The Sedalia weekly bazoo. [volume] (Sedalia, Mo.) 187?-1904, 1878-09-10

History Of Hot. Blooded Family
Their Objection to Being ORA
m atlsed.

Ne~ Yorx star,
There u Que thing / am morally
certain Of. Ii that play of An Open
Verdict is produced in this city. rs is
proposed, and it reflects upon any of
the Pope family, there will be some
body else shot"
The speaker was an old and respect
ed resident Of Louisville. KY, who
has been ON intimate terms socially
with the Pope family tor fifty years.
When the reporter accosiea him
relative tn the famous trial Of Godfrey
Pope ior the KILN. ri Colonel Bliss, u
Louisville journalist, in 1916. he
seemed NJ first inclined TO be re,icent,
but finally after deal ii persuasion
blurted cut as above.
II hear, he continued. 1.-The play Is
based upon incidents bearing upon the
famous Kentucky trial, and those
people out there are very hOt.headed,
aud liable To do most anything to
revenge what they consider an insult.
The Southern people are tine most
polite people TN the face ii the earth.
and will io nobody al injury ,aali-
ciouslv. but an insult they will not
bear. was acquainted with Godfrey
Pope and the whole family at the
time Of the murder. Godfrey was
generally condemned after bis acquit-
tai. aud led miserable lite until he
ven, to the war. Hamilton Pope. his
brother, WAS perfect gen,lemsn and
the best 1T the whole family. During
the hate war he fought on the side Of
the Union. and rose tn the rank Ut
Colonel. HAIRY Pope. u nephew Of
Godfrey. was killed in y duel with
John Thompson Grey on SKI
Island. The duel originated from
Pope striking Grey with small cane.
The weapons were shot guns, and they
fought at twenty-five yards. AT the
sec"nd tire Pope received an ounce
ball in his groin, and died while being
conveyed to Louisville in skiff.l
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 happy faculty for becoming
mixed up in broils, duels and ARRAYS
Of every description. But the Popes
(and there are herds Of them in Louis
ville) are like all Southern people
clannish, and they stick to each to
other closer than grim death to y dead
niger: General Pope. related to the
family somehow. was noted for always
carrying his headquarters in his
saddle"
Miss Freddie Pope. Godfreyis
sister, Wa. Que of the prrtriest women
that ever walked the streets VI Louis
vile. She married Colonel James
B,wles. VI Virginia. This founding
Of plays on Southern family incidents
is very Calling to Southerners. The
last plry Of this character came very
near resulting in bloodshed. The plot
was based upon the Sharp murder.
which occurred in Louisville some
years agv. Colonel Sharp wronged a
most beautiful woman. named Sybil.
The woman. an the Col"nels refusal
I" marry her. -w"re Z" be revenged.
\ m.'n named Beauchamp after.
ward sought her hand in marriage,
bat she positively refused to marry
him unless he killed Sharp. Her
stipulation was that Sharp should be
shot in the public ,horoughfare in
broad daylight. Benuchamp did kill
Sharp. but in the dead of the night,
while His victim lay asleep. The
murderer was tried, convicted and
hanged.
The play founded on the tragic
incidents of this affair was quite q
success, and vas even played in Louis
vile. Hot words and blows resulted
and the Sharps threatened murder,
but dld not keep their word.
THE Pope family have already re-
quested cory Of the play. in order
that they may learp in advance how
far they are concerned in its plot and
action. and there is likely to be some
trouble IL there is anything offensive
in the next. 1t may be . big adver-
Using scheme. bot il the Popes do take
umbrage the manager or whoever
plays the Objectionable part will be in
trouble"