Joseph “Jody” Hamilton was born on December 7, 1885, the youngest of four children in a deeply religious household in Missouri. His father, James Buchanan Hamilton, was a Christian preacher known for his fiery sermons and strict household rules. Jody grew up under his father's stern discipline. His father forbade alcohol, dancing, or secular music, permitting only hymns to be sung in their home. The fire-and-brimstone parenting style, combined with an unstable and tragic early life, had a lasting impact on young Jody.

When Jody was five, his mother died, leaving a void that would never fully heal. A string of childhood accidents followed: at age seven, a mule kicked him in the head, leaving a visible scar above his left eye. Years later, he was knocked unconscious by another mule, and at age 12, a falling tree nearly broke his neck. These traumatic head injuries would later be cited in his trial as possible explanations for his violent outbursts.

Despite these hardships, Hamilton grew into a seemingly ordinary man. He worked hard, formed friendships, and even fell in love. At age 20, he became engaged to 16-year-old Mae Thompson. He dreamed of earning enough to start a family and took a job with Carney Parsons, a local sharecropper in Missouri. For a while, life was stable.

Hamilton and the Parsons family initially got along well. He formed a close bond with Carney’s young sons, who looked up to him. But behind the scenes, tensions simmered. Hamilton came into possession of a horse and saddle he didn’t legally own. When confronted by Carney, the confrontation became personal, especially when Hamilton suspected Carney of spreading rumors to Mae, casting doubt on his integrity.

On October 12, 1906, what began as a petty trade dispute turned into one of Missouri’s most gruesome murders. Carney Parsons, the man Hamilton worked for, confronted him about the stolen saddle. He offered Hamilton $25 and a single-barreled shotgun in exchange—far less than Hamilton believed it was worth. Hamilton, seething with resentment, agreed under pressure but fumed over what he perceived as a betrayal.

Enraged, Hamilton took the shotgun and set off after the Parsons family, who had departed in their wagon. When he caught up, the two men exchanged heated words. Carney pulled a knife, prompting Hamilton to shoot him in the leg. The shotgun broke from the blast. In a fit of rage, Hamilton beat Carney to death with the broken barrel.

Carney’s wife Minnie rushed to stop him but was struck down as well. Though initially left for dead, she clung to life. Meanwhile, their terrified children began to cry. Hamilton turned his attention to his former friends and in a harrowing moment of brutality, bludgeoned each child and slit their throats using Carney’s own knife.

He hesitated before killing the youngest but ultimately did not spare him. As Hamilton prepared to leave, Minnie grabbed his leg in desperation. He responded by striking her with an axe, ending her life.

With the family dead, Hamilton looted the bodies, stealing money, a watch, and spectacles. He loaded the corpses into the wagon and dumped them in a nearby river. Then, in a chilling show of calm, he traveled to church with his fiancée Mae as though nothing had happened.

Hamilton planned to escape to Kansas and even spoke of killing his father. But when someone recognized the mule he rode as one belonging to the Parsons, he was arrested. Evidence was found on his person, including Carney’s belongings. A lynch mob soon gathered, forcing authorities to move Hamilton for his safety.

He attempted suicide twice while in jail, terrified of being lynched. Eventually, he was transported under armed guard to Houston, Missouri. There, on November 12, 1906, he confessed in court to the murders and pleaded guilty. Under state law, however, a formal trial and jury verdict were still required for capital punishment.

During trial, Hamilton openly admitted his guilt, stating that he had not premeditated the killings but had simply lost control. His defense argued temporary insanity, pointing to his childhood head injuries. A doctor examined him but found him sane. The jury deliberated for less than an hour and returned a verdict of guilty. He was sentenced to hang on December 21, 1906, two weeks after his 21st birthday.

On the morning of December 21, 1906, a cold, cloudy day settled over Houston, Missouri. Over 3,000 people gathered at the Texas County Courthouse to witness the hanging, the first and last execution ever held in that county. A wooden stockade was erected around the gallows to control the crowd. Among the spectators were Mae Thompson and her family.

Hamilton had spent the night peacefully and ate a large final breakfast. He was calm as he walked to the gallows at 10:42 AM, flanked by two preachers. As the crowd sang “Jesus, Lover of My Soul,” Hamilton joined in, drawing audible sympathy from the crowd. Some women wept.

He sang a hymn as his final message, then addressed the crowd directly. He encouraged young people to honor their parents and urged everyone to prepare for death with God. “I hope to meet all you friends... in a better world,” he said, moments before the trap was set.

At 11:02 AM, the trap was sprung, but the noose failed. The knot slipped, and Hamilton fell to the ground, injured but alive. Shock swept through the crowd. Some whispered sabotage. Others wept or fainted. A midwife in the crowd shouted, “That one’s for the baby!”

The sheriff quickly tied a new knot and helped Hamilton climb the gallows once more. At 11:04 AM, the trapdoor opened again. This time, the knot held. His neck broke instantly. He was pronounced dead 13 minutes later. His father, James Hamilton, retrieved the body and buried him beside his mother in Allen Cemetery.