The Hartford herald. [volume] (Hartford, Ky.) 1875-1926, 1877-11-07
FRAGMENTS or TINE EARLY HISTORY
or OHIO COUNTY.
RT II. D. TAYLOR.
CHAPTER xxx.

BIZ VI. D. TAfLok.
CHAPTER xxx.
hany other worthy pioneers, whose
defendants compose part Of our present
population, may hereafter be referred to
as the writer may gather facts in reIa-
ton 10 them. for the majority of the
early settlers were no doubt peaceable,
orderly and moral citizens as our crim-
NAL records will show. Few cases appear
on the docket e1cert.against overseers OF
roads, and for drunkenness, profane
swearing and occasionally a.case OF hog
stealing. Profsne swearing seems TO
have been a.luxury INDUCED in by the
officers and attorneys OF court, and few
other individuals. John Barnes, who in
early Life was q prosperous, well-to-do
farmer. aud worthy man in every other
respect, would come 10 town and take a
long spree, for which he expected to be
fined when The grand jury met. Charles
Henderson. the clerk Of the court, was
m the hsbit OF buying marketing OF
Barnes. aud frequently when Henderson
was in arrears in their settlement and
would offer TO pay up. Barnes would say,
Never mind, Uncle Charley, I'll take 1t
out in fines next court" IL was also a
common practice OF persons who we're
10 the habit of using rroiane language,
20 watch the returns OF the grand jury,
and nav M their fines in court, TO save
further cost A rather PomPons gentle
man came into court one morning and
paid his fine with quite a supercilious
air. Of which fact wag who WAS acting
~ deputy clerk made the following rec>
ord: wv. NJ, who Was presented by the
grand jury al the pr"Seu, term for swear
ing ono p-Ofauc oath, came into court
and said he scorned to contend with the
commonwealth for the PiIiful snm Of FIVE
.hillings. aud therrupon paid his fine in
court.
The first trial FOR murder that spi ears
to have occurel in the county was that
of the celebrated Bill Smo,hers. lie APP
pears to have been a man Of extrsordin>
airy courage. high sense Of honor, and
houndl.ss hospitality, hut had an uncon
trollable passion for all kinds OF fun and
deviltry. A crowd hardly over collected
in those days hut some one had a new
s:ory to tell about some of Bill Smoth'
ere pranks. lie lived on the Ohio river
near the present site of Owenshoro. A
boat landed near his house and some OF
the crew came upto it. The particulars
of the difficulty are not recollected. but
resulted in Smothcrs killing a big over
grown ruflian, and then making
his escape from his compan-
ions and coming 10 Hartford to surrender
himself. The celebrated 10 Davies
alike remarkable for his legal abilities
and eccenIricity OF character, volunteered
for his fried Smothers, and perhaps no
trial IN the country had ever before col-
lected so great crowd, and no crowd
we're ever more completely absorbed with
the incidents OF any trial in a court OF
Justice. Such Q chain OF logical argu-
msnt, such bursis of eloquence, have
never been heard before. The trial re-
suited in an almost triumphant acquittal
OF the prisoner.
The incidents Of this trial afforded
gossip for the community for years alter
wards. Davies was SAID TO have made
his appearance in the county, armed and
equipped IN complete hunters gsrb,
walking most OF his time, with a negro
boy riding his horse. Staying all night
with old Stephen Stateler, and requesting
the old gentleman to accompany him
through the woods, while the boy aud
horse were sent by the road to town,
and during the time OF arguing the case
instead Of resorting 10 alcoholic stimu-
lants be had q plate Of neatly broiied
ham brought in set by his side, and in
the midst Of his speech would pause
pick up q slice, and eat il with gusto
of hunter at his campfire
Even Smothers could not restrain his
passion for fun and dsviltry. A young
lawyer seeking location, wrung himseI
into the defense, and courtesy among
lawyers required that he should be per
m;tted 10 make speech. which proved
such q rigmsrole of rauting and nonsen'
steal flights that it was hard to tel
whether it most amused or disgusted hI'
bearers. Smothers saw at once how u
perpetrate g joke and eradicate any I'M
favorable impressions the speech nigh
have made on the minds OF the jury, anf
deliberately taking out bright silve
half dollar, aud holding it up to view
between his thumb and fore finger
walked up to the young lawyer, and sai'
you volunteered in this case sir, but
want to pay you the full north Of you
services; take this" The bursts o