On this day April 3rd 1882, Jesse James was shot in the back by Bob Ford who was one of Jesse's gangs. The killing took place at Jesse's home in St Joseph, Missouri. The event which was immortalised in "The Ballad of Jesse James" did more than anything else to ensure the legend of Jesse James would continue. The story even goes that it was all a set up so that Jesse could continue to live incognito in security. The same thing happened with any famous figure including Butch Cassidy. The song according to the last verse was composed by Billy Garshade.