The Sedalia weekly bazoo. [volume] (Sedalia, Mo.) 187?-1904, 1878-10-01
KILLED IN AN OPEN COURT.

A Story Which, For Various Res-
sons, Was Never Before Fully
Told.-The Shocking Tragedy
which the Nomination Of Philip
Thompson. Jr. for Congress Re-
calls-A Father and Two Sons
Killing Q Father and two Sons
Louisville. n.y.. Sept. l2.-The
Congressional canvass in the Eighth
Kentucky District. now Represented
by the Hon. Milton j. Durham. has
heen Of almost unprecedented int crest
in this State. Mr.. Durham early
announced himself a candidate for
denomination, but there wss u vigor-
nus opposition, aud. when the Demo-
cratic Convention met several weeks
ago, Durham hal not sufficient
strength To secure the necessary vote.
After several days Of frnitless ballo-
ting the Convention broke up and all
the candidates were left in tree field.
The canvass has since developed such
bitterness. one of its episodes leing
what threatened to become n .erIou.
personal controversy between Mr..
Durham and the Hon. Henry Wat
terson, editor Of the Courier Journal
80 much political vitrioi wa. thrown
broadcast that it was decided tn re:,s-
semble the Convention and put q
regular nominee before the district.
That Convention WAS held this MORN
ing. and Philip Thompson. Jr., of Mer.
ctr COun,y. was selected as The candi.
date Of the party. The district is 81
strongly Democratic that the non,i.
nation Of the convention is ordinarily
equivalent To an election. But against
Philip Thompson will be recalled the
incidents If the most shocking tragedy
that has ever occurred even in thi.
State ii extraordinary tragedies. and
whether it will defeat him or not the
issue can only show.
Phillip Thompson is a member Of a
very noted Kentucky family. Hi,
grandfather represented one of its dis
tricts in the Congress of 1923, and q
relative was Eice-President Of the
United States. Bth his father and
himself have occupied notable officia
positions in the State. He j. connected
by bloo,! or marriage with most Of III,
best families Of Kentucky and Vir
ginia. and Is himself Il man Of much
more than the usual ability. But til,
blooi Of boyh"Hf- PLAYMATE is Oh BIZ
hands, anil. though jury acquitted
him on the ground If self.deience
there are very many people in kentuck,
wh" refused to accept that decision
and among them Is probably the Hon
j. {. 5. Blackburn. wno. ifMr. Thomp
AN il elected. will sit with him in TIN
Kentucky delegation To the Forty-sixtl
Congress.
. In March, 1875. a case was Gale,
in the Circuit Cour, at Mercer. b-in,
the suit Of Theodore Davies. i highl,
respected farmer of the county, fo
the recovery Of some $1,000 hane,
bv Davies To Philip Thompson. Sr.
father ot to-day'> nominee. Phil,l
: Thompson, ST., and Davies were neigh
bors. and had been the NEST intimate
of friends. The second son Of Davie
had been named for Thompson. an,
Thomrsons second son. in return, W.
christened Theodore Davies thompson
The money was loaned in some friend
ly transaction. and d note was giver
a. hardly more than matter Of form
l, was not paid at maturity, bu
Davies lid not ask for payment unit
long after, when lis necessities cob,
PEELED the request. Thompson, e;
lawyer in large practice. was at tn
time Commonwealth Attorney OF tn
district. His canvass had Gust hin
heavily. and he was, besides, a fire.
liver, and liberal in entertaining. ate
the hospitable fashion Of about ever,
kentuckian Of social or po!itica
prominence. He asked for furthe
time, and the matter was not pressed
but Davies, 81 he afterward charged
one day had occasion to look over hi
papers. and Thompson's note wa
missing. He walked over to Thomp
sons house. told Of its loss, and aske,
for another note. Thompson, to hi
amazement, said that the note ha,
long since been paid, and. If l recollec
Alright, produce the original paper
Davies went hume dazed. instituted
an investigation, and finally became
convinced that Thompson had acres
to the desk where the note lad bee,
kept, and had taken it away. Tn,
oil farmer was choleric, and an intimac,
Of years could not survive the shock
he thought himself sure in the con
viction Of his friends dishonesty, and
hurrying to town. entered suit on thu
note, charging the grievous crime
above named. The community wa.
gravely excited over the accusation
and when the case came up for trial
the court room was densely crowded
! Theodore Davies sat on one side Of
the Judges bench, within the bar,
and Philip Thompson. Jr.. just op-
posite To him. facing the jury, Be.
side his father, Theodore Davies, Jr..
sat. BY all accounts an admirable
young fellow, quiet modest. Of perfec,
habits, and afiianced to a Young girl
Of Harrisburg. Theodore Davies
Thompson Was seated mex. To his
father. and also facing the father and
son opposite. The arguments hal
been made, the evidence seemed
strong against the defendant, the jury
Wa about to retire. and the dense
silence with which the progress Of the
case had been watched BY the assembly
Of friends to both parties. was even
more strained as the faces If the two