Jesse James’s son may have been a lawyer, but he was no stranger to the long arm of the law.
The younger James was accused of robbing a Missouri Pacific Train near Kansas City's Leeds neighborhood (just west of today’s Truman Sports Complex), and stood trial for the offense in February 1899 at the Jackson County Courthouse in Kansas City. The charges and the ultimate trial was a media frenzy.
Thursday on Up to Date, attorney and author Ralph Monaco talks about the famous outlaw's son, subject of his new book, Son of a Bandit. Monaco also explains why area attorneys and others are staging a mock retrial of Jesse James, Jr., who was acquitted of the train robbery.
SEE MORE: The Jackson County Historical Society will stage a mock retrial of Jesse E. James on June 9 & 10. Click here for more information.
Ralph A. Monaco, II is a lifelong resident of Raytown, Missouri. He graduated from Rockhurst College in 1978, summa cum laude, with a degree in history and political science, and he earned his juris doctorate degree from U.M.K.C. School of Law in 1981. He is a practicing attorney with the Kansas City law firm of Monaco, Sanders, Gotfredson, Racine & Barber, L.C. Mr. Monaco, a well-known living historian and public speaker, has been recognized for his historical presentations with such awards as the Outstanding Service Award from the Jackson County Heritage Programs & Museums, Making History Come Alive Award from the Jackson County Historical Society, recipient of the Pioneer of Harrodsburg of Kentucky, Lifetime Membership Award in the Raytown Historical Society, and the Outstanding Service Award from Jackson County Parks & Recreation. Mr. Monaco was attracted to the story of Jesse Jr. based upon overlapping tales discovered in his research on his first book The Strange Story of Col. Swope & Dr. Hyde.
