Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1878-10-26
Killed in Court.
STORY NEVER BEFORE FULLY TOLD.

] oreSSlOOal CANVASS III llS ON hS"'"N"y
trict. now represented by the Hon. Milton )
/ Durham has been OF almost unprecedented M
terest in this State. The convention was held
/ this morning and Philip Thompson Jr., o
/ Mercer County, was selected As the Candidate
| of the party. The district IS 50 strongly Dem
/ ocratic that the nomination of the Convention
/ is ordinarily equivalent to an election. Bn'
against Philip Thompson wil be recalled The
/ incidents OF the mos. SHOCKING tragedy thai
! has ever occurred even 10 this State OF extra
/ ordinary tragedies, aud whether 1t Will defeat
I him or not the issue eau only show.
/ Philip Thompson isa mem6e- of c very
/ noted Kentucky family. His grandfather
represen .ed one of its districts in the Congress
/ of 1923. and a relative was Vice President OF
the United States. Both his father and him.
self have occupied notable oili,ial positions in
the State. He is connected by blood or
marriage Gith, most of the best families ol
kentucky aud Virginia, and is himself man
of much more than the usual ability. Bu'
the blood of a boyhooPs playmate Is on his
hands, aud, though a jury acquitted him on
the ground of self-defense, there are very many
people in Kentucky who refused 10 accept that
decision, and among them Is probably the
Hon. j. C. 5. Blackburn, who, if Mr.. Thomp-
son is elected, will sit with him ia the Ken
tucky delegation to the 46th Congress
In March 1873, a case was called in the
Circuit Court OF Mercer, being the sclt OF
Theodore Davies, a highly respected farmer ct
/ the county, for the recovery of some $4,000
loaned by Davies to Philip Thompson, Sr.,
father Of to-day's nominee. Philip Thompson
Sr.. and Davies were neighbors, aud had been
the most intimate Of friends. The second son
of Davies had been named for Thompson, and
Thompsou second son, in return, was chris
tened Theodore Davies Thompson. The mo
ney was loaned in sUrGe friendly transaction,
and note was given as hardly more than G.
matter of form Ii was not paid at maturi-
~. but Davies did not ask for payment until
! long after, when his necessities compelled the
request. Thompson, a lawyer in large prac-
/ tice. was at the time Cummunwealth'S Aitor-
ney of the district. His canvass had cost him
/ heavily. and be was besides a free liver aud
liberal in entertaining after the hospitable fash
/ ion of almost every Keutuckian Of social OF
political prominence. He asked for further
/ time. and the matter was not pressed. But
/ Davies. so he afterwards charged, one day had
occasion to look over bis papers, and Thomp-
! s note was missing. He walked over to
/ Tnompsons house. told of its loss, and asked
for another note Thompson, to his amaze
mcnt.. said that the note had long since been
piid. aud, If reco!lect Alright, produced the
original paper Davies went home dazed, in-
stituted au investigation. and finally became
convinced that Thompson had had access to
the desk where the nute had been kept and
bcd taken i away. The old farmer was
choleric tue intimacy Of years could not
survive the shock he though; himself sure III
the conviction OF his friends dishonesty, and,
burrving TO town. eutered suit on the note,
charging the grevious crime above named
The community was gravely excited over the
accusation. aud when. the case came up for
trial the courtroom was deusely crowded.
Theodore Davies set. on ole side Of the
Judges bench, Within the bar. and Philip
Thompson, Sr. just opposite TO him, facing
the Jury. Beside bis father, Theodore Dawes,
.Jr.. sat. b, all accounts an admirable young
fellow. aui t. modest, Of perfect habits aud
.tiiauced To- young girl of Harrodsbnrg -
Theodore Davies Thompson was seated next to
his father, aud elso.tacIng the father and son
opposite The argument had been maze, the
ev ideuce seemed strOug against the defendant,
the Jury was about 10 retire, and the dense
silence with which the progress Of. the case
had been watched by he assembly Of friends
to both Nsftes, was even more strained as the
faces OF the twelve were scanned to Judge OF
their probable decision. AT that moment a
A commotion half way down the courtroom
turned all eyes thtber Young Philip Thomp-
sor Davies and Philip Thompson, Jr., who
was nominated for Congress to-day, and was
then County Attorney OF Mercer, had been
talking earnestly beside the stove, in the room,
as the case was nearing its end. Suddenly
both started hrrrld'y down one 4 the side
aises leading to the main aisle, Thompson
little in front. Both had their right hands on
the pistol pUcket. Theodore Davies and his
elder son Jumped TO their feet, and the Thomp-
sons, father and son, opposite, were already
staudiug. The elder Davies started down the
aisle. but as he got 10 the centre OF the room
a shot was heard 10 the veStibule outside,
whittier the two young men had gone. The
old man stopped, shouted. ut is a Conspiracy"
aud drew his pistol Before he could raise the
hammer there was another shot, and he fell
dead where be stood. The young Theodore
had followed him, and was at his side as he
fell. The audience, too familiar with what is
certain to follow when pistols are drawn 10
any part OF Kentucky, dropped as one man
behind benches Judge Wckliife- another
honored Kentucky name-rose and shouted
warning. but with no effect. Shot after shot
followed in such quick succession that all was
over almost before bis voice could be heard.
Young Theodore Davies, his face, as 1t has
4 60, 10
descrip,ion. and fercey set. stood over the
dead body Of his father. The elder Thompson
was behind post on the left OF him as he
stood. Theodore Thompson behind post to
the right, aud Philip Thompson, Jr, back OF
him. by the door Their three pistols emptied
bullet after bullet toward him, but he still
escaped harm. Slowly lie fred shot after shot
IN return. turning third around as each time
he raised the hammer, until the six loads were
gone. Each bullet lodged in the posts behind
which were the other two, or in the jamb OF
the door TO the vestibue. Then he reached
down, took the heavy Colt from bis dead faith
s's nerveess grasp, aud again, with marvellous
delibeIatiOn and precision, emptied ITS SIX
loads n succession, turning, as before, third
around toward each opponent as be fired
Each shot LODGED itself IN the heavy timbers.
Neither Of the ThompsOns Eas bit, aud he
himself stood unwounded. Then he snapped
the weapon once Of. twice, tnniindful that its
cartridges were useless, and then he backed
slowly toward the door, still target as he
moved sor two fresb pistols in the hands Of the
two before him. It was aiterward urged that
the Thom psons must each have been armed
with two or more weapons when they entered
the court. The number Of shots hred wvuld