Evening star., 1925-07-09
INDICTED j. S. JUDGE
IS KILLED IN AUTO
PLUNGE INTO CREEK
J. w. Ross of Tennessee
Found Drowned Under
His Car in Stream.
WAS FREE UNDER BOND
IN BANK FAILURE CASE
Accused by Grand Jury Yesterday
After Unpaid Drafts Were
Found in Institution,
by tho Associated Press

by tho Associated Press.
JACKSON. Tenn. July 9.-Judge
J. ". Ross of the Federal District
Court of Western Tennessee, who yes
terday was indicted in connection with
the failure Of the Peoples Saving
Bank of Jackson. was killed today
when the car in which he was driving
alone ran over an embankment and
toppled into a creek.
The point where the car left the
roadway was a short distance from a
recently constructed bridge, which
Joined a new stretch of road built to
cut off a sharp curve that led TO the
bridge spanning the creek. The car
apparently left the road at an angle
of approximately 45 degrees.
Pinned Under Car.
Judge Ross was pinned under the
car. y physician who examined the
body stated that he apparently had
drowned after being knocked uncon-
scious by blow on the head from the
windshield of the car as it struck.
His body was discovered shortly
after the tragedy, and an ambulance
was hurried TO the scene. Examina-
tion showed that he had suffered a Sc
we're blow on the head and he was
bleeding profusely. His body was
brought to Jackson.
started in the direction of his dog
kennels, about seven miles from
jackson on the Mifflin road, main
tanned by J. II. kirkpatrick, whose
name the jurist was charged in one
indictment with having forged.
Al the time he was alone in the
car.
Was Free Under Bond.
Judge Ross was under $25, 1000
bond on the charges in the indict-
ments returned by the county grand
jury following its investigation of
the banks failure.
The bank was closed about a
month ago. after an investiga ton By
the State bank examiner showed a
deficit of funds in excess of $500, 900
Thomas b. Carroll, former cashier;
John NJ. Carroll. his son and assist
ant cashier, and w. j.. Cawthon, a
timber dealer, We're arrested on war
rants soon after the failure. They
were indicted with Judge Ross and
were released in bond
Trial of the four men has been set
for the third week in September.
The basis of Judge Ross indictment
was in unpaid drafts bearing his
name, several of them issued on
Memphis lawyers. and found in the
itSOuICeS OL the DdlN. w men CdlIeu
upon by the bank liquidating agent
to pay the drafts Judge Ross had
refused, declaring he was not in
debted TO the institution.
Claimed Loans Not Made.
Soon after the bank failure Judge
Ross issued a 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 returned
Judge Ross said: 1T should be taken
into consideration that grand Jury
inquiry is wholly an ex parte proceed
ing"
4. Judge Ross was A. years old. He
was appointed by President Harding
to the Federal bench for the western
district Of Tennessee in June, 1921.
Prior 10 his appointment as Federal
judge he served as chancellor of the
Jackson district of the State Chancery
Court.
He is survived by his wife and five
children and two brothers. +. w.
Ross and j. VI. Ross of Savannah.
At the spot where the automobile
left the rOadbed the ear defined a
45-degree angle. The road had been
changed slightly within the last few
months, but Judge Ross had traversed
ii several times since
The automobile was partly sub
merged in a stream swollen by recent
heavy rains.