The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-09-14

oE
..A-Iudses bench. a-vesubuls. s-Ai.ie. B--,where
Philip Thompson. ST. sat C-Whcrc Theodore Davies.
rhir Thompson Davies was shot deSd F"whcry Thee
A.. hs sr Ts mo, dead 'rTs behind wSe
rhhhP Ihomnson si.d -w1naG m Oh. 3, Which
Dawes. jr, received Ills fatal wound.
When young Theodore Davies wns borne.
wounded to- death, TO the room hard by, he sent
for his mother and youngest brother. Eugene.
boy IN jackets. When they reached him it
was evident that his time was but short: but.
taking the boys hand. he made him promise
that he would pursue the quarrel no further. Ii
has been too often the fashion in Kentucky for
the surviving members Of q family. after ono
against those Of the other side. In one case,
that OF the Hills and Evanses in the ncighbor-
ing county OF Garrard. the original bloody
has been estimated that sixty persons have been
kiUed-relntives. moro or less distant. OF the
two mon who fought in 1926,
The dying man had steadily refused to be
placed on bed. for. as he said. the fast flowing
blood could do no harm e the bare floor. He
had assisted in bringing him in. sent word to
them that h. bore them no III will and then
read i slowly and thouchttuy through called
for lighted match and act FIRE 90 II. hol ding IL
In his hand until consumed almost to the last
ash. That paper. have since been told by tho
surviving son. was q statement drawn up the
night before bv Theodore Davies, Sr, ana IN
e 9 eSacty ' what sSap1 haPpaned i"'0P PRe
court room that day. and giving. proofs
that led the. old man 10 believe that the
Thompsons had arranged detailed plan TO
murder him and his two sons II the verdict
promised 10 30 against the defendant. That
document rs represented. would have gone far
toward conyicting the Thompsons Of deliberate
murder, and II 1t was ms represented. you will
stroying II was that of "A noble spirit A minis
ter had reached the room; Theodore talked
with him feehly. bade mother and brother good
The Thompsons were arrested, but, think.
released on eail. One OF ne accused being
Hon. J. c. $. Blackburn was engaged 10 con-
duct the prosecution. He was then hut nj the
markably successful. You will remember his
strong. rugged face and quiet determination as
lately in session in your city The Same quality
was shown in the unearthing Of the Beknap
fraud Of four years ago when tho young lawyer
prior TO his appearance in the Thompson trinl.
he had been engaged in case hardly less ex-
citing over in Woodford County Tho brother
| and sister Of old John Harper owner Of Long.
fellow, had been brutally murdered in bed. and
an attempt made the same night to murder the
veteran iurfman himself ms he slept near by his
beloved horse in his stable at Lexington. The
three Harpers. bachelor brothers and maiden
sister were very rich. and Adam Harper
nephew. was understood to be their heir.
Another relative publicly accused used Adam
Grand Jury Adam Harper sued him Tor libel.
and T." 10" Blackburn WAS retained for tho de-
ton ion and on the trial Boldly charged that Adam
Harper and his son were guilty OF the triple
crime Young ~ HarpeT At recess drew pistoI
upon his assailant. wrenched the pistol from
his hand gave him over 10 the officer, and went
back into court and finished his accusation.
His client was cleared and when old John Har-
per died no mention Of Adam Harper was found
in mis- will.
II was cravely feared throughout Kentucky
that at the trial Of the Thompsons. there would
be still another bloody scene If the prosecuting
Wickiff,. a few days before the case was called,
gave public notice that every person; rs ne
entered me court ROOM would De seaIched LOT
the case but gingerly, for powerful influences
were at work in behalf OF the accused and many
time in public print. Blackburn. however,
was in all this. interval steadily getting
terrible array Of points together. and two
speech 70 the jury. In that speech he distinctly
charged deliberate conspiracy on the part OF
6t days n cEa &sS '8RH that Php TRmpon
hp Thompson 'fb Dawes sS Stood by the
stove. The young man. as was expected, chal-
lenged Thompson To accompany MN without
% tho vestbule Thompson drew his pistol and
shot young Davies dead. This was the signal
20 his father and brother inside; their pistols
were out on the instant. and Theodore Davies,
Sr.. was dead on the floor before he could
fairly draw his weapon. Theodore Davies.
his fathers earnest desire, and ia anticipation
OF what happened escaped equally quick death
by a marvellous accident, for three hitherto
unerring revolyers We're blazing ut him for hve
minutes or more. Such. elaborated in all the
details of circumstantial proof was the charge
Of tho eloquent young lawyer from Woodford;
But the speech was never delivered A copy Of
IT had been ntrusted to friend to put in print
should the attempt TO make 4 IN court be pre-
vented law the sppnk X death while addressing
the Jury. II was understood ut the time that
Judge Wickliffe and other influential men Of
That Ss n no ds nSe an o %rFo ns h SS
said It would precpitate conflict which might
involve nll tnat ncighhorhood; You, who live
that plea a. made in Harrodsburg five years
No. Inc -klux were AZ their bloody work
or State CiovnrTm"nts were seemin,plv n"weriess
70 sioN II. kentucky had not yet recovered from
iho effects 81 the war border state, she had
DIVIDED against son, and brother against
br9'h ,S an the county authorities were often
against another All this has since been hap
PLY much changed, and the good sense OF the
people is reassering itself
whether blackburn was OverbOrne by these
Toy demand Of Judge WicEieI"ass p was re-.
ported at the time-I do not know: but the
speech was not delivered The Thompsons
were acquitted on the plea 81 solf-deicnce anil
as YOU have seen. one Of them was to-day nom
mated 10 represent his district in the governing
body OF the nation,
II the civil suit for the recovery OF the money
loaned was ever renewed. or 4 the Jury over re;
bodies Of the plaintiff and one of his sons were
carried from the court room. have never seen
a record Of the fact : nor has young Eugene Da-
ves now fun man grown. ever violated the
promise made at his elder brothers dying COM
mand.
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