[Ce jour là] 13 février 1866. Les frères Jesse et Frank James pillent leur première banque, redistribuent une partie du butin aux pauvres…
Durant près de 15 ans, Jesse et Frank redistribuent une partie du butin aux pauvres dans le Missouri. (S’il faut en croire la légende…)
Le 13 février 1866, la modeste bourgade de Liberty, dans le Missouri, est endormie comme d’habitude. Que le pape ait démissionné les laisse aussi froids que du marbre. Les habitants profitent de la paix retrouvée après l’effroyable guerre de Sécession. On se croirait dans un décor d’Hollywood avec la prison, le saloon, le barbier et la banque. John Wayne se cure les dents en remontant la rue principale. Le shérif Henry Fonda le surveille du coin de l’oeil.
C’est une journée comme une autre. À l’intérieur de la Clay County Savings Bank, le vieux Greenup Bird somnole à la caisse, tandis que son fils William parle avec un client. Atmosphère relax. Jamais sur le territoire américain, un outlaw n’a encore osé piller une banque en temps de paix. Les minutes s’écoulent lentement. Un môme pénètre dans la banque avec un télégramme à la main. Il le tend à Greenup Bird qui lit avec étonnement l’ordre de la direction new-yorkaise : « Vérifiez l’absence de tout compte ouvert au nom de Jérôme
Au même moment, une douzaine d’hommes à cheval arrivent en ville. Ils remontent rapidement la rue principale avant de s’arrêter devant la Clay County Savings Bank. Ils ont autant l’air de plaisanter que les salariés de Goodyear faisant le siège de leur direction. Trois jours plus tard, le journal La Tribune rapporte les faits : « Il apparaît que durant l’après-midi entre dix et douze hommes entrèrent en ville et deux d’entre eux pénétrèrent dans la Clay County Savings Bank, demandant au clerc, M. William Bird, de faire la monnaie d’un billet de 10 dollars. Comme il s’y préparait, ils ont braqué leurs pistolets sur lui et sur son père, M. Greenup Bird, le caissier, les faisant tenir tranquilles tandis qu’ils pillaient la banque. » L’article ne mentionne pas le nom des auteurs de ce premier hold-up de l’Ouest, mais il s’agit de la bande des frères Jesse et Frank James. C’est leur premier braquage d’une très longue série qui s’étalera sur quinze ans.
Pétrifiés de peur et de surprise, les deux employés s’empressent de remettre 60 000 dollars en or et en bons aux deux braqueurs, avant d’être enfermés dans le coffre. Les deux hors-la-loi ressortent, sautent sur leurs chevaux et s’enfuient au grand galop avec leurs compagnons. Le bruit de la cavalcade fait sortir les habitants sur le pas de leur porte. Ils sont accueillis par une grêle de balles tirées par les fuyards. Le jeune George Wymore, 19 ans, s’effondre, tué net.
Les passants mettent un certain moment à réaliser que leur ville a eu l’immense privilège d’être le théâtre du premier braquage de banque dans l’Ouest en temps de paix. Les hommes reprennent vite leurs esprits et sautent à cheval pour se lancer à la poursuite des pillards. Mais la neige commence à tomber, effaçant leurs traces. On ne les reverra jamais. Malgré la récompense de 5 000 dollars offerte par la banque à qui rapportera les 60 000 dollars volés.
Des Robin des bois ?
Les deux frères James sont alors très jeunes. Jesse a 18 ans et Frank 23. Ils sont nés près de Kansas City d’un père pasteur qui les abandonne tôt pour se faire chercheur d’or en Californie. Leur mère se remarie plusieurs fois. Quand la guerre de Sécession commence, Frank, l’aîné, s’enrôle dans les troupes sudistes. Jesse qui n’a que 16 ans ne peut pas l’imiter, aussi rejoint-il la bande de William Quantrill qui poursuit une guerre de guérilla, massacrant la population du nord du Missouri et du Kansas. Ces francs-tireurs formés en Afghanistan commettent des crimes odieux qui scandalisent leur propre camp. Jesse quitte la bande en 1865 pour rejoindre sa mère fermière au Nebraska, où Frank le retrouve.
Mais la vie est dure, il faut emprunter de grosses sommes auprès des banques, lesquelles n’hésitent pas à s’emparer des biens des fermiers incapables de rembourser. Révoltés par cette manifestation du plus pur capitalisme américain, les deux frères James décident de faire justice eux-mêmes. Ils constituent une bande pour s’attaquer à la banque de Liberty. Encouragés par ce premier vol, ils récidivent en octobre à Lexington.
La légende prétend qu’après avoir lu l’histoire de Robin des bois, Jesse s’est mis à donner l’argent volé aux pauvres gens. Avec les frères Younger, ils attaquent leur premier train le 21 juillet 1873 et la première diligence le 15 janvier 1874. Jesse est abattu par derrière le 3 avril 1882 par un complice qui voulait toucher la récompense promise pour sa capture « Dead or alive ». Frank lui survit durant plus de trente ans, décédant d’une crise cardiaque en 1915. Aujourd’hui, des milliers de touristes visitent la banque de Liberty toujours debout. De quoi ne plus lui faire regretter les 60 000 dollars volés par les frères James.
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