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253:, that a man matching their suspect's description was in their town. Taney County Sheriff Bill Pumphrey and Prosecuting Attorney Joe Gideon traveled from Forsyth to Wewoka to attempt to apprehend Bozarth's murderer. Jackson was captured at the home of Anna Whitten. He was still in possession of Bozarth's vehicle, though he had attempted to disguise it by painting it; the investigators discovered buckets of black paint that Jackson had used to paint the vehicle.
374:
He then turned to face the crowd in the enclosure and was placed in the center of the trap. Deputy Moore placed the black hood over his face, Sheriff
Simmons placed the noose around his neck, while other officers strapped his legs together. Jackson then raised his hands and said, "Well, be good,
256:
When authorities returned
Jackson to Forsyth, Reed positively identified him as the man who was with Bozarth. Jackson admitted to riding with Bozarth but insisted that there was another passenger, a man by the name of William Young, who committed the murder and forced Jackson to ride with him to
357:
The next morning, a few minutes before six o'clock, it is estimated that at least 400 people were waiting outside the courthouse to witness the hanging of Roscoe
Jackson. After the spectators had filed into the enclosure, Sheriff Coin quieted the crowd. On the runway was Father Ahern, Jackson's
403:
reported that
Jackson's father returned home and left Jackson's attorney, G.W. Rogers, to take charge of the body. Jackson's father, mother, and siblings attended his funeral; his estranged wife and children did not. Afterwards, Jackson was laid to rest in Howards Ridge.
179:
Jackson married Dona
Ellison, a native of Howards Ridge, and had four children with her, all of whom were still young at the time of Jackson's execution. By the time of Jackson's death, he and Ellison were estranged, and she and the couple's four children had moved to
200:, tossed a lit match onto the dog, and set it on fire. The dog ran away and accidentally set fire to a hotel building before a citizen killed the dog with a shotgun to "end its misery". This incident earned Jackson a reputation in the area as a "brutal man".
176:, on May 11, 1901, to Andrew J. and Matilda (Kyle) Jackson. As the eldest son, Roscoe worked on the family farm with his father until he was 17 years old. He then left home and lost contact with his family as he drifted westward across the country.
369:
To ask anyone to forgive me is too much. Death itself is not so bad, but the record a person leaves behind him may be. To die accidentally is easy, but when you come to it gradually, it is hard. If you feel I am paying my debt like a man I am
187:
Jackson's first run-in with the law came as a teenager. Jackson and another boy fought over a girl, with
Jackson on the losing end. Afterwards, Jackson began carrying a gun and bragging about it, which resulted in his arrest and conviction of
354:, for his son's execution, although he did not witness the hanging. While his father visited him in the county jail, Roscoe told his father, "What a man sows, that shall he also reap, and I am prepared to reap my harvest in the morning".
432:
am on May 21, 1937; and Roscoe
Jackson. Barr and Jackson were the last people hanged in Missouri, and the state carried out its first gas chamber execution on March 4, 1938. In total, Missouri used the gas chamber on eight men in 1938.
156:. Jackson, a habitual criminal, confessed to the murder of Pearl Bozarth, a traveling salesman, with the motive being robbery, as Jackson had stolen Bozarth's money and car. Jackson was convicted of Bozarth's murder and
391:
Following
Jackson's execution, after officials removed Jackson's body from the gallows, a crowd remained close to the enclosure where the hanging had taken place; souvenir hunters cut off pieces of the rope.
313:, but they could not agree on the punishment. Judge Robert Gideon called in the jury after two hours of deliberation, and discovered that nine of the jurors were for the death penalty and three were for
350:
One of the witnesses to the hanging was Howard
Bozarth, the son of the murder victim Pearl Bozarth. Jackson's father, Andrew J. Jackson, had made the trip from Howard's Ridge, near
153:
242:
The owner of Shadow Rock Camp was W.G. Reed, a longtime friend of
Bozarth. Reed told the investigators of the hitchhiker who was with Bozarth at the camp. Reed and a local
985:
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317:. After the jury explained to Judge Gideon that they would not be able to come to an agreement, they were dismissed; Judge Gideon then sentenced Jackson to death.
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235:; his car and money were gone. His cause of death was likely multiple bullet wounds to the head. Bozarth's remains were taken by Forsyth police officers and
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reported that Jackson's father waited in the sheriff's office until the execution was completed so he could take Jackson's body to Howards Ridge, the
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for Missouri's executions moving forward. Three men were hanged in the state in 1937 prior to Governor Stark's bill, those being Fred Adams in
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220:, who had been traveling through the area selling poultry medication at the time. Bozarth gave Jackson a lift, and the men stopped in
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On May 20, 1937, Stone County Sheriff I.H. Coin, Deputy F.A. Moore, Taney County Sheriff Henry Simmons and Harvey George of the
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for the evening. There, Bozarth paid for Jackson to have a meal and paid for his lodging for the night at Shadow Rock Camp.
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folks." Sheriff Coin pulled the lever, and Jackson fell ten feet. Ten minutes later, he was pronounced dead by Dr. Kerr of
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After being convicted, Jackson confessed to the murder of Bozarth. He also confessed to murdering another man in Oklahoma.
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jail, Jackson saw another man's dog and called it over to his cell, after which Jackson doused the dog with an
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attendant gave descriptions of Jackson to the investigators that helped in Jackson's apprehension.
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Coroner Bob Thornhill to Branson. Remaining on his person was a watch, a ring, and 95 cents.
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152:(May 11, 1901 – May 21, 1937) was an American criminal who was the last person to be
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Jackson turned to face the crowd that was outside of the enclosure, and said:
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976:"Firm Walk to Gallows; Dudley Barr Smiles as Arms Are Strapped to His Sides"
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417:
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Jackson's father, Andrew Jackson, did not watch the execution. While the
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Three days later, a local farmer found Bozarth's body in a field between
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32:
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666:""Red" Jackson Hanged in Galena; Probably Last Legal Hanging in State"
532:"The Last Hanging: There Was a Reason They Outlawed Public Executions"
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spiritual advisor, followed by Jackson. Father Ahern read aloud the
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Last person to be publicly executed in the United States (1901–1937)
507:"Sounds of the Georgia Death Chamber Will Be Heard on Public Radio"
347:
traveled to Jefferson City to collect Jackson for the execution.
157:
327:
where he was held in solitary confinement for over two years.
476:"So far there's been no televised executions, but stay tuned"
294:, although witnesses were not called to the stand until 3:00
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as the last publicly executed person in the United States.
585:"Is This a Photo of the Last Public Execution in US?"
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signed a bill that exclusively authorized the use of
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408:Missouri's change from hanging to the gas chamber
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925:"Documentation for the Execution of Fred Adams"
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339:Roscoe Jackson walking the steps of the gallows
323:Jackson was taken to the state penitentiary in
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706:"The Life and Times of Roscoe "Red" Jackson"
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284:The trial began on December 10, 1934, with
1038:20th-century executions of American people
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860:"Murderer Dies on Gallows at Galena Today"
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631:""Red" Jackson Pays for Crime on Gallows"
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192:. During one of Jackson's stints in the
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1063:People executed by Missouri by hanging
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819:"Beginning the Last Journey to Galena"
154:publicly executed in the United States
754:"Law Moves Swiftly on Bozarth Murder"
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190:illegally carrying a concealed weapon
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660:
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1053:American people executed for murder
1033:20th-century executions by Missouri
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13:
789:"Roscoe Jackson Sentenced to Hang"
559:"Last Public Execution in America"
362:, and Jackson repeated the words.
269:Although the murder took place in
249:Investigators received a tip from
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1023:1934 murders in the United States
988:from the original on July 1, 2024
872:from the original on July 1, 2024
716:Springfield-Greene County Library
676:from the original on July 1, 2024
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309:The jury found Jackson guilty of
474:Ames Alexander (July 21, 1991).
968:
899:"Executions in the Gas Chamber"
583:Kasprak, Alex (April 8, 2023).
557:Montagne, Renee (May 1, 2001).
129:Criminal possession of a weapon
956:. January 10, 1962. p. 18
795:. December 12, 1934. p. 1
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449:Other sources have pointed to
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1058:Executed people from Missouri
929:University of Albany Archives
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101:Being the final person to be
93:Howards Ridge, Missouri, U.S.
38:
412:In September 1937, Governor
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208:In early August 1934, while
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984:. May 21, 1937. p. 1.
950:"Hanging in the Courthouse"
903:Missouri Penitentiary Tours
868:. May 21, 1937. p. 1.
760:. August 9, 1934. p. 1
672:. May 27, 1937. p. 6.
637:. May 26, 1937. p. 1,8
505:Rimer, Sara (May 2, 2001).
172:Roscoe Jackson was born in
10:
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964:– via KCHistory.org.
827:. May 22, 1937. p. 16
298:pm. The next day, at 12:00
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1073:Publicly executed people
793:Stone County News-Oracle
670:West Plains Weekly Quill
635:Stone County News-Oracle
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401:West Plains Weekly Quill
273:, the case was moved to
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1043:American male criminals
824:Springfield News-Leader
397:St. Louis Post-Dispatch
345:Missouri Highway Patrol
174:Howards Ridge, Missouri
63:Howards Ridge, Missouri
865:Carthage Evening Press
758:The White River Leader
372:
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275:Stone County, Missouri
271:Taney County, Missouri
182:Pauls Valley, Oklahoma
704:Brown, Bizzy (1985).
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352:Gainesville, Missouri
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302:pm, the jurors began
1068:People from Missouri
954:The Kansas City Star
428:courthouse), at 6:00
105:in the United States
37:Mugshot of Jackson,
379:and Dr. Shumate of
311:first-degree murder
1048:American murderers
536:The New York Times
511:The New York Times
480:Ashbury Park Press
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259:Seminole, Oklahoma
360:Act of Contrition
315:life imprisonment
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103:publicly executed
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251:Wewoka, Oklahoma
204:Crime and arrest
162:Galena, Missouri
139:Death by hanging
136:Criminal penalty
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82:Galena, Missouri
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244:filling station
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286:jury selection
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98:Known for
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78:(aged 36)
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538:. May 6, 2001
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90:Resting place
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996:– via
990:. Retrieved
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958:. Retrieved
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944:
932:. Retrieved
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918:
906:. Retrieved
902:
880:– via
874:. Retrieved
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835:– via
829:. Retrieved
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803:– via
797:. Retrieved
792:
768:– via
762:. Retrieved
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719:. Retrieved
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684:– via
678:. Retrieved
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645:– via
639:. Retrieved
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592:. Retrieved
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566:. Retrieved
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540:. Retrieved
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514:. Retrieved
510:
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490:– via
484:. Retrieved
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381:Reeds Spring
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368:
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304:deliberation
289:
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255:
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237:Taney County
229:Bradleyville
226:
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194:Ozark County
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149:
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76:(1937-05-21)
74:May 21, 1937
59:May 11, 1901
18:
1028:1937 deaths
1018:1901 births
482:. p. 9
233:Brownbranch
210:hitchhiking
42: 1937
1012:Categories
461:References
418:lethal gas
198:accelerant
168:Early life
55:1901-05-11
594:August 8,
568:August 8,
542:August 8,
516:August 8,
387:Aftermath
331:Execution
291:voir dire
218:St. Louis
986:Archived
960:June 26,
934:June 26,
908:June 26,
876:June 24,
870:Archived
831:June 24,
799:June 24,
764:June 24,
721:June 23,
674:Archived
641:June 24,
486:June 29,
113:Executed
992:July 1,
680:July 1,
277:, on a
222:Forsyth
214:Branson
589:Snopes
430:
300:
296:
158:hanged
131:Murder
84:, U.S.
65:, U.S.
437:Notes
377:Crane
370:glad.
265:Trial
994:2024
962:2024
936:2024
910:2024
878:2024
833:2024
801:2024
766:2024
723:2024
682:2024
643:2024
596:2024
570:2024
544:2024
518:2024
488:2024
288:and
231:and
71:Died
49:Born
563:NPR
212:in
160:in
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