Deadman's Corner Prove True to its Name
The Dead - Ethel and Sid Ransom

Perhaps the bloodiest affray that ever stained the history of Grant County occurred here about 3 o'clock Saturday morning near Tom Turner's Restaurant. A dance was given at the home of Worth Barnes, about two miles from town, last Friday, and that is where the trouble began. As the story goes, Charley Clark and George Lanter became involved in a quarrel. Clark was knocked down and shot in the breast, while Lanter received a scalp wound from the bullet. Tom Turner stepped in and tried to make peace between the two combatants, but was promptly knocked down and given a severe beating about the head. Chester Wells also received bad wounds. This practically broke up the dance. The injured men were brought to town and physicians dressed their wounds.

Soon afterward a quarrel arose between the Lanter boys, George and Grover and Sid Ransom, and it is alleged that while acting as a peacemaker, Ethel Ransom was shot below the heart. He made his way to the courthouse yard, where weakened from the loss of blood, he fell at the base of a tree. Some one discovered him and pounced upon his prostrate body, brutally beat his head and face until they were amass of cuts and bruises.

Meanwhile, there were other shots over by Turner's Restaurant and it was discovered that Sid Ransom had been shot down and also badly beaten on the head and in the face with the butt-end of a heavy pistol. He was taken to the residence of his brother-in-law, Forest Barnes on Falmouth Street. It was at first determined advisable to perform an operation on him, but he was too weak to undergo it. He lingered until Monday night, when death ended his suffering. In the melee Emmett Hogan was shot in the arm, but doing nicely, as are Tom Turner, Charley Clark and the other wounded men.The Lanter boys went home where they were later placed under arrest by Sheriff Carter and Deputy Sheriff J. T. Chipman. They were placed in the county jail, and later in the day, fearing violence, an order was issued directing the sheriff to transfer them to the Covington jail, where they were taken Saturday afternoon.

The funeral of Ethel Ransom took place from his late residence on Main Street, Sunday afternoon. His remains were followed by a large crowd of relatives and friends and laid to rest in Williamstown Cemetery in Grant County, Kentucky. Pall bearers were Harris Musselman, Clay Stroud, M. E. McClure, George Holton, Grover Clark and Tol Littell. The following lifelong friends attended Ethel's funeral, J. A. Rednower of Lexington, Jack Reddy of Covington, Jesse Robinson of Cincinnati, Oral Galloway, William Bishop, M. Slade, Joshua Woodhead of Falmouth, Cash McNay and Albert Landram, Covington.

The funeral of Sidney Ransom took place from the residence of his brother-in-law, Forrest Barnes, on Falmouth Street, Wednesday afternoon. His remains were laid to rest in Williamstown Cemetery in Grant County, Kentucky. Pallbearers were Elzie Hall, M. E. McClure, Brent DeJarnette, Harris Musselman, Tol Littell and Clay Stroud.

A short prayer and song service was held at the grave of each of the brothers. So ends a horrible affray in which the lives of two young men paid the forfeit and "Dead Man's Corner" proved true to its name. Let us hope we may never have to record another.

Williamstown Courier, January 13, 1909

Sid Ransom - May 6, 1872-January 9, 1909
Ethel Ransom - August 23, 1879-January 9, 1909

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Beulah Wiley Franks
Grant County Coordinator, KY/ALHN