The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1878-09-22
KILLED IN OPEN COURT.
STORY WHICH, ron VARIOUS REAs-
ONs, WAS rRyEg BEFORE
FULLY TOMERs .
Tme shocking Tragedy which the N0mi"
mataon off Philip Thompson, sr., tor
CONGRESS KsecaRls-A Father and two
spns killing Father and Two sons.

mabaon off Phillip Thompson, gF., for
Gengress Mecalls-A Father and Two
SONS killing Father and Two sons.
NEW York sunl
LOUISVILLE, KY, Sept 12.-zThe congress
esional canvass In the Eighth. Kentucky Dis
trict, now represented by the Hon: Milton
lented interest III this State. Mr.. Durham
early announced himself o. candidate for
denomination, but there was vigorous
opposition, and when the Democratic
convention met several weeks ago Durham an
necessary vote. After several days OF trult,
less ballUting the convention broke up and
all tho candidates were left free held st Inc
canvass has since developed such bitterness,
one OF it's episodes being wat bareaoeileo h 20
become @ serious personal controversy, pc
tween Mr. Dun ham and the Hon. Henry Wat
tsrgon, editor Of the Courier-J0anat- $50 much
political vitriol was thrown broadcast That 1t
was decided to. reassemble the oon ., W.
and put o regular nominee, before che Gus
trict That convention was held this morning,
and Philip Thompson, Jr., Of Mercer county,
was selected as the candidate OF the party
The district is So strongly Democfatie tllht
the nomination of the convention Is ordinarily
equivalent to an election. But against Philip
Thompson will be recalled the incidents Of
the most shocking tragedy that has ever oc-
Cured even In this. State Of extraordinary
tragedies, and whether it Will defeat MIN or
not the issue can only show.
Philip Thompson i5 % member OF q very
noted Kentucky family. His grandfather
represented one Of its districts In the Com
gross Of 1898 and y relative vas wee + ptesl.
and himself have occupied notable official 20,
sittoIs In the State. He Is connected by blood
OF marriage with most OF the best families OF
Kentucky and Virginia, and is himself man
of much more than the usual ability. But the
blood OF boyhood's playmate, is On his
hands, and, though q jury acquitted him on
the ground Of selt-defense there are very
many people 10 Kentucky who refused to ac-
oept that decisions and d. among them ls pro q
Thompson ID elected, will sit with him IN the
Kentucky delegation to the Forty-sixth Con-
gress.
IN March, 1879, case was called IN the g! Cir
cult Court Of Mercer, being the suit OF TheO-
aore Dayies, highly respected farmer OF the
county. for the recovery Of some $4,000 loaned
ty ntsyttt5s IS phaiH Thompson. ST.. father OF
to-days nominee. Philip Thompson Sr and
Davies were neighbors and had been the most
intimate Of friends. The second son of Davies
had been named for Thompson and Thomp-.
sons second son, in return, was ct1ristened
Theodore Davies Thompson. The money was
loaned In some friendly transaction and note
was given as hardly more that q matter Of
form, It was not paid at maturity. but Davies
did not ask for the payment until long after,
whom his necessities compelled the request.
Thompson, O. lawyer In large practice was at
district. His canvass had cost him heavily,
and he was. besides, free liver and liberal in
entertaining, after the hospital BILE fashion OF
about every Kentuckian OF social OF political
prominence. He asked for further time, and
the matter was not pressed. But Davies, SO
he afterward charged, one day had occasion
to look over his papers, and ThompsOn's note
was missing. He walked over to Thompson S
house, told Of its loss, and asked for another
note. THOMPSON, to his amazement, said that
F,Hfn IN EDnn III
recolleCt hright. produced the original paper.
Davies went home dazed, instituted an in
yestigation and finally became convinced that
Thompson had had access to the, desk where
the note had been kept, and had taken itaway.
The old farmer was choleric; the Intimacy OF
years could not survive the shock he thought
himself sure in the conviction Of his frtends
dishonesty, and, hurrying to town, entered
suit on the note. charging the grievOus crime
above named. The community was gravely
excited over the accusation, and when the case
came up for trial the courtroom was densely
crowded.
Judges bench, within the bar, and Philip
THOMPSON, ST.. just opposite TO him, facing
the jury Beside his father Theodore Davies,
Jr., sat, by all accounts an admirable young
fellow, quiet, modest Of perfect habits, and
atfianced to q young girl Of Harrodsburg.
Theodore Davies. Thompson was seated next
to his father. and also facing the father and
son opposite The arguments had been
made, the evidence seemed strong against the
defendant the jury vas =, about I to retire. and 70
the case had been watched by the assem- bly,
Of friends to both parties was even more
strained as the faces of the twelve were
scanned to Judge of their probable decision.
the courtroom turned all eyes thither.
Young Philip Thompson Davies and Philip
Thompson, Jr, who was nominated for Con-
gress to-day, and was then county attorney
HI. IL
the stove, on the west side OF the room, as
the case was nearing it's end. Suddenly
both started hurriedly down one Of
the side aisles leading to the main aisle,
Thompson @ little In front. Both had their
right hands on the pistol pocket Theodore
Davies and his elder son jumped to their feet,
and the Thompsons, father and son. opposite,
were already standing. The elder Davies
started down the aisle but as he got to the
centre Of the room shot was heard in the
vestbule outside, whittier the two young men
had gone. The old man stopped, shouted
ut Is conspiracy" and drew his pistol Be-
fore he could raise the hammer there was
another shot, and he fell dead where he 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 in any part OF Kentucky.
dropped as one man behind benches. Judge
Neutrality-suspicious. honored Kentucky name
rose and shouted o warning, but with no eff
feet. Shot after shot followed In such quick
succession that all was over almost before his
voice could be heard.
Young Theodore Davies, his face, as 1t has
been described to me, white even beyond de-
5cription and fiercely set, stood over the dead
body OF his father. The elder Thompson was
behind a post on the left Of him as he stood !;
Theodore Thompson behind post to the
right, and Philip Thompson, Jr., back of him,
by the door. Their three pistols emptied bull
let and bullet toward him, but he still escaped
harm. Slowly he fired shot after shot in re-
turn, turning q third around as each time he
raised the hammer until the six loads We're
gone Each bullet lodged In the posts behind
which were the other two, or in the jamb of
the door to the vestibule. Then he reached
down. took the heavy Colt from his dead
fathers nerveless grasp, and again, with mar
velous deliberation and precision, emptied its
six loads in succession, turning, as before, a
third around toward each opponent as he
fired. Each shot lodged itself in the heavy
timbers. Neither of the Thompsons was hit,
and he himself stood unwounded. Then he
snapped the weapon once or twice. unmlndful
that Its cartridges were useless, and then he
backed slowly toward the door, still q target
as he moved for two fresh pistols In the