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Jefferson
hosts Texas' "Trial of the (19th) Century"As
the couple detrained in Jefferson
on January 19, 1877*, they caused quite a stir among the station personnel and
carriage drivers. These were no ordinary people; this couple had all their
own teeth. They also had matching luggage and the woman wore enough jewelry
to open a small jewelry store.
Checking into a hotel under the name of
Mr. and Mrs. A. Moore, Cincinnati, Ohio, they spent the next two days eating,
walking around town and not caring who overheard their arguments. Much like visitors
to Jefferson today. He called her Bessie when he wasn't calling her other names.
They were last seen together on January 21st crossing the bridge on the road to
Marshall with what appeared
to be a picnic lunch. The man was seen returning alone that evening, spending
two more days in Jefferson
before taking an eastbound train with all of the matching luggage and according
to a serving girl, Bessie's rings on his fingers.
On February 5 an excited
woman ran into town to report a well-dressed corpse just off the Marshall
road reclining peacefully amid picnic debris.
It was Bessie sans diamonds
with a hole in her forehead and ants in her eyes and nose. The townsfolk were
shocked and saddened that an otherwise pleasant picnic ended in this way and promptly
collected $150.00 to make Bessie a permanent guest of Jefferson.
After learning the couple had previously registered in a Marshall
hotel under the name of A. Rothschild, Cincinnati, a warrant was issued to authorities
in Ohio, and was served after Mr. Rothschild's return there. Shortly before
he was arrested he attempted suicide (evidently with a BB gun since he succeeded
only in putting out an eye). It was in this condition he was returned to Marion
County for trial.
Distantly related to the European Rothschilds (Rothschildren?)
who pulled their carriage around London with a matched pair of zebras, Abraham
Rothschild was the son of jewelers, playing the role of black sheep, keeping company
with high priced "soiled doves" of whose sisterhood Bessie was a dues
paying member (Hot Springs, Arkansas Chapter).
To make an already long
story short, since he walked like a duck.... etc., he was found guilty by twelve
Jeffersonians who recognized ducks when they saw them. But there were lawyers,
remember? Ten high priced ones.
The verdict was overturned and
after nearly three years of appeals, postponements and changes in venue Mr. Rothschild
disappeared from history.
Years later a stranger appeared in Jefferson
and paid for a fence around Bessie's grave and the stone you see here. No
one seems to remember if he had one eye.
Each year in May the Diamond
Bessie Murder Trial is performed in Jefferson.
Copyright
John Troesser
* Various sources show the date on the plaque to be in error. |
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