The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1875-08-05
AN HISTORICAL TRAGEDY.

".
derer and His Wife.
A Lexington (Ky.) correspondent Of
the Cincinnati Commercial revives the
incidents of the bloody and romantic
Beauchamp- Sharp tragedy, enacted some
fifty years ago-a tragedy that has been
celebrated IL song, drama and story
and which at the time excited the pro
foundest sensation all over the country.
Among other graves worthy of remark
In this cemetery, writes this correspond
ent, I found one bearing the name Solo
mon p. Sharp. The inscription on the
dark gray monument states that he ''was
assassinated while extending the hand of
hospitality, on the morning of Novem-
Der 7, 1926, in the 36th year of his age,
with the text added: " What thou know
est 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 previ-
ously been several times elected to the
Kentucky Legislature, and under Gov.
Adair, was Attorney General OF the
State At the time of his death he had
settled in Frankfort, as very successful
lawyer, but had recently been again
elected to the Legislature as the cham
pion of the Relief party"
A few years previous Sharp had met
III
he had seduced her. She was young
lady of good family, of fair cultiva ton,
with some literary talent. He met her
at party, I believe, and it was under
the excitement of dancing and 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 Jere-
boam 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 con-
dition exacted by her that he should kill
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 elected to the Legislature. On this
charge being brought against him, Col.
Sharp treated it slightiDgly and stated In
public, it is said, that certificate was in
evidence that this child born of Miss
Cook had black face. This added in
suit to the original injury, and the Sc
cret writing of Beauchamp's promise
came out distinctly at its breath. The
Sunday evening before the General As
sembly met, Beauchamp (who lived in
another part of the State) entered Frank
fort, 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 northumberland, going to side
door Though others Say it was to 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 an
other part of the State, where the latter
had formerly lived, but changing the
second initial of this persons name
saying, "John A. Covington, and re-
questing to see him at once on important
business.
CT know John w. Covington, said
Sharp, deliberately opening the door
and advancing into the open air and
darkness.
Beauchamp at once lifted the mask
which he wore, saying Don't you
know me, Colonel?"
"My God it is B." exclaimed
Sharp, but did not succeed in pronounc-
ing 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.
Col. Sharp was found dead on his door
step. Beauchamp returned to his lodg-
ing and 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.
The death of Col. Sharp produced q
profound sensation in Frankfort and
throughout the State. The Legislature
offered $4,000 for the detection aud ap-
prehension of the murderer. Beau
champ was finally brought to trial
and sentenced to be hung. During the
interval between the sentence and its
execution great efforts were made in his
behalf, delegations of ladies dressed in
mourning even going to the Governor
with petitions for his pardon. Joseph
Desha was then Governor of Kentucky.
and son of the Governor, Isaac B.
Desha, was imprisoned at the time, con-
victed of a highway robbery near Mays
vile. 1t was presumed young Desha
would be pardoned-as he afterward was
and it was urged that the Governor
might do gracious thing, Tightening
his selfish act of clemency, by pardon
mo Reanehamn anl his son tnoether.