The daily gazette., 1879-03-27
sassimatiOn of aJudge.
Thomas Bgford Shoots Chief Justice
Elliot, of HtatucIy.
FRANKFORT, Ky, March So, 1879

Elliot, of htatucly.
FRANKFORT, Ky, March So, 1870
Colonel Thomas Buford, of Henry
county. and brother of General Burord
shot and killed Judge John NJ. Elliot, Of
the Court of Appeals, at quarter past
one o'clock this afternoon, in front Of the
ladies' entrance of the Capitol Hotel, in
| this city. The weapon used was a double
shotgun, loaded with twelve buckshot in
each barrel. Judge Elliot, in company
with Judge Thomas Hines, was coming
up Ann street when they were met al
the step of the side entrance Of the no ell
by Buford, who appeared equipped for
hunting. Buford spoke first to Judge
Elliott saying. "Judge, believe will
60 snipe hunting. Won't you go along?'
10 this Judge Elliott replied, "No,"
"Wsll them" said Buford, "won't you
take drive?"
WHY DID HE SHOOT?
AT this point Judge Hines turned
away, land had { o le about six feet when The
gun was hred and Judge Elliott fell upon
the sidewalk without uttering word.
Duford looked down upon him and said
I'm sorry" lie then lifted his head and
put ms, (Buford's) hat under it. Judge
times turned back and tried to iaise the
Dody, but found that life was extinct.
lie thought the shot was done by acc-
dent until Buford spoke to the Deputy
Sheriff and policeman, who came i'm
medlately TO the scene.
ARREST AND CoMMITTAL OF BUFoRD.
Buford Immediately gave up his gun
10 the policeman, saying he did so:-"Be
cal eiul with that gun. Iput twelve buck
shot IN it for Pryor." He made no resist
ance whatever to the officers who arres-
.ed him, and Immediately took him be-
fore Esquire Gwynn, who, after brief
examination, committed him to Jail On
his way to the magistrates office, or Just
before he started for it, he handed a let
ter to the deputy sheriff addressed as
iolloWs:-"Whoever may get this note
ask earnestly to deliver it to the per-
son to whom it Is directed"
HE WAS SORRY.
| "He fell upon the pavement, and then
| was sorry. l leaned down and placed
my hat under his head. Iwished to treat
him with as much courtesy as he had
| shown in the robbery and assassination
of my sister by his decision. 1t was the
most ignominious game that my gun ever
killed. | was arrested then, and gave The
Sheriff a letter to my niece, Annie L.
Wallace. You can see the letter. SIM
ply gave her all my estate in law and
equity, and asked to be buried by my sis
er. did not intend to kill Judge Hines
or Judge Pryor. l killed Elliott TO try
my case, to show that they could not rob
and assassinate with impunity.
TO HIS SISTERS GRAVE.
"Last week was down in Henry, and
| knelt on my sisters grave and swore to
gain this case or die with her. | know
what have done. l made up my mind
and am ready to take the consequences.
l had pistol in my pocket, and intend
ed to use 1t If the shotgun failed, but it
not fail"
PUBLIC FEELING.
The announcement of this horrible
tragedy put an end to all business in the
city. The streets have been crowded with
people all the afternoon, and it has been
seriously apprehended hat there will be
riot. The Sheriff has summoned a
large posse Of citizens to guard the Jail,
and the militia have been notified 10 be
in readiness in case ofan outbreak. Judge
Elliott was universally popular, generous
and kind-hearted to fault. His wife
was in the hotel, and her distress was