1912, his attorney fought a valiant fight for his life against purely
circumstantial evidence, On one occasion, the attorney was fined
$25.00 for contempt of court when he continued to treat an unfavor-
able witness harshly, After some delays, Davidson was hanged on a
galLlows—construeted—on—the-site—of-the present Boone Gounty Court
House at Harrison on August 11, 1913. From the scaffold, Davidson
for the last time protested his innocence, The inscription on his
tombstone in Maplewood Cemetery-reads: "Here rest the ashes of
Odus Davidson, Born Jan, 22, 1883. His Life Taken Aug. 11, 1913,
By misrepresentations Born of excitement,"
BOONE COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE by Ralph R. Rea. Van Buren, Arkansas:
Hugh Park, 1955. PP 18-150, (ARK, * BOOK & MAG, EXCERPTS.)
Photo on page 1, ARKANSAS GAZETTE, 8-11-1913s The death march of 300
yards from jail to gallows was through principal steets of city.
He walked unassisted but ‘inside enclosures when ministers prepared to _
sing a hymn, he fell to the ground and wept, crying: "They are going
to hang an innocent man." Then mounted scaffold and last ‘words ahah
"People, I am a eee eens eee ee Seine in may Learn committed
this murder," ARKANSAS GAZEITE, August icy + ISE FWlo3Z
1912, his attorney fought a valiant fight for his life against purely|
circumstantial evidence On_one occasion, the attorney as fined 3
$25.00 for contempt of court when he continued to: treat an unfavor-
able witness harshly, After some delays, Davidson was hanged on a
gallows-construeted—on-the-site—of-the present Boone County Court
House at Har: “ison on August 11, 1913. From the scaffold, Davidson
for the last time protested his innocence, The inscription on his
tombstone in Maplewood Cemetery-reads: "Here rest the ashes of
Odus Davidson, Born Jan,, 22, 1883. His Life Taken Aug. 11, 1913
By misrepresentations Born of excitement," si oie
BOONE COUNTY AND ITS PHOPLE by Ralph R. Rea. Van Buren, Arkansas:
Hugh Park, 1955. PP 18-150, (ARK, * BOOK & MAG, EXCERPTS,
Photo on page 1, ARKANSAS GAZETTE, 8-11-1913s The death march of 300
yards from jail to gallows was through principal steets of city.
He walked unassisted but ‘inside enclosures when ministers prepared to |
sing a hymn, he fell to the ground and wept, crying: "They are going
to hang an innocent man," Then mounted scaffold and last ‘words were?
"People, I am innocent and hope that some Biglce may learn committed
this murder." ARKANSAS GAZETTE, August 12, 3 Lee ISH JW loz
1912, his attorney fought a valiant fight for his life
ch jal_ewide: On asion, the attornay
$25.00 for contempt of court wh
able witness harshly,
ion he continued to treat an unfavor-
After some delays, Davidson was hanged on a
in Maplewood Cenetery-reads:
22, 1883, lis Life Taken Aug, 11, 1913,
By misrepresentations Born of excitenent,"
00NE COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE by Ralph R. Rea.
Hugh Park, 1955, PP 18-150 ,
Photo on page 1, ARKANSAS GAZRITE, 8-11-19138
Van Buren, Arkansast
(ARK, * BOOK & MAG, EXCERPTS.
ERPS «)
The death march of 300
+o hang an innocent man." a
"People, I am innocent and hope that some day you may learn committed
this murder," ARKANSAS GAZETTE, August 12, 1913
hee ISH SW oz
ng & wean igh fo ba
ee ail
DAVIDSON, Odus
Davidson, born Jan. 22, 1883, was a white farmer living in the White
Oak Community east of Harrison, Ark., a member of a respected family.
On Nov. 21; 1912, he was cutting wood in the vicinity of Kille brew
Ford of Crooked Cre eck, approximately 15 miles southeast of Harrison.
An 18-year-old girl, Ella Barham, also a member of a respected family
who lived near Killebrew Ford, went to a neighbor's house around 10
o'clock that morning to have a dress fitted. The girl did not return
home and a search party was, formed that afternoon in which Davidson
took part, Around me eeeit the body was found near an abandoned
mine shaft, AXKEXUOABSXHAM partially buried underneath a pile of
rocks, The ‘Limbs Had been severed from her body and her head was
crushed, The evident motive was criminal as saulte Davidson's con=
duct caused many people to suspect him from the beginning and the
next day a warrant was issued for his arrest. As the posse WSMXXESXKX
approached his house, they noticed him toss a pair of socks from a
rear window. These were retreived and it was found that they had
been liberally Stet with red peRpets It‘was believed that he had
done this to break the scent of bloodhounds who might be used:to trai
the killer. At his trial which lasted from Jan, 20 through Jan, 26,
DAVIDSON, Odus
Davidson, born Jan. 22, 1883, was a white farmer living in the White
Oak Community east of Harrison, Ark., a member of a respected family.
On Nov. 21, 1912, he was cutting wood in the vicinity of Killebrew
Ford of Crooked Creek, approximately 15 miles southeast of Harrison.
An 18-year-old girl, Ella Barham, also a member of a respected family
who lived near Killebrew Ford, went to a neighbor's house around 10
o'clock that morning to have a dress fitted. The girl did not return
home and a search party was, formed that afternoon in which Davidson
took part. Around midnight, the body was found near an abandoned
mine shaft, XXKMXXXHBEXKAM partially buried underneath a pile of
rocks, The limbs had been severed from her body and her head was
crushed, The evident motive was criminal assault. Davidson's con-
duct caused many people to suspect him from the beginning and the
next day a warrant was issued for his arrest. As the posse WSMEXXSXN)
approached his house, they noticed him toss a pair of socks from a
rear window. These were retreived and it was found that they had
been liberally sprinkled with red pepper. It'was believed that he had
done this to break the scent of wyieelivce a who might be used:to trail
the killer. At his trial which lasted from Jan, 20 through Jan, 26,
DAVIDSON, Odus
Davidson, born Jan. 22
Oak Community east of
On Nov. 21, 25
Harrison, Ark., a nent
Ford of Crooked brook, Lupe ge 2h pie mean =
An 18-year-old gi
1, Ella
o'clock that morning to have a dress fitted.
search party was, formed that afternoon in which Davidson
The evident motive
ge caused many people to suspect him fron
day a warrant was issued for his arres
sprrenched his house, they noticed hin toss
window. These were retreived and it wa
n liberally sprinkled with red pepper.
dono this to "break ‘the scent of bloodhounds
the killer.
1883, was a white farmer living in the White
Rarhan, also a member of a respected f
who lived near Killebrew Tord, went to a nei;
Around midnight, the body was found near an abandoned
XOOGHKEORE partially buried underneath a pi
The Limbs had been severed fron her body and her head was
Tt was believed thet he
nt ad
At his trial vhich lasted from Jan, "00
per of a respected family,
nity of Killebrew
of Harrison.
family
hbor's house around 10
The girl did not return
Je of
Davidson's con-
the beginning and the
As the posse TEREXXEXI
a pair of socks from a
is found that they had
otra
see Ren 26,
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