New Britain herald., 1925-07-09
KILLED FEW HOURS
 AFTER INDICTMENT
Federal Judge Ross Of Tennessee
 Dies I Auto Crash
WAS ALONE AT THE TIME

Fraudulent Breach ot Trust --
 Implicated Tn Big Failure ot
 Banking House.
 Jackson, Tenn, July CF-Judgs ! " Ross, of the federal court Of western Tennessee, was killed in an automobile accident early today.
 He vas indicted yesterday on charges of forgery, fraudulent breach ot trust and being accessory to embez2lement in connection with the failure Of the Peoples Savings Flank Of Jackson.
 Pinned Under Car
 Judge Ross Uas killed when the automobile In which he was riding ran off a bridge about five miles cast of Jackson and turned over in 2 creek, pinning him underneath. It is believed he died instantly.
 His body was discovered shortly after the accident. Examination showed he had suffered a severe blow on the head and he was bleed ing protusely. His body was brought to Jackson.
 Judge Ross started In the direc- ton of his dog kennels, about seven miles from Jackson, maintain by J. H. Kirkpatrick Judge Ross was charged in one indictment returned yesterday with having forged Kirk patricks name.
 At the time he was alone in the car.
 Under S25, 900 Bond
 Judge Ross was under s25, 000 bond on the charges In the indict ments returned by the county grand jury following its investigation of the hanks failure.
 Tn bank was closed about a month ago after an investigation by the state bank examiner showed a deficiency of funds In excess of S300, 900. Thomas R. Carroll, for mer cashier. John M. Carroll, his son and assistant cashier and w. l.. Cawthon a timber dealer were arrested or warrants soon after the failure. They were indicted with Judge Ross and were released in bond.
 Trial of the four men had been set for the third week in September.
 Unpaid Drafts
 The basis of Judge Ross indict- ment was in unpaid drafts bearing his name, several of them issued on Memphis lawyers. and found in the resources of the bank When called upon by the bank liquidat- ing agent to pay the drafts. Judge Ross had refused, declaring he was not indebted to the institution.
 Soon after the bank failure Judge Ross issued statement In which he said payment of the drafts had been made contingent upon the operation of loans in Memphis banks and as he had failed 10 benefit from a single one Of them, he did not feel himself liable for payment
 When the indictments were re- turned Judge Ross said:
 II should be taken into consid- eration that a grand jury inquiry is wholly an eX-parte proceeding"
 Named By Harding
 Judge Ross was 47 years old. He was appointed by President Harding to the federal bench for the west ern district of Tennessee in June, 1921. Prior to his appointment as federal judge he served as chan cellor of the Jackson district of the state chancery court.
 He is survived by his widow and five children and two brothers, F. w. Ross and J. M Ross, oi Savannah.
 Dr. W. c. Saunders. who exam. tned the body, expressed beiet Judge Ross met his death by dNown. ing and not from a wound on tht head caused from his impact will the windshield of the car.
 At the spot where the automobile left the road bed the automobile de. fined a 45 degree angle. The roa+ had been charged slightly within the last few months but Judge Ros. had trayersed 1t several times since
 The automobile was partly sub merged in a stream. swollen by re. cent heavy rains.