Jeremiah Compson

Jeremiah Compson descends from slave catchers who worked at Ascension Plantation in Rhodes. He follows them into the same trade and becomes an administrator there, marrying Betsy Compson and raising their son, Rance. After slavery is abolished, Compson loses his position. The Central Union Railroad later dismisses him after complaints, and he becomes estranged from Rance. In 1895, Judge Meredith Holden orders Compson's Stead and its contents transferred to the Bank of Rhodes, leaving Compson homeless and drinking at an encampment near Eris Field.

Arthur Morgan finds Compson sitting outside the Rhodes Train Station, bitter over the loss of his home and former standing. Compson asks Arthur to enter Compson's Stead and recover possessions he considers precious, including his old pistol, a ledger and a pocket watch. Arthur searches the abandoned property, where he finds evidence of Compson's former work. The ledger records enslaved people as property and describes Compson's pride in capturing them.

Arthur takes the belongings to Compson's camp at Eris Field and confronts him with what the ledger reveals. Compson rages at the loss of the life and work he valued, then watches Arthur throw the possessions into the fire. He breaks down and points his old pistol at Arthur, but the neglected weapon jams. Compson remains at the camp, sobbing and cursing Arthur, who can leave him there or kill him.