[1] By all accounts, she adapted to the life quickly, and her numerous male admirers showered her with gifts of diamond jewelry.

He was handsome and a capable businessman, and for a time he worked as a traveling salesman for his father's prosperous jewelry business.

His future looked bright, but his attraction to fast living and women soon led to alcoholism, and he became an embarrassment to his family, frequenting saloons and brothels.

A reporter offered the congratulations of the News to the happy pair last night, and found them in room 52 making preparations for a journey into the Land of Morpheus, but they intended to change cars at 1:10 this morning and go South via E.T.H.

On January 17, 1877, the couple registered as husband and wife at the Capitol Hotel in Marshall, Texas, about 18 miles south of Jefferson.

[15][16] On the morning of January 21, Rothschild bought a picnic lunch[12] from Henrique's Restaurant,[17] and the couple crossed the bridge at Cypress Bayou,[12][18] walking away from town along the Marshall road.

When questioned about his wife's whereabouts at the Brooks House, Rothschild claimed she had stayed across the Bayou to visit friends.

[1] Bessie Moore's body was discovered in the woods along the Marshall road on the afternoon of February 5 by Sarah King, an African American woman out collecting firewood.

[1] After a few days in the hospital, he was arrested and jailed, awaiting extradition to Texas for the murder of "Diamond Bessie Moore".

Though Rothschild was the black sheep of his family, their fear of devastating scandal evidently prompted them to rally to his side and hire him a formidable defense team.

They immediately secured a change of venue, as feelings toward Rothschild in Jefferson were so hostile, any possible jury pool was hopelessly tainted.

The townspeople were known to have contributed money to reimburse Sheriff John Vines for his trip to Cincinnati to arrest Rothschild.

[24] After a 3 week long trial[25] Rothschild was convicted — the jury foreman reportedly drew a noose on the wall during deliberations with the slogan, "That's my verdict!

Every May since 1955,[3] Jefferson during its annual Pilgrimage Festival, produces a play titled The Diamond Bessie Murder Trial, derived from court transcripts, is performed.