Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1878-10-26

elder brother had apoloeiZel Tor tue younger
faults. had protected him often from punish.
ment. and loved him well. Theodore stopped
down and felt of his heart Ii did not beat
and tie young man, hitherto almost calm IN
his desperate aght, rose with the dead boy
pistol. not one lead discharged, in bis hand
and rushed upon Philip Thompson. For a
moment they struggled hand to hand inriously
neither using his weapon. Then the elder
Thompson, who had jumped through WIN
dow Of the courtroom: carrying sash and glass
with him. came around the corner of the
house pistol in hand Theodore shook himself
loose. moved as before slowly up the street,
but not firing, and was perhaps hundred feet
from the courthouse door when a heavy bullet
from a Derringer held by the elder Philip
Thompson pierced his breast. IL was a
mortal wound The young mao fell. There
was now no one to return the Thompsons fire.
and his friends picked him up, unassailed and
carried him 10 a room over a store near by
There he died that afternoon, calm and stead
fast to the close. think you viii call him q
hero when you have heard ali the story haze
to tell.
\. So A father and two sons had killed father
and two sonsGrarely a more shocking coucl-
dence. Singular,y. no other person in all that
crowded hall was Injured. although fifty bullets
and odd were ailerward found imbedded IN
various parts OF the room..
When Young Theodore Davies WAS borne,
wounded to Death, TO the room hard by he
sent for his mother and youngest brother,
Eugene, boy in jackets. When they reached
him it was evident that his time was short ;
but. taking the boys hand, he made him
lrmse that he would pursue the quarrel no
further. 1t has been too often the fashion IN
Kentucky for the surviving members OF
family. after one of the bloody aifrays, 10
declare a vendetta against those OF the other
side. In one case, that Of the Hills and
Evanses, in the neighboring county OF Car
rard, the original bloody quarrel began some
fifty years ago, aud since then It haS been
estimated that sixty persons have been Killed
relatives, more or less distant, OF the TWO
men who fought in 1928.
The diving man had steadily refused to be
placed on bel, for, as he said, the fsSt-ilowns
blood could do no harm to the bare toor.-
He tnrned 10 a friend of the Thompsons, who
had assisted in bringing him In, sent word 10
them that he bore them no ill-will, aud then
drew from his pocket closely written paper,
read itslowly and thoughtiully through. called
for lighted match and set fire TO It, holding
il in his band until consumed almost TO the
last ash. That paper, have since been tod
by the surviving sjn, was statement drawn
M the night before by Theodore Davies, ST.,
and intrusted 20 the young Theodore, prophe-
swing exactly what happened in the court
room that day, and giving proofs that led the
old man 10 believe the Thompsons bad arranged
detailed plau to murder him and his two
sons if the verdict promised to so against the
defendant. The documents represented would
have gore far towards cclyitlne the Thomp-
sons of deliberate murder, and if 1t was as
represented, you woull agree with ma that tue
dying victims act in destroying II was OF a
noble spirit. A minister then reached the
room; theodore talked with him feeby, bsde
mother and brother good bye and was dead.
The Tbompsons were arrested, but, thinE,
released on bail One Of the accused being
Commonwealth. or Prosecuting Attorney, the
Hon. J. C. :. Blackburn was engaged to con-
duct the prosecution. lie WAS then but at the
beginning of a career which has since been
remarkably successful. lou will remember
his strong, rugged face aud quiet determination
az he sat with the Potter Investigating Com
mittee lately in session iuytur city. The
same quality was shown 10 the uncarthlng Of
the Bciknap frald Of four years ago. Sben
the young lawyer was serving bis irst term IN
Congress. just prior TO his appearance 10 the
Thompson trial, he had been engaged IN a
case hardly less, exciting in Woodiord county
The brother end sister OF old John Harper,
owner of Longlellow, had been brutaly mur-
dered in bed, and an attack made the sane
night to murder the veteran tutlman as be
slept near by his beloved horse in his stable at
Lexington. The three ilarpers, bachelor
brothers AMI maiden sister, were very rich
and Adam Harper, a nephew, was understood
to be their heir Another relative publicly
accused Adam Harper Of the murcer, but did
MT have definite proof sufficient to bring II
before the Grand Lury. Adam Harper sued
him for libel. and Joe" Black burn was re-
tanned for the defence. lie fled an answer
pleading Justification and on the trial boldly
charged that Adam Harper and his son were
guilty Of the triple crime. Young Harper, at
recess. drew a pistol and fired at the intrepid
LAWYER. who Jumped upon his assailant,
wrencheG the pistol from his hand, gave him
over 10 the officer, and went back into court
and finished bis ,ccusation. His client was
cleared. aud when old John Harper died no
mention Of Adam Harper was found in his
will
It was gravely feared throughout Kentucky
that at the trial Of the Thompsons there would
be still another bloody scene if the prosecuting
LAWYER attacked them with any severity -
Judge Wicklife. few days before the case
was called, gave public notice that every
person as he entered the courtroom would be
searched for concealed weapons. The news
papers touched the case bot gingerly. for
powerful ibhuepces were at work 10 behalf Of
the accused. aud many Of The facts here given
are for the first time in public print. Black
burn. however, was 10 all this interval steadily
getting terrible array Of points together, and
two days before the trial had completed his
opening speech 10 the jury. IN that speech
he distinctly charged a deliberate conspiracy
on the part Of the Thompsons, fatter aud Sons.
to kill the Davieses, father aud sons, 10 the
courtroom that day. lie charged that Philip
II ompson, Jr., nominated to-day, purPosely
insulted Philip Thompson Davies, as they
stood by the stove. The young man, as was
expected. challenged Thompson TO accompany
him without the courtroom and settle II there
As they got to the ves.ibule Thompson drew
his pistol aud shot young Davies dead. This
was the signal to his father and brother inside,
tb.ir pistols were out On the instant, ard
Tceodore Davies. Sr., was dead on the floor
before he could fairly draw bis weapon. The
odore Davies. Jr., who had armed himself
tina, day only at bis fathers earnest desire, :
and in anticipation Of what bad happened.