Re: Two Days Before Dalton Died In Granbury

August 13, 1951
Howk writes a letter from Granbury, Texas just 2 days before J Frank Dalton dies

Glad to hear from you again. I can’t get much information out of Jesse James now. Old gunshot wounds are breaking open all over his body. They are awful open sores and Jesse is most miserable.

I should have taken him on up to Colorado where it is cool. Awfully hot and humid down at Gilchrist especially when it started the storm season.
It is hot and dry here around Granbury but the nights are cool and the mosquitoes no bad.
All I can suggest is put that radio locator on points off the SE-SW-N & NE corner of the old house and do like wise around the old smoke house too.

Look along east line of smokehouse also east line on east side of your house, where the creek is and where it goes into the river. 2/3rds the way up signal hill would be just about right.
Baby feet means a cache nearby. Left foot means 4ft from toe. Right foot means 11 foot from toe.
There are caches buried all around here. I doubt that I can hunt them now because all my time is taken up just looking after and nursing Jesse James.
If Jess could only try and understand how tough of a burden it is on us – No money – just barely making out food and medicine.
Doctor bills and medicine eat me up. I can’t work because JJ won’t allow the help to touch him unless I am right here supervising every move. He won’t even act civil toward the doctors who come unless I am right here and assure Jesse all is O.K. and the doctors is OK.

One of Jesse’s daughters came from Decatur, Illinois. She is Harriet Redding. She knows about Archie. JJ had so many wives scattered all over North America under various aliases, we will never know all of it, will we?
I know JJ has children at Brownwood, Texas, Old Brogoria, Galveston, Beaumont, Valentine, Jasper, Waco, Dallas Texas.Etc,etc. and some on Oklahoma.
JJ treated the daughter in Oklahoma at Guthrie terrible. But he has finally owned Harriett Redding. He has another daughter in Nashville, Tenn. What has JJ done for them? You guessed it! Nothing!
JJ was born April 17, 1844 at Louisville, Ky – Not Missouri! His daddy was not Robert James! I have reason to believe the father was George James and grandfather of Joseph James. Archie should know for sure.

Why don’t you find out about the B.E. Leasure and Miller’s there? And more! We have JJ turned on his stomach. Bed sores on his back are looking awfully vicious and mean. The least think could take JJ now as hot as it is here.
JJ’s own whims and bull headedness are to be blamed for the mess he got himself into and the turmoil he stirred up. It takes his old pal the “Deacon” to hold old JJ with both feet and sit on him on him straight. Deacon can do a lot we can’t do.

Adios
Lee