I am including a note I received from an author and Civil War researcher, John Collier, regarding his recent reading of my book Jesse James Lived & Died in Texas. John Collier is the author of Confederate Gravesites of Europe, American Civil War Gravesites of Great Britain & Ireland, and More American Civil War Gravesites of Great Britain & Ireland.
"May 3, 2003

Re: JAMES COURTNEY

Having been involved in literally countless claims before from people who claim to be descended from famous (and not so famous) Civil war participants, I can state with all honesty and accuracy too that in my opinion that either the claim of Betty Dorsett Duke is genuine (its sincerity is beyond question) or it is a case of an unbelievable number of coincidences. (The odds) for such an incredible amount of co-incidences to occur must be several thousand if not millions to one.

- JOHN COLLIER 3-5-03"