True Life Tuesday: Roscoe Jackson

Roscoe Jackson was born on May 11, 1901 in Howards Ridge, Missouri. He was the eldest son of Andrew and Matilda (Kyle) Jackson. He worked on the family farm until he left home at the age of 17. He eventually ended up losing contact with his family. Jackson had multiple problems with the law. His first run in was when he was still a teenager. He and another boy got into a fight over a girl. After this confrontation he began carrying a gun and would bragged about it. He was arrested and convicted for illegally carrying a concealed weapon.

On August 2, 1934 Jackson was hitchhiking in Branson, Missouri. He was picked up by Pearl Bozarth, the owner of a poultry medicine factory in Saint Louis. The stopped for the night in Forsyth where Bozarth bought Jackson a meal and a room at Shadow Rock Camp. Three days later Bozarth's body was found in a field by a local farmer. His car and money were missing. The cause of death was multiple gunshot wounds to the head. The owner of Shadow Rock Camp along with a local gas attendant provided a description of the man with Bozarth. Police eventually received a tip from Wewoka, Oklahoma that Jackson was there. He was eventually found and was taken into custody. He still had Bozarth's car although he tried to paint it. When he was returned to Forsyth he was positively identified by the owner and gas station attendant. Jackson told police that he was with Bozarth but that another man, William Young, was with them. He said that Young actually killed Bozarth and forced him to go with him to Seminole, Oklahoma. 

Jackson's trial began on December 10, 1934. He was found guilty of 1st degree murder but the jury could not agree on punishment. The jury was split with 9 in favor of death and 3 for life in prison. The jury was dismissed and the judge, Robert Gideon, sentenced him to death. After his conviction Jackson admitted to Bozarth's murder along with the murder of another man in Oklahoma. He was taken to the state penitentiary in Jefferson City where he was held in solitary confinement. On May 21, 1937 at 11am he was hung in front of 400 spectators including Howard Bozarth, Pearl's son. Jackson's father visited him in the prison the day before but did not witness the execution. His last words were "Well, be good, folks." He was laid to rest in his hometown of Howards Ridge. Jackson was the last person to be publicly executed in the United States.