The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1874-06-09
A DOUBLE TRAGEDY.

A FATAL MEETING OF TWO RESPECTABLE
FARMERs-THE MURDERER KILLS HIM
sELP.
The Cincinnati Enquirer OF the Sd inst. ,
says: A terrible tragedy occurred near the
kentucky river, in Garrard county, to-day,
resulting in the probable death of two prom
inent farmers of this section. Wiz Hughes,
a large stock raiser of this county, failed re-
Gently. involving his uncle, Granville Smith,
in loss of $40 900. Smith could obtain no
part OF his debt. He is an old man, over
sixty years, and his farm, all that be
has in the world, is TO be sold
to nav the security debt for
Hughes. Hughes made such an arrange
ment with his creditors as TO save quite
fortune to his wife. Granville Smith was
in Lexington last week behaving like
madman and threatening the life of Hughes.
The latter, while refusing dime to Smith,
went over into Bowie county and bought
farm, paying S20,000 cash, and giving his
note for $4,000 more. More than one per-
son believed that Smith would kill Hughes
and so stated. To day Hughes commenced
moving his effects to his farm in Boyle
county. and left here in an open carriage
with lis wife and family. Smith knew of
his movement and lay in wait for him.
Going in his buggy ahead of Hughes,
and crossing the Kentucky river. went up
the road that winds about the
cliff for about mile and a half to
the toll gate. Here he left his horse and
buggy in the hands of a colored boy, and
entered the woods, saying he was going
squirrel hunting. Hughes came along in
about an hour. driving a splendid team,
which came toiling slowly up the steep hill.
Just as the travellers came up where
Smith was concealed the latter opened fire
upon Hughes. discharging three shots from
a revolver. One shot took effect in the right
arm passing through the body and both
lungs. The second shot struck the back,
passing out above the umbilicus. Hughes
wife, who was sitting beside her husband
SEEING THAT HE WAS SHOT,
took the reins with one hand and supported
her fAinting husband with the other. The
horses becoming frightened ran off up the
hill and overturned the carriage into deep
ravine. Mrs. Hughes says that the third
shot was fired at her. 1t took effect in the
back OF the buggy under the seat. The team
was secured and Mrs. Hughes was conveyed
to a house near the river, where, after some
time, medical assistance was procured. DR..
Welch, of Nicholasville, found the wounds
as above described, and at o'clock, al
though the wounded man was yet alive, no
hopes were held out tor his recovery. After
the shooting Smith took to the woods, and
it was thought he was endeavoring TO make
his escape. Such was not the case, however
1 n the afternoon, about an hour after the
Smith took his way down the
road to the river, passed the house where his
victim lay, crossed the river, and went a
little way up the. hill. Meeting with a col
ored boy he handed him his gun, asked him
to hold it a few minutes, and turned to walk
back, saying as he did so, "When you hear
the report of pistol, come and lay me out"
Presently the boy heard the report, and saw
Smith throw up his hands, On examina-
ton it was found that he had shot himself in
The head, between the eyes. The affair
creates the most intense feeling of horror in
his community, where the principals in the
tragedy are we'll known.