Jim Ross Wouldn't Die With A Lie In His Mouth


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Jim Ross Wouldn't Die With A Lie In His Mouth

Jim Boss had no interest in sleeping after having several visitors on the evening of February 7, 1889. He was to be hanged in Brandenburg, Kentucky, the following day.
"I was there on the night Benedict Rhodes was murdered," Ross answered a news reporter who asked about the murder. "I'll tell you how it happened. I was a boarder at the home of Walter Parker who lived near Rhodes."
"Parker had bought the farm where he lived. It was a little farm but it suited him and his woman. Well, he was having trouble coming up with the money to finish paying it off. One day he said, "I know where we can get the money."
He proceeded to tell me that Mr. Rhodes lived alone and kept money in his home. He got Andy Valentine to join him in the scheme, then he kept after me to be involved. I know it was wrong but I didn't think there'd be a killing. I finally agreed to go along with 'em."
Jim Ross then related how they snuck into Rhodes' house while he was asleep. Ross said they quietly searched for the money until they heard Rhodes stir about and then turn over in his sleep. They thought he was waking up so the three men left the house.
"As we tiptoed across the porch, Walt (Parker) stumbled over an ax. He picked it up and whispered, We're going back in the house.'
Ross said Parker lit a lamp when they got back inside.
"It wasn't long before Mr. Rhodes was stirring again. Parker said, "there's no use fooling with him. We may as well knock him in the head."
"He hit Rhodes four times with the ax. It was a real mess."
Ross said they continued to search the residence but found only $1.75 and a silver watch.
"That's the whole truth and nothing but the truth," Ross said. "I'm going to hang tomorrow and I ain't gonna die with a lie in my mouth."
Ross joined the Catholic Church about a month prior to his hanging under the guidance of Father O'Connor. During this time he devoted all of his time to religious matters and seemed totally candid in discussing the April 8, 1888 murder. Ross seemed to be totally unconcerned about his approaching hanging.
That wasn't the case with Meade Countians and residents of surrounding counties, including citizens of nearby Indiana. Witnesses to the hanging had to have tickets and Sheriff J.D. Hardin was deluged with written requests.
Meanwhile as the execution date neared, Jim Ross could hear the workers building the scaffold and the twenty foot high fence, which surrounded it. It was erected on a hillside only a short distance from the jail.
Jim Ross was in an unusually jovial mood when guards called on him at 5 a.m, on the day of the hanging.
"How long do I have to wait," he said with a smile. "I'm ready to go."
He ate a hearty breakfast of his choice and then smoked a cigar. Sheriff Hardin and Deputy Woolfolk called on Ross soon after 7:15 a.m. and the sheriff read him the death warrant. At 7:40 they walked to the scaffold, entering the small enclosure which was crammed full of humanity.
Rose climbed the steps of the scaffold and then looked about at the people who came for the hanging.
"Do you have anything to say for yourself," Sheriff Hardin asked. "Not a single word" Ross answered as he reached down and untied his shoes.
A black cap was quickly adjusted on his head and the noose secured around his neck. At 7:46 the signal was given, the drop fell and Jim Ross fell through. The rope snapped, breaking his neck, as the witnesses gasped.
After six minutes his pulse was thirty four. After twenty minutes the body was cut down and turned over to a Louisville medical student to whom Jim Ross agreed to give his body in the preceding days.
Jim Ross implicated Welter Parker and Andy Valentine in the crime. A jury found Parker not guilty and he promptly left Kentucky.
Valentine was never arrested. He showed up in Brandenburg on the day of the hanging but had no ticket and didn't witness Ross' death.
Parker and Valentine both said they were innocent.
Jim Boss said he wouldn't die with a lie in his mouth.
Editor'sNote: * Jadon Gibson is a widely read Appalachian writer from Harrogate, TN. His writings are both historical and nostalgic in nature.

Editor's Note

Seventy-Seven Years
POWELL VALLEY NEWS
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