You're listening to American Shadows, a production of I Heart Radio and Grimm & Mild

from Aaron Manky.

The mythical figure of Robin Hood has endured for centuries.

This classic tale of the anti-hero who stole from the rich and gave to the poor has been

retold countless times in books, movies, and folklore.

Variations are found in multiple cultures.

From centuries past to modern times, people have often revered the concept of rising

up against oppression and tyranny as a hero or savior.

So it's not surprising that tales of social banditries sparked the imaginations of those

living in the American West during the 1800s.

The written stories about Robin Hood date back to the 1400s and oral tellings probably

stretch back a century before that.

In these early tellings, a corrupt abbot demands payment from a knight.

Robin Hood loans the knight the money and later robs the abbot.

In the 1800s in the American West, people were mantisized outlaws and told stories suggesting

that they might be doing something similar.

One such example is the famous and infamous Jesse James.

Before the outlaw became one of America's most hunted men, he and his brother served

in the military, fighting for the Confederate army during the Civil War.

It said that Jesse and his brother Frank took partners in Traelia Massacre that killed

22 Union soldiers.

After the war, the brothers led a gang of outlaws, specializing in robbing stage coaches, banks

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