Biographical Information: Bill Jackson

Jackson's wife, Beulah, was an aunt to Cordie Mathis, wife of Will Mathis who was executed for the Montgomery murders. Bill Jackson's family also included his daughter (name unknown), and his brother, George. When his daughter married, Bill Jackson became father-in-law to the brother of Shell Vines, who was a prosecution witness in the Montgomery murder trials.

In most of the testimony given at his trial, witnesses stated Jackson was not present during the shootings, though Orlando Lester did accuse Jackson of helping Mathis to kill the marshals. However, it was Jackson's own testimony that proved most damaging to him. He testified that he was at the Mathis house when the marshals arrived and that Mathis left about dark. Jackson said he did not know where Mathis had gone and that Mathis did not return before Jackson left for home about 10 o'clock. This statement was evidently false and conflicted with all other testimony given.

In the rest of his statement, Bill Jackson testified that he arrived home about 11 o'clock on the night of the murders and at about 6 o'clock the next morning, Mathis called him to the gate, told him of the killings, and asked his advice about getting Shell Vines and Jim Vines to swear to an alibi for him.

When sentenced to life imprisonment, Bill Jackson replied, "You are sending an innocent man to life imprisonment." Jackson's family, who were at his side during the trial, were not present when he received his sentence. From beginning to end, it took less than 36 hours for Bill Jackson's fate to be decided.

On a sad note, in July 1902, the Oxford Eagle printed a story stating: "The wife of Bill Jackson, who is serving a life sentence in the penitentiary for complicity in the murder of the two Montgomerys, became insane a few weeks ago and was taken to the asylum at Jackson, Friday for treatment."