The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1875-08-12
AN HISTORICAL TRAGEDI.'
KY, and Subsequent Suicide of the Muir
derer and His Wife.

derer and His Wife.
A Lexington Ky.) correspondent OF
the Cincinnati Commercial revives the
incidents of the bloody and romantic
Sharp tragedy, enacted some
fifty years ago-a tragedy that has been
Celebrated in song, drama and story
and which at the time excited the pro-
foundest sensation all vel the country.
Among other graves worthy of remark
in this cemetery, writes this correspond
emit, 1 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 38th year of his age"
with the text added: "What thou know
est not now, thou shalt know hereafter"
= Col. Sharp vas 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 prey1-
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 a 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 a
younr lady named Ann Eliza Cook, and
he had seduced her. She was a young
lady of good family, of fair cultivation,
with some literary talent. He met her
at a 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 ut home, but it
seems that a young lawyer named Jere-
beam o. Beauchamp, also of respectable
family, happened to see her, and, falling
in love with her, succeeded in obtaining
her promise to become his wife IN con-
dition exacted by her that he should kill
Col. Sharp. This promise was made
the marriage took place. Some time-a
year OF 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 slightingly, and stated in
public, it is said, that o certificate was in
evidence that this child born of Miss
Cook had a 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, B~eauchamp (who lived in
another part of the State) entered Frank.
fort, and, finding the hotels full, put up
at the private house of n gentleman
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
I have newfoundland, going to a 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 lattel
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 importan
business.
"I know John W. Covington," rrsait
Sharp, deliberately opening the doc
and advancing into the open air ant
darkness.
Beauchamp at once lifted the masl
which he wore, saying "Don't yol
know me, Colonel2"
"My Godl it is B." exclaimed
Sharp, but did not succeed in pronounc
ing his enemy's name before the latte
struck him upon his mouth with his lef
hand and stabbed him to the heart witt
his right.
. Col. Sharp was found dead on his doc
step. B~eauchamp returned to his lodg
ing and left town early in the morning
without being suspected, I believe. l
, is related that on approaching his hom'
, 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
profound sensation in Frankfort an,
throughout the State. The Legislator
offered $1,000 for the detection aud ar
! p%rehension of the murderer. Beau
= = champ was finally brought to iris
= and sentenced to be hung. During til
|. interval between the sentence and it
; execution great efforts were made in hi
> behalf, delegations of ladies dressed i
= mourning even going to the Governo
= with petitions for his pardon. Josep
= Desha was then Governor of Kentucky
i and a son of the Governor, Isaac L
. Desha, was imprisoned at the time, COZ
D victed of q highway robbery near Mays
vile. 1t was presumed young Desh
would be pardoned-as he afterward wa
and it was urged that the Governc
q might do a gracious thing, Gghtenin
d his selfish act of clemency, by pardon
e ing Beauchamp AM his son together
But he was infexible. Political revenge
g perhaps, it is said, had to be gratified.
The day of execution came. A shol
!, time before the hour designated, reque'
was made by B~eauchamp that his Wi
might be permitted to remain with hi
alone in his cell Gt seems they were ver
tenderly attached to each other) for I'll
purpose of their last leave-taking, an
K this privilege was granted. After
d while, as the time fixed for the executio
a was at hand, the officers entered tt
y prison cell and found the wife dyin
with the wound of a pen-knife in hi
q breast, and the husband himself ais
fatally stabbed. They had determine
@ to elude the law and die together. Blu
as the time for the execution had com
Beauchamp was taken, in his dying co,
dition, out upon the scatfold and hum
The bodies of the husband and wi
were removed to their home and burie
>. together. Subsequently this trag
romance of real life was made the bas
1t of a novel which was largely bought u
it is said, by Sharp's friends. Late
d about eighteen years ago, a drama W
written (by John Savage, I believe, Il
D. Irish poet) founded on the Beauchan
L history.
/, Large Landed Estates.
g In this country, we think $4,000
)" 20, 900 acres a large landed estate. Son
d of the great proprietors of Scotland a