Jones County, Mississippi, - January 1935
When I began working in the genealogy library in June 2001, I was asked about the murder of Daisy McKinstry Keeton.
I had never heard of this case but became so intrigued that I immediately began gathering information from the old newspapers. To say I have an obsession with this case is an understatement.
The Keeton home, according to the 1930 United States Federal Census record, was located at 539 Cross Street, Laurel, MS. The house is no longer there, but the location is close to the intersection of Teresa Street and Daughdrill Street.
It was officially announced on January 28, 1935, that Daisy Keeton's daughter, Ouida, and W. M. Carter were being held in Jackson on charges of murder.
There are literally hundreds of pages of newsprint about this case, and I have tried to save a copy of each and every page of not only the Jones County newspaper and the Jackson newspaper.
Ouida was referred to in one newspaper as being frail and distraught over her mother's death, and in the next day's paper, she was held in contempt of court for slapping a police officer.
On March 26, 1935, the severed legs and lower torso of Mrs. Keeton were put to rest in McNeill Cemetery, McNeill, Pearl River County, Mississippi. Daisy's remains were buried next to her husband, John Monroe Keeton.
The local newspaper for Jones County stated, "Ouida Keeton Is Found Guilty of Butcher-Slaying Of Her Own Mother January 19th. Bond was set for Ouida because of her health, pending an appeal. The trial of W. M. Carter was set for the May term of court, and he also received bail in the amount of $15,000.
In April 1936, the State Supreme Court affirmed by a 4-2 decision to serve a life sentence in prison for the murder of her mother. W. M. Carter, who was sentenced to life in prison, was at this time awaiting a retrial in Jones County Circuit Court. The Supreme Court had reversed his sentence on the ground that his conviction was largely based upon the testimony of Ouida Keeton. The court declared Miss Keeton's testimony against Carter "is wholly unworthy of belief." While Carter was convicted in a separate trial, he won on appeal. Prosecutors decided not to retry Carter.
Ouida spent the remainder of her life in the Whitfield State Hospital, where she died on November 11, 1973. Ironically Ouida is buried next to her mother in the McNeill Cemetery. W. M. Carter died on January 21, 1949, in Laurel at his home at the age of 82.
Several books have been written on the case of Ouida Keeton and W. M. Carter. Do I have a favorite? Yes, I do, and if you would like to know which is my favorite, contact me via email at geneal@laurel.lib.ms.us, and I will tell you.
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