John Judge Ham

Son of Bartlett Milton & Laura Ann (Turner) HAM. Married Ethel Clara/Claire Austin.
Daughter Gertrude Ham Hickman Barton and again recently restated by her daughter, Marie, at one time the family went by the surname of "Beasley" (will need to check various spellings) and that Gertrude was born under that name in 1908. Marie feels that she can recall that at least two of the children were born under that name. The story goes that while living in Arkansas that John Judge "killed a black man" and was incarcerated for the crime. The father of the deceased helped John Judge to escape. Reason???? Maybe at that time the family went to Texas then to Mississippi and then on to Lousiana????

My thoughts: During the approx time that this "murder" the south (was ARK considered a Southern state?) often turned a blind eye to such things and these types of instances happened frequently.
If that was the case:
Why would John Judge be arrested and incarcerated?
Why would the victim's family help him to escape?
Did the authorities actually do a criminal search for him?
What was the circumstances of the crime? When did it take place?
Would local newspapers even carry news of the crime?
If a family were running from the law would the births of the children even be registered (Marie's thought)?
Why use the name "Beasley"?