The herald and mail. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1873-188?, 1875-09-24

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 rs the cham
pion of the "relief party" The "relief"
and anti-relief" controversy, of which
| shall not attempt to sketch history,
had been for some time agitating the
state, and the fact that Col. Sharp was
regarded as chief exponent of the relief
movement, and that the session of the
legislature was to begin on the day fol-
| lowing his Assassination, lent peculiar
emphasis to the excitement that followed.
The story of his death, with its cause
and its consequences, l have learned
from several cOtemporary personal
sources. But first let me say, fronting
the capitol square in Frankfort, on its
northern side, and only few steps east
ward from the Frankfort and Louisville
railway, is a large, dark, red-colored
brick mansion, three stories in height,
extending far back, with ample accom-
modatiOns for the slave help Of "the
good old times"
This house is perhaps sixty years old,
and was the house of Col. Solomon p.
Sharp in 1925. A few years previous,
Sharp had met young lady named Ann
Eliza Cook, and
HE HAD SEDUCED HER.
She was young lady of good family, of
fair cultivation, with some literary tai
ent. He met her at a party, | believe
and it was under the excitement of the
dance and the wine perhaps, that Miss
Cook yielded herself to him. After her
disgrace became known she had secluded
herself at home, but it seems that a
young lawyer named Jeroboam O. Beau
champ, also of respectable family, hap
pened to see her and, falling in love with
her, succeeded in obtaining her promise
to become his wife on condition exacted
by her he should kill Colonel Sharp.
This promise was made-the marriage
took place. Some time-a wear or two
Perhaps-passed, and Sharp still re-
manned alive. Perhaps the trouble
would have passed and been forgotten,
had not the seduction been mentioned as
against Sharps 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 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 injury,
and the secret writing of Beauchamps
promise came out distinctly at his
breath. The Sunday evening before the
general assembly met, Beauchamp (who
lived in another part of the state) en-
tered Frankfort, and, finding the hotels
full put up at the private house of a
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 | have newfoundland. 90
ing 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
another part of the state, where the latter
formerly lived-but changing the second
initial of this persons name, saying
John A. CovingtOn, and requesting
to see him at once on important business.
q know John w. Covington," said
Sharp, deliberately opening the door and
advancing into the open air and dark
ness.
Beauchamp at once lifted a mask which
he wore, saying:
Don't you know me, colonel ?'
" My God it's b" exclaimed Sharp, !
but did not succeed in pronouncing his
cnemy's name before the latter struck
him with his left hand and
STABBED HIM To THE HEART
with the right. Col. Sharp was found
dead on his doorstep. Beauchamp re-
turned to his lodging and left town early
in the morning, without being suspected,
| believe 1t is related that on approach |
ing his home he conveyed to his wife the
intelligence of the deed accomplished by
waving his handkerchief aloft in the dis
tance.
The death of Col. Sharp produced a
profound sensation in Frankfort and
throughout the state. The legislature
offered $4,000 for the detection and APP
prehcnsiOn of the murderer. There was
a disposition to make political capital
out of the affair, too, | am told, and to
make believe the assassination to have |
been in the interest of the anti-relief
party. One of the Frankfort editors of
the time was darkiy charged with acces-
sorry knOwledge-and some were not in |
disposed, | believe, to have him arrested. |
1t was through this editor, | have been /
told think the name was Darby-that |
Beauchamp was finally pointed out and |
arrested, Sharp's family, it is said, show .
ing an indisposition to touch him and /
thus make hopelessly public the cause of
his act. But Beauchamp was finally |
brought to trial and
SENTENCED To BE HUNG.
During the interval between the SEN /
tence and its execution, great efforts |
were made in his behalf, delegations of |
ladies dressed in mourning even going to |
the governor, and son of the governor, /
Isaac b. Desha, was imprisoned at the .
time, convicted of highway robbery |
near Maysville. 1t was presumed young .
Desha would be pardoned-as he after |
ward was-and it was urged that the |
governor might do a gracious thing, /
tightening the selfish act of clemency by /
pardoning Beauchamp and his son to- |
gether. But he was infexible. Political .
revenge, perhaps, it is said, had to be /
gratified.
The day of execution came. A short .
time before the hour designated, request .
was made by Beauchamp that his wife .
might be permitted to remain with him .
alone in his cell ut seems they were ten |
derly engaged to each other), for the /
purpose of their last leave-taking, and /
this privilege was granted. After a
while, as the time fixed for execution
was at hand, the officers entered the
prison cell and found the wife dying with
the wound of penknite in her breast,
and the husband himself also fatally
stabbed. They had
DETERMINED To ELUDE THE LAW,
and die together. But as the time for
the execution had come, Beauchamp was
taken in his dying condition out upon
the scafiold and hung. The bodies Of
the husband and wife were removed to
their home and buried together. Sub
this tragic romance of real life
was made the basis of a novel which was
largely bought up, it is said, by Sharp's
friends. Later, about eighteen years
ago, a drama was written by John Sa-
wage the Irish poet, founded on the Beau
champ history, and was on the point of
being produced at Louisville.
q was at the Louisville theatre that
night, remember" lady in Kentucky
told me; sit was in 1853. The theatre
was very fin II | fnrpnt tho Dau,a of the