Being a resident of Missouri for many years, I have heard but cannot substantiate, that Frank James was a Mason & had been taken prisoner. He gave the distress signal to his guard who allowed him to escape. To be taken for what it is worth.
I can remember reading a book, while I was a resident of Texas & raised at a lodge there, about Masons in Texas during the war, given to me by my instructor who tutored me through the degrees of Masonry & found it quite fascinating in that when officers of both sides of a battle found that they experienced the bond of Masonry, the hostilities ceased, the dead of both sides who were known to be Masons, were given Masonic burials & in some cases, lodge held on the spot.
I can imagine the internal conflict that must have been to uphold your oath to fight & defeat your enemy but there was the Masonic bond not to knowingly kill another brother Mason.
Anyway, quite interesting.