The idea behind being in this program is to protect those who have witnessed a crime and are willing to testify in court against the perpetrators. Seemingly, the person who committed the crime is usually the type of person who will take retribution against the party who is willing to tell what they seen. The witness protection program provides a new identity, a new place to live, monthly stipends, and of course protection for the witness and family members. The agents who work the program are very adept to the people who enter the program and try to make the transition go as easily as possible. The downside to the program requires the witness and the immediate family members to leave behind all other family members. The witness and family members may never contact anyone in the family or relate to any new friends who they really are and where they come from nor why they entered the program.
The story behind one of the first famous members of the program
The idea behind providing protection for a witness developed earlier in our history, however, the one of the first who used the idea behind the program was Mr. Howard and his family. Mr. Howard a very well known man in Missouri considered an outstanding citizen in his community. The public idolized him for his notorious deeds making it next to impossible for his arrest as a criminal. Mr. Howard single handedly formed his own gang and fought the railroad that at this time in history was expanding by taking away land from the local people. Mr. Howard was considered “the Robin Hood of the West.” Try as they may the railroad agents and the local authorities could not apprehend him and his brother. It had finally come to the point that the authorities were literally afraid if they killed him or his brother that the citizens might take revenge against the railroad. Wells Fargo at the time a well-known agency with many agents also feared the power that Mr. Howard had amongst the local people. The newspapers and even writers from back east had built his reputation into the point of a hero not a villain. The quest for the authorities was how to extinguish the actions of Mr. Howard and his gang without raising the anger of the citizens. Finally, the head agent over Wells Fargo comes up with a very clever idea. The idea had to be accepted by the authorities and Mr. Howard.
The Plot Thickens
In order to carry out any plan Wells Fargo might attempt they needed an undercover agent who could infiltrate the gang. Mr. Ford a member of the gang had a younger brother named Robert. Robert attended college back east felt like he had been left out of the glory his older brother was feasting in along with the other gang members. The whole idea sending Bob to College was to get him away from the gang and the crimes committed. Robert Ford had his own agenda, which did not fit into the James family gang plans. Yes, Mr. Howard was actually the notorious outlaw known as Jessie James and his brother Frank James were cousins to the Ford brothers. When Bob returned to his home, he decided to become an agent for Wells Fargo. He went to the office of Mr. Robertson trying to get a position with the company. The outside agents laughed him out of the office calling him a kid who was still wet behind the ears. Once Bob was outside on the streets from a window, he saw an older man who waved him to the side door of the Wells Fargo office. The thought ran through his head that this is the Mr. Robertson and he wanted to speak to him privately. Bob went to the side door as instructed entering into the office of Mr. Robertson. Mr. Robertson informed him that he was looking for an undercover agent that Mr. Howard alias Jessie James would trust to help him with a plot that was so amazing no one would believe it not even Mr. James himself. Bob readily took on the task returning home where his brother would come by daily to check on their mother.
The Witness Protection Program Unfolding
Bob convinced his brother to take him with him to become a member of the gang or he would join the Younger brother's gang who were cousins as well. Bob's older brother did not like this idea, as the Younger's were well known to be cold-blooded killers, which Jessie was not. Yes, they may have killed a few in their day but only in self-defense. After Bob met Jessie, he found that his cousin was a very mild mannered man with a family who did not seem to be the criminal type. Once he had Jessie's confidence, he set up a meeting with Mr. Robertson and the plot began. Jessie had become very tired of the outlaw life and felt like the one the authorities were closing in which made him fear for his family more so than for his own life. The following week became very hectic as Jessie announced one last big robbery for the gang before retirement. Frank talking to Jessie, “said brother you know we can never retire.” Then the whole idea was unfolded to Frank who was astounded that Jessie would even consider such a plot. The mere thought of retirement to Frank was impossible but with Jessie's new plan, Frank began to believe they could leave the outlaw business and become successful businesspersons. Frank and his wife really wanted to get out from under this whole gang crime and go straight. Frank believed in his brother and agreed to go along with the plot. The plot would not be successful unless Frank agreed. Jessie needed him to be a witness and to identify his body. Now the only thing left was to wait until it was possible to carry out the plot. Jessie informed his wife to pack and send everything back east to her niece in New York. He told his wife and all around him that they were going to rob the Wells Fargo office safe then escape back east not to be heard from again.
