The weekly herald. [volume] (Cleveland, Tenn.) 1876-1888, 1878-10-31
Old Kentucky Chlvalry.

"There Is one thing / am morally
certain Of. If that play of AN Open
Verdict is produced in this city, as II
proposed, and 1t reflects upon any Of
the Pope family, there will be some,
body shot" The speaker was an old
and respected resident of Louisville
Ky., who has been on intimate term,
socially with the Pope family for fifty
years. When the reporter accosted
him relative to the famous trial of God.
frey Pope for the killing of Colonel
Bliss, a Louisville journalist, in 1916
he seemed at first to be reticent, but f.
nally after deal of persuasion, blur
ted out as above.
81 hear" he continued, "the play Is
based upon incidents bearing upon the
famous Kentucky trial, and those peo-
pie out there are very hot headed, and
liable to do most anything TO revenge
what they consider an insult. The
Southern people are the most polite
people on the face of the earth, and
will do nobody an injury maliciously,
but an insult they will not bear. | was
acquainted with Godfrey Pope and the
whole family at the time of the mur-
der. Godfrey was generally con-
demned after his acquittal, and he led
a miserable life until he went to the
war. Hamilton Pope, his brother, was
a perfect gentleman and the best Of the
whole family. During the late war he
fought on the side of the Union, and
rose to the rank of Colonel. Henry
Pope, nephew of Godfrey, was killed
in duel with John Thompson Grey,
on Six-Mile Island. The duel origina-
ted from Pope striking Grey with a
small cane. The weapons were shot
guns, and they fought at twenty-five
yards. At the second fire Pope re-
ceived an ounce ball In his groin, and
died while being conveyed to Louis
vile in skiff. Minor Pope, another
nephew, was always inclined to the
cup, and now lives with my brother-in
law outside Of the city. The whole
family seems to have a happy faculty
for becoming mixed up in broils, duels
and aifrays of every description. But
the Popes are like all southern people
--clannish, and they stick to each other
closer than grim death to a dead mig
GER General Pope, related to the fam
lily somehow, was noted for always car
rying his headquarters in his saddle
Miss Fredure Pope, Godfrey's sister,
was one of the prettiest women that
ever walked the streets of Louisville.
She married Col. James Bowles, of Vir-
ginia. This founding of plays on
Southern family incidents is very gall
ing to Southerners. The last play of
this character came very near result
ing in blOOdshed The plot was based
upon the Sharp murder, which occurred
in Louisville some years ago. Colonel
Sharp wronged most beautiful wo-
man, named Sybel. The woman on
the Colonel's refusal to marry her,
swore to be revenged. A man named
Beauchamp afterwards sought her
hand in marriage, but she positively
refused to marry him unless he killed
Sharp. Her stipulation was that Sharp
should be shot in the public thorough
fare in broad daylight. Beauchamp
did kill Sharp but it was in the dead
of night, while his victim lay asleep.
The murderer was tried, convicted and
hanged, The play founded on the ira
gic incidents of that affair was quite
success, and was even played in Louis
Vile. Hot words and blows resulted,
and the Sharps threatened murder, but
did not keep their word.