesse James.
Jesse James
When word of the shooting reached authorities, Ford was arrested, but when he informed detectives that he had access to the much-wanted Jesse James, he was released. Next, Ford secretly met with Missouri Governor Thomas T. Crittenden, who told him that if he killed the notorious outlaw, he would receive a full pardon for the Hite murder as well as the killing of James and also receive the reward money. Ford agreed to perform the deed, and next met with the Sheriff of Clay County, where the two formulated a plan to get Jesse James.
By March of 1882, some James Gang members began to turn themselves in, leaving Jesse with little left to plan a bank robbery with besides Charlie and Bob Ford. Though he instinctively distrusted Robert Ford, he followed through, and on the morning of April 3, 1882, he was having breakfast with the Ford brothers in his home.
Afterward, the men went to the parlor, where Jesse outlined his plans to rob the Platte City, Missouri Bank. When Jesse noticed that a framed needlepoint picture, done by his mother, was hanging crookedly on the wall, he stood on a chair to adjust the picture. Suddenly he heard the sound of Bob Ford’s cocked pistol and turned slightly. Bob then shot Jesse just below the right ear, and Jesse toppled to the floor dead. Jesse was 34 years old.
Initially, Ford was charged with murdering both Wood Hite and Jesse James, but true to his word; Governor Crittenden pardoned him while he stood trial for the murder.
On May 29, 1892, he opened a dance hall called Ford’s Exchange. But luck was not with Ford, and just six days later, on June 6, the entire business district, including Ford’s dancehall, burned to the ground. Wasting no time, Bob reopened another saloon just a few days later makeshift-shift tent.
The very next day, June 8, in walked a man by the name of Edward O’Kelley with a sawed-off shotgun. As Ford’s back was to the door, O’Kelley said, “Hello, Bob,” and as Ford turned around to see who had addressed him, O’Kelley shot him with both barrels, killing him instantly. Some historians speculate that Soapy Smith was involved in Ford’s death, perhaps talking O’Kelley into the act. Ford was buried in Creede but was later exhumed and reburied in his hometown of Richmond, Missouri.
In the meantime, O’Kelley was arrested and tried for murder. He was convicted and given a twenty-year sentence in the Colorado Penitentiary. However, after serving ten years, he was released in 1902. Two years later, in January 1904, lawmen shot O’Kelley down in the streets of Oklahoma City.