Man and Wife Slain in Row.. . . Mr. and Mrs. Sidney Odum of Near Arcola Dead—W.R. Ross Is Held—Quarreled Over Girl
Norfolk, Va., May 16—Mr. and Mrs. Sidney Odum of near Arcola, N.C., were both shot and killed this afternoon, according to a special dispatch to the Virginia-Pilot from Warrenton, N.C. W.L. Ross of Holister, N.C., is in jail charged with the double slaying and is alleged to have confessed, saying the affair grew out of a family quarrel.
According to the dispatch the trouble centered around Ross’ stepdaughter. The girl was said to have left home a few weeks ago because of alleged cruel treatment and had since been making her home with the Odums. This afternoon Ross is said to have gone to the Odum home, and following a quarrel fired five shots from a revolver into Mr. and Mrs. Odum, killing both. Following the double killing Ross went to the home of Lewis Capps, well known merchant of Arcola, and, according to the dispatch, told him of the affair and asked that he be taken to the Warren county jail. This was done. The case is expected to be taken up at the term of the superior court, which opens in Warrenton tomorrow.
From the front page of the Messinger and Intelligencer, Wadesboro, N.C., Thursday, May 20, 1926
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Justice was swift 100 years ago. Trials started quickly and ended quickly. Since the defendant has already confessed, the trial began May 20. It took all day to select a jury from the 200 men called for jury duty. They had to question 125 men to select 12 jurors.
Slayer of Warren County Couple Soon to Know His Fate. . . Man Who Shot Two Who Came to Help Girl Faces Jury. . . Taking Testimony in Case of W.L. Ross, Charged with Slaying of Mr. and Mrs. Sidney Odom, at Arcola, Last Sunday, Will Begin This Morning-Trial Expected to be Short
Henderson, N.C., May 20 (AP)—With the entire day consumed in the selection of a jury, the taking of testimony in the case of W.L. Ross, charged with first degree murder, is expected to begin in Warren county superior court in Warrenton, tomorrow morning.
Ross is charged with the murder at their home in Arcola, Warren county, of Mr. and Mrs. Sidney Odom, last Sunday afternoon.
The jury had just been completed when court adjourned for the day, after examination of more than 125 men out of a special venire of 200 summoned. All the evidence is expected to be in shortly after noon tomorrow, court officials said.
Solicitor Hunt Parker is trying Ross on the first degree murder charge in connection with the death of Mrs. Odom, in the belief that the stronger evidence is available in that case.
From the front page of the Goldsboro News, May 21, 1926
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This article tells you what happened during the trial. After being found guilty, Ross asked the judge to order his execution quickly, saying: “I have killed my best friends and have nothing left to live for. I am suffering great remorse.”
You will notice the National Guard was present during the trial. This was done to keep order during emotional trials, especially to prevent lynchings.
Slayer of Two Sentenced to the Electric Chair Murderer of Couple in Warren County Will Pay Death Penalty Very Soon. . . Warren County Jury Deliberates for Hour and a Half and Returns a Verdict of Guilty of Murder in First Degree Against W.J. Ross, Who Last Sunday Shot and Killed Mr. and Mrs. Sidney Odom of Arcola
Warrenton, May 22 (AP)—W.L. Ross, Hollister man who has been on trial for his life in Warren count superior court for the double murder last Sunday afternoon of Mr. and Mrs. Sidney Odom of Arcola, Warren county, was tonight convicted by a jury of first degree murder. The verdict was returned at 11:15 o’clock, after the jury had been out for 1 ½ hours.
Judge Crammer [Cranmer], presiding, at once sentenced the defendant to be electrocuted in the state prison at Raleigh on June 22nd.
“Your Honor,” said Rose [Ross], after the verdict had been returned, “I want to ask you to make the time as short as possible. I have killed my best friends and have nothing left to live for. I am suffering great remorse.”
The sentence followed.
The case went to the jury at 9:30 o’clock tonight. It was apparent to the crowded court room that a powerful case had been built up against the defendant, and there was no surprise at the verdict.
Harold Cooley of Nashville closed the case for the defendant a short time before the court recessed. He argued that the prisoner was insane and pled with the jury to return a verdict of insanity, which would relieve him of responsibility for the crime.
All day the court room has been filled to capacity, with hundreds congregated on the outside. Members of Warrenton Company of National Guard have been on duty since late yesterday stationed at all entrances to the building and in spots over the court room. The soldiers were placed there purely as a precautionary measure; there has been no indication of violence.
Ross in marked contrast to his demeanor yesterday when he almost collapsed on the witness stand and opiates were administered to bolster him up, has been one of the most composed persons in the court room today. On cross examination, the prisoner today stuck to his testimony that his mind was a blank as to his act. Ross has had a checkered career, his acquaintances here state. He was born in New York’s East side and came to Hollister some 15 years ago to work in a lumber camp. He afterwards was entrusted with the responsibility of night watchman and some time later, under the spell of a religious revival, joined the church and later became teacher of a Bible class, and then superintendent of the Sunday school. At one time he was postmaster of Hollister, and at another was a deputy sheriff in Halifax county. He was once a member of the school board, and has been otherwise prominent in his community.
Ross had been twice married and is now a widower, his second wife having died several years ago. His counsel contends that he has had so many reverses in life that they have made him insane and that he had suffered from amnesia He has been a free user of intoxicants also, he has testified.
Sa??da [Sallie] Bett Odom, his adopted daughter, kept house for him, and she claims that the prisoner was so cruel to her that she ran away several weeks ago, and had made her home with the Odoms ??? the crime.
She was the only eye-witness to the crime, and escaped death herself at the hands of Ross only by fleeing after the Odoms had been killed.
The case has been, perhaps, the most unusual in the history of Warren county, and has attracted probably the largest crowds ever in attendance upon a court session here.
From the front page of The Goldsboro News, Sunday Morning, May 23, 1926
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After hearing he was sentenced to die June 22, got down on his knees before his adopted daughter and asked her to pray for him and forgive him. There was no headline with this brief summary in the Watauga Democrat.
Warrenton, May 22: W.L. Ross, charged with the murder of Mr. and Mrs. Sidney Odum in Warren county last Sunday, was convicted by a jury in Warren county superior court of first degree murder tonight. The jury was out about an hour and a half. Judge Cranmer sentenced the defendant to be electrocuted at the state prison at Raleigh on June 22.
“Your honor, I want to ask that you make the time as soon as possible,” Ross told Judge Cranmer, after the jury had returned its verdict, and the defendant was asked if he had anything to say.
“I have killed my best friends and I have nothing to live for, and I don’t want to live. I am suffering great remorse.”
After the sentence had been passed, Ross asked for the little girl, Sally Bett Ross, his adopted daughter, whose leaving home prompted the murder, he said. Getting down on his knees before her, he begged her to pray for him and to forgive him.
From page 2 of The Watauga Democrat, Boone, N.C., May 27, 1926
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Jury Says Ross Guilty of Murder in First Degree. . . Prosecution Claims Slaying of Mr. and Mrs. Odom Was Deliberate Murder; Ross Says His Mind Was Blank and Had Often Gone Blank Before Story of Crime
By W. Brodie Jones
Warrenton, May 22—The jury in the case of W.L. Ross, Hollister man on trial for the past two days for the murder of Mr. and Mrs. S.J. Odom of Arcola last Sunday, tonight at 11:15 o’clock returned a verdict of murder in the first degree after being out for an hour and a half. Judge E.H. Cranmer sentenced Ross to be electrocuted on Tuesday, June 22.
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Warrenton, May 22—“I will be convicted tonight. I want Sallie Bett to have everything she wants from house,” W.L Ross, on trial here for the past two days on the charge of the murder of Mr. and Mrs. S.J. Odom of Arcola last Sunday, said in the court room tonight after the case had gone to the jury at 9:40 o’clock. He asked a lawyer to see that the court changed the name of his adopted daughter before the verdict of the jury came in. then hands some steadier than before scribbled a letter painfully, slowly, to Sallie Bet. “I want your forgiveness and prayers. Won’t you please pray that God may be merciful to me. I can die in peace with my Lord if you will forgive me.” The letter was handed to the girl quietly. She did not answer then.
Ross, apparently much stronger and with nerves steadied, resumed testimony at 9:30 o’clock this morning after a quiet night in Warren Jail under guard of the men of Co. B., the Warrenton unit of the National Guard. Persons composing the huge crowd yesterday moved to their homes as the shadows of evening lengthened and the night passed quietly. The spirit of the community was calm today. Argument of the counsel began at 12 o’clock with B.B. Williams opening for the State. Stanley Winborne followed him before adjournment at 1 o’clock.
Into the evidence yesterday had come the story of Sallie Bett Ross, 15 years old adopted daughter of the prisoner, who had been a mother to Ross’s three children, all under 10, since Mrs. Ross died in 1923, and who was the only witness to the killing of Mr. and Mrs. Odom at their home near Arcola on Sunday afternoon when Ross went there to persuade her to come again to his roof. Sidney Odom, 29, was shot through the back of the head from a distance of three feet. Mrs. Odom was shot first through the face as she ran for the door and the gun turned upon Sallie Bet. Mrs. Odom turned over on the floor and Ross shot her again. The girl broke from the house and on wings of fear flew to the home of Dempsey Odom, half mile away.
These facts were substantiated by the story of Ross with the exception of the actual killing. He told the court that he had a headache after the other visitors left the Odom home.
“My head felt like it was tearing off, my mind went blank and the next ting I knew was when I saw Sally Bet running across the field and I was sitting under a tree near the house. I went in and realized what I had done. I went to Mr. Capp’s store and asked that he bring me to Warren jail.”
In cross examination this morning by Solicitor R. Hunt Parker, Ross was questioned about the 32-calibre pistol which he had carried to the Odom home. The prisoner said that he had always carried the gun since he was deputy sheriff and revenue officer as he had received threats. He quit as deputy sheriff because his wife, before her death, had asked him to give up the post and further because the job took too much time from his business, Ross testified.
From the front page of The Franklin Times, Louisburg, N.C., Friday, May 28th, 1926
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Despite Ross’ plea for a quick execution, there is talk of an appeal. It is made and the execution is postponed until after the state Supreme Court can review the case and the governor can decide on a pardon or commutation.
Ross Trial Thought a Precedent. . . Double Slayer Convicted in Less Than a Week after Commission of Crime.
Henderson, May 24—It is believed by court officials that the disposition of the case against W.L. Ross of Hollister, for the killing of Mr. and Mrs. Sidney Odom of Arcola, Warren county, sets anew record for speedy justice in North Carolina. Within less than a week of the time the murder occurred on Sunday afternoon, May 16th, about 4 o’clock, the double slayer is in a cell in death row at State Prison awaiting the execution. This prompt handling of the case was due to the fact that criminal court opened in Warren the day after the killing occurred, and the refusal of Judge Cranmer to permit a continuance.
There was some talk today of the Ross appeal. Notice of an appeal was given in behalf of Ross Saturday night after he was sentenced, and soon after a motion was made to set the verdict aside, the latter procedure being overruled by Judge Cranmer. Solicitor Parker said today, however, that he thought the appeal would actually be perfected, and this automatically stays the execution of the condemned man.
From page 5 of the Norlina Headlight, May 28, 1926
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Ross Not So Anxious to Die, It Appears. . . Slayer of Warren County Couple Perfects Appeal to Supreme Court
Raleigh, June 17—W.L. Ross, sentenced to die next Tuesday for the murder of Mr. and Mrs. S.J. Odom of Arcola Warren county on May 17th, today perfected an appeal to the state supreme court, which automatically stays the execution. Ross made his appeal as a pauper.
Pardon commissioner Sink received this information today from the clerk of the superior court of Warren county.
Ross killed Mr. and Mrs. Odom after they had given refuge to his adopted daughter, who was Mr. Odom’s sister. The child left Ross, she testified, because he continued to drink.
The man declared throughout the trial that he had no desire to live and when the verdict of guilty was reached by the jury he asked that the date of his death be made as early as possible. His attorneys pled insanity as a defense for their client.
He was convicted and sentenced on May 23 just six days after the double slaying.
From the front page of The Goldsboro News, Friday morning, June 18, 1926
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No Effort to Save Life of W.L. Ross
Raleigh Times
Will W.L. Ross, convicted murder of Warren county go to the electric chair next Tuesday without Having made an effort to save his life?
By Thursday morning, just before he is supposed to die, neither Ross nor his attorneys nor his friends have either made an appeal from the death sentence or requested executive clemency, as far as is known by H. Hoyle Sink, commissioner of pardons, or Edward Seawell, clerk of supreme court. Unless there is some eleventh-hour action taken, this will be unique in the experience of Mr. Sink since he took over the pardon office.
Sink Investigates
Thursday afternoon Mr. Sink wired the clerk of the Warren county court to learn if a notice of appeal had been filed and the supreme court notified.
However, the fact that Ross and his friends have not taken the initiative in asking for executive commutation will not prevent the case being given thorough consideration. Not waiting for a petition, Mr. Sink has gone ahead with his investigation just as if one had been made, and before Ross goes to his death, if he does, his case will go to the Governor for final decision as to whether he lives or dies.
From page 4 of the Cleveland Star, Shelby, N.C., Monday, June 21, 1926
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Now it is August and this newspaper reports two suicide attempts, one by starvation and the other by fire. This is a paragraph about news from Raleigh, which is why it has no headline. W.L. Ross, who got into death row by a double murder of two younger relatives in Warren county several weeks ago, attempted this week to commit suicide by starving himself for six days. this evidently was not very pleasant for he then, in some way unknown, obtained some matches and prepared to burn himself to death by setting his mattress afire. This attempt also was foiled when another prisoner in the row gave the alarm.
From page 6 of the News Reporter, Whiteville, N.C., Aug. 12,1926
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General article on men on Death Row, which mentions Ross as having been on Death Row since June.
Seven Still on Death Row Waiting Their Day of Doom
Raleigh, Sept. 23 (AP)—The execution of John Williams, negro convicted of murder, from Halifax County here Tuesday, reduced the population of death row at the state prison to six a number which officials regard as slightly below normal at this time of the year when appeal cases are prone to pile up following the vacation of the Supreme court.
None of the six men know the date they are to walk to their doom in the little octagonal room jutting out from the front of the right wing of central prison. All of them are living in hope that the course of the footsteps will be to the left and not to the right when they are taken from their death row cells for the last time.
The course to the left leads to the prison proper and life imprisonment or into the outside world for a new trial, but the few steps to the right lead but to one end and in the case of the six present occupants will be taken only after adverse decisions from the Supreme court or a denial of respite from the Governor.
They all have appeals before the Supreme court which are scheduled for arguments at the present term. In the event of an adverse decision the date of execution is automatically set three weeks after the Friday following the decision, and the only hope for the condemned man is a direct appeal to the Governor. But should the court find some error or grounds for a new trial, the case goes back to Superior court and the execution indefinitely delayed. While Williams went to his death without registering a formal appeal, such cases are extremely rare. Pardon commissioner Hoyle Sink has stated that here has been only one other such instance during his term of office, and that was the case of Len Walton, a negro convicted of murder.
Two of the men now awaiting execution are white and the others negroes. Five were convicted murder and the fifth of rape.
The death row roster follows:
--W.L. Ross, white, convicted of a double murder in Warren county and confined on death row in June.
--John Gray, white, convicted of murder in Stanly county. Brought to the prison last April 6.
--James Jeffries, negro, convicted of assault on a white woman in Wake county and committed to death row on May 10.
--Booker T. Williams, negro, convicted of murder in Robeson county. Committed to prison on February 4.
--Robert Lumpkin, negro, convicted of murder.
--Moses Green, negro, sentenced to death from Wilson county for murder. Arrived on death row September 6.
From page 14 of the Goldsboro News, Sept. 26, 1926
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I will continue articles about W.L. Ross tomorrow.
I also welcome any comments about this approach to giving information from 100-year-old North Carolina newspapers. Thanks, Joan Gosper, Raleigh, N.C.
