The Andrew County Republican. [volume] (Savannah, Mo.) 1871-1876, 1875-08-13
AN OLD KENTUCKY TRAGEDY.
The Assassination of Col. Sharp by Beau
champ-Sad Ending of Three Lives.

the name of Solomon P. Sharp. The in
scriptiOn states that he twas aSSasSinated
while extending the hand of hospitality.
on the morning of Nov. Z, 1925, in the 3Sth
year of his age" with the text added:
" What thou knOwest not now, thou shalt
know hereafter"
Col. Sharp was in his day one of the
foremost men OF kentucky. During the
administration of James Madison he had
served two terms in Congress, at which
time he was the roommate and intimate
friend of John G.. Calhoun, who is said TO
have declared that Sharp was the oldest
man of his age that had ever crossed the
mountains He had previously been
several times elected to the Kentucky Leg
i~slature, and. under Gov. Adair, was At
tOrney-General of the State. At the time
of MS death he had settled in Frankfort,
as a very successful lawyer, but had re-
Gently been again elected to the LegiSla-
ture as the champion of the "Reliet par
ty." The relief and 'anti-reliet" COT
troversy, of which | shall o attempt to
sketch a hiStorv-had been for some time
agitating the State, and the fact that Col.
Sharp was regarded as a chief exponent Of
the relief movement, and that the session
OF the Legislature was to begin on the day
following his assassination, lent a peculiar
emphasis to the excitement that followed.
The story of his death, with its cause and
consequences, | have learned from several
cotempOrary personal sources. But first
let me say, fronting the Capitol Square in
Frankfort. on IFS northern side, and only
a few steps eastward from the Frankfort
and Louisville Railway, is a large, dark
lead-cOlOred mansion three stories in
height, extending far back, with ample
accommodations for the slave help of
d" the good old times This house is per-
haps nearly sixty years old, and was the
house OF Col. Solomon Z. Sharp in 1925.
A few years previous Sharp had met a
young lady named Ann Eliza Cook. and
he had seduCed her. She was a young la
dy of good family, of fair cultivation, with
some literary talent. He met her at a par
ty, | believe. and it was under the excite
ment of the dancing and the wine, PER
hapS, that Miss Cook yielded herself To
him. After her disgrace became known
she had secluded herself at home. but it
seems that young lawyer named JerebO-
am 0. Beauchamp, also of respectable
family, happened to see her, and. falling
in love with her, succeeded in obtaining
her promise TO become his wife on cOndi-
-, ,-,l+, H. h., chat l., -ll,,ll I'm
Col. Sharp. This promise was made-the
marriage took place. Some time-a year
or two perhapS-paSSed, and Sharp still
remained alive. Perhaps the trouble
would have passed and been forgotten,
had not the seduction been mentioned as
against Sharp'S character during the warm
political campaign in which he was elect
ed TO the Legislature. On this charge be-
ing brought against him, Col. Sharp treat
ed it slightly, and stated in public, it is
said. that a certificate was IN evidence that
this child born of Miss Cook had a black
face. This added insult to the original in
jury, and the secret writing of Beau
champs promise came out distinctly at
its breath. The Sunday evening before
the General Assembly met. Beauchamp
(who lived in another part of the State)
entered Frankfort, and, finding the hotels
full, put Up at the private house Of a gen.
tleman named Scott, two or three squares
south of Sharp's residence. Late at night
he went around to the house in which
Sharp resided-the large old brick which
| have newfoundland, going to a side
door Though Others say it was 20 the
front door, he knocked. Sharp was
awakened, and asked who was there.
Beauchamp answered by giving the name
of one familiar to Sharp-in another part
of the State, where the latter had lived
but changing the second initial of this per
sons thanksgiving: John a. Coving-
TOM and requesting to see him at once
on important business.
"Iknow John w. Covington." said
Sharp. deliberately opening the door and
advancing into the open air and darkness.
Beauchamp at once lifted a mask which
he wore, saying: "Don't you know me,
Colonel?"
"MyG God! its b" exclaimed Sharp,
bat did not succeed in p%rOnouncing his
enemy's name before the latter struck
him upon his mouth with his left hand
and stabbed him to the heart with his
right.
Colonel Sharp was found dead on his
doorstep. Beauchamp returned to his
lodging andle left town early in the morning
without being suspected, believe. 1t is
related that on approaching his home he
conveyed to his wife the intelligence OF
the deed accomplished by waving his
handkerchief alOft in the distance.