Daily Republican., 1879-03-31
BUrORD. THE KESTUCKY AssAS.
BIN.
A Passionate Man, Reckless Of Ban
ger Aud RexardIcss OF Law.

xer noO AekorOlcbs u LAW
1t appears from the accounts in the
Kentucky papers that Colonel Thomas
Buford, who assassinsted Judge Elliott,
of the Kentucky Court OF Appeals, on
Wednesday last at Frankford, had no
personal interest in the suit out Of
which grew his desire to kill the judges
Of the court other than that OF admins
traitor Of his sisters will. He Was evi.
dently possessed of the idea, however,
that the bother about the lawsuit had
shortened his sister's life. The Cincin-
natl "Enquirer's" despatch from Lou
isville gives the murderer's record a.
follows
"Bafords history shows him to be
man utterly regardless o! law, OF bis
own life or that OF others when his
passions are aroused. Somewhere in
the sos Buford was the hero OF an a.
FRAY on the Lexington Fair Grounds
wbica had q great deal Of notoriety at
the time. He anda gentlemsn named
Thomas, of Mt. Sterling, had quarrel
led, and meeting in tn fair grounds
Immediately opened fire on each other.
Buford displayed characteristic coolness
and reck lessness, changing disposition
once while Thomas was firing to avoid
shooting in the direction Of some
ladies, and at another time deliberate
ly taking pin from the lapel of his
coat, and picking the tube Of his pistol,
which had failed to so of. He wound
ed Thomas and escaped unhurt him.
self. A gentleman from Lexington
named Ferguson was keeping Thomas
supplied with pistols. General Abe
Iuford made at him with a bowie
knife and slashed at his throat. Fer
euson ducked his head and the knife
shaved his head, taking off good
sized piecs of his scalp, which fell into
the possession of Mr.. Mulligan, OF Lex
ington, who exhibited it for seme time
in his store window as curiosity.
Another incident in Bulord's career
happened a. the time when tho three
colonels we're editing the "Times" in
Louisville. Buford sent noted belle
in that city bucket of sausage from
his home, near Versailles. Theodore
O'Hara, author of the famous "Bivonac
Of the Dead" ono of the three colonels,
made the present subject for ridicule
in his paper. As soon as the paper
reached Versailles, Butord, taking
friend with him, got in his buggy, and
~ driving rapidly and taking fresh
horses from time to time arrived in
Louisville early in this night. Reach
ing the Gait House and going in lie
found O'Hara at the bar taking a
drink. Stepping up te him and inquir-
ing a, the authorship O'Hara acknow-
lodged it and Buford at once struck
him. They struggled, clinched and
fell, O'Hara underneath. OHara drew
small pistol, and reaching around
Buford tried to shoot him; bus, his
sense OF humor prevailing over ll'
wrath, he got to laughing so that 1t
could not discharge it.
They were separated before any dam
az. was done beyond agood beating fol
O. Hara, and Buford returned hohe.-
Still another attended with worse re
suits, was his assault on Mr.. ULYSSES
Turner, of Woodford, brilliant youni
lawyer and at one time a member .
the banking firm of Saylor, Shelby q
Co., of Lexington. Buford had SOM
business controversy with him, attack
ed him and beat him so brutally abou
the head that ..s life was despaired Of
his health wrecked and his sight per
manently destroyed. Mr.. Turner die
only short time ago, after years @
suffering and blindness. Buford's las
violent exploit before tho present mur
der was his defiance of the authority
tn. Sheriff of Henry county in the eaI
lier stages of the suit the final decisio
in which was the cause of the assassin
a.ion."