Here's a very early complete text. Billy Gashade ain't in it, but "Bob Slade" is.

Daily Nebraska Press (Nebraska City, Neb.) (Sept. 5, 1886):

                   JESSE JAMES.
                      ----
                By The Two Orphans.
                      ----

Jesse James was a lad
That killed many a man
And he robbed the Denver train;
    But that dirty little coward
    That shot Mr. Howard
Has laid poor Jesse in his grave.

                   CHORUS

       Now Jesse James had a wife
       To mourn for his life,
       And children that were brave;
          But that dirty little coward
          That shot Mr. Howard
       Has laid Jesse in his grave.

Little Robert Ford,
That dirty little coward
I wonder how he must feel;
    For he ate of Jesse's bread,
    And he slept in Jesse's bed
Then laid Jesse James in his grave.

It was his brother Frank,
He robbed the Gallatin bank,
And carried the money from the town;
    It was at this very place,
    They had a little chase,
For they shot Capt. Sheets to the ground.

They went to the crossing
One pleasant summer night,
And they robbed the through express;
    With the agent on his knees,
    He delivered up the keys
To the outlaws, both Frank and Jess.

It was on a Wednesday night,
The moon was shining bright,
They robbed the Glendale bank;
    The people they did say,
    For many miles away,
It was robbed by Frank and Jesse James.


It was a pleasant summer morn,
Bold Jesse was at home,
Talking with his family brave;
    Robert Ford came along
    Like a thief in the night
And laid Jesse James in his grave.

Jesse was standing upon a chair,   
Nailing a picture there;                     [line missing?
    Robert Ford came behind him
    With a pistol in his hand,
And to the floor Jesse James did land.

This song was made
By old Bob Slade,
As soon as the news did arrive;
    And I'll bet "there's no man
    With the law in his hand,"
Could take Jesse James when alive.


Who were "The Two Orphans"? A vaudeville duo?