Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1879-03-28
THE KENTUCKY TRAGEDY.
Dastardly Assassination on the
Street in Frankfort.
Judge Elliott, Of the Court Of Appeals
Shot Through the Heart by
Tom BufOrd.

ed murders that has ever been COM
mitted within the annals of crime.
Judge John NJ. Elliott, of the Court
of Appeals, the highest judicial officer
in the State, was most brutally assassi-
mated this evening on the pavement
Just in front of the Capital Hotel, by
Colonel Tom Buford. A few minutes
after ! o'clock, and shortly after the
adjournment of the Court of Appeals,
Judge Elliott and his associate on the
bench, Judge Thomas II. Hines, of
Bowling Green, were walking up Ann
street, on their way to dinner-the
former at the Capital Hotel, where
he boards, and the latter to
his residence in South Frank.
fort. When they reached the
ladies entrance they parted. AT this
point Buiord came up with a double
barreled shot gun in his right hand
and a game bag on his shoulder, and
Judge Elliott, who was on very init
mate terms with him, remarked that
it was very pleasant evening, and a
good day for snipe hunting. The only
remark that Buford made was, Eyes:
won't you take drink p and before
he could reply, Buford raised his gun
and fired the contents of one barrel.
containing twelve large buckshot, into
the right side of Judge ElliOtt's body
The wounded man fell on the pave
ment and expired Immediately after
ward. Judge Hine, who was only a
few yards away when the shot was
fired, ran back and knelt beside the
PROSTATE man and raised his head.
While the dead man lay on the pave
ment, the assassin walked up and said
Now, die, d-n you, die easy !"
The deceased was carried into room
No. of the Capital Hotel, and the
scene that followed among his large
circle of friends beggars description.
1t was a most pitiable sight to wit
ness his wife, a most estimable lady,
grieving over the death Of her devoted
husband. Buford surrendered him
self to officers Long and Williams,
and was brought before Squire Gwin,
who remanded him to jail. While in
the magistrates Office he caught the
gun, which was in the hands of the
officer, and kissed the empty barrel
He was interviewed this evening by
an Enquirer representative, and stated
that he did not regret his action; that
he had loaded his gun with picked
buckshot with the intention of killing
Chief Justice Pryor, but after think,
ing over the matter he Abandoned the
idea on account of the judges wife
and children that he carried the
game-bag for the purpose of destroying
all suspicious that might possibly rest
upon him, and that on seeing Judge
Elliott he followed him up the street
with the intention of killing him, and
was not sorry for what he had done.
When searched, a large pistol-a FIVE.
shooter-was found in his pocket, and
he said that if anybody had come tc
Elliott's assistance he intended to use
it until the last shot was fred. He is
about fifty-fve years old, and brother
of General Abe Buford, the we'll.
known turfman, He speaks freely
about the murder, and shows not the
least sign of sorrow, but on the con.
trary boasts that it was a manly act.
The only reason that he assigns for
killing Judge Elliott was because
he had delivered decision against
him. Buford was interested in a suit
amounting to about $32 500, and the
court below decided against him. He
carried the case to the Court of APP
peals, and the decision was affirmed
He applied for new hearing, whicl
was granted him, and on Saturday las
the decision of the court below wa.
again affirmed, and thus Buford los
all hope. He says now that he ais,
intended to kill General D. w. Lind
say, of this city, who sat in the cas-,
when it was first decided by the Cour
of Appeals.
PREVIOUS CAREER OF THE MURDERER
LOUISVILLE, March 26.-Buford
history shows him to be a man ut
terly regardless of law, of his owl
life or that of others, when his pas
sions are aroused. Somewhere il
the sos Buford was the hero of al
affray on the Lexington Fair Ground
{ which had a great deal of notoriet
at the time. He and gentleman
+ named Thomas, Of Mt. Sterling
r had Quarreled, and, meeting in tn
Fair Grounds, Immediately opene,
fire on each other. Buford displaye,
j Characteristic GOODNESS and reckless
, ness, changing his position once Will
q Thomas was firing to avoid shootin
{ in the direction of some ladies', and a
5 another time deliberately taking pi
/ from the lapel of his coat and pickin
/ the tube of his pistol which had faile,
! to go of. He wounded Thomas, an,
. escaped unhurt himself. A gentleman
of Lexington named Ferguson wa
keeping Thomas supplied with pistols
: General Abe Buford made at hin
e with bowie-knife and slashed at hi
throat. Ferguson ducked his hea,
land the knife shaved his beard, takin
! off a gOod-sized piece of his scalr
I which fell into the possession of MI
a Mulligan, of Lexington, who exhibite,
it for some time in his store windoV
as a curiosity.
Q Another incident in Buford's caree
{ happened at the time when the thre
J, colonels were editing the Times, i
( Louisville. Buford sent noted bell
$ in that city a bucket of sausage iron
n his home, near Versailles. Theodor
5 0'Hara, author Of the famous Bi
vouac of the Dead, one of the thre
colonels, made the present a subjec
a for ridicule in his paper. AS soon a
], the paper reached Versailles BuforC
B. taking a friend with him. got in hi
a hugVv and hv drivino ropidl,y on,