The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-03-29
THAT KENTUCKY TRAGEDY.
JUST WHAT LED 10 THEISSiSSIN1 Troy
OF JUDGE JOHN ELLIOTE

gagged In Another shooting A nrny-The
Long Legal Trial. the Final Decision In
which was Followed by the Murder ct
the Judgc-W the Murderer he Ifnnscdi
LOUISVILLE, KY, March 27.-Thc assassi-
nation Of Judge John Elliott Of the Court Of APP
penis. Mt Frankfort, yesterday. has caused more
excitement in Kentucky than any event since
the war. Unhappiy. shooting affairs are so
common in Kentucky that 1t must be startling
murder indeed that will excite the people Of the
State to any unusual degree. But OF this MUIR
der tho ColT1-JouHdi Of this morning says:
The cowardy shooting which takes place from time to
time In other parts OF tie State the pro uct drunken
rows or family cuds In this there was "a cool lie.
termination to shay the grave cxroncui ihc law when
decision had barely been enumerated. The crime is of
anoxcccdingly aggravated nature Il not committed
In moment Of intense sudden passion or proyoca.
ton The purpose formed IN cold blood. The decd
was done In cold blood Shall friends or family. or india.
ence. or position interpose to shield the pcrpctator Of
this fearful dcedi
The full reports Of the murder from Frank
fort would seem to mako 1t worry clear that
Buford had the purpose in his mind. moro
or less definite as his brutal passion
had more or loss complete possession Of
him. TO assassinnte not only Judge Elliott. but
at least two others Of his associates on tho Sn-
preme bench. Buford is a man Of ungovern-
able temper. and it is to the burning disrredit
Of the administration Of Justice in Kentucky
that the murder of yesterday was possib
Twice before It was only by a chance that tho
man failed to kill his opponent In quarrels APP
parcntly Of his own making. and in ono in
stance It was his own brother who thus escaped
assassination. Yet 1t docs not appear that Bu.
ford was ever even arrested for tho attempted
crimes. Certainly he was never punished.
and 1t WINS this laxity OF tho law that undoubt.
edy encouraged the man to revenge himself
upon Judge Elliott for the injury he thought
he had sustained. Tho story Of tho murdcrer's
previous life and Of the circumstances that led
TO this last crime will illustrate this.
Thomas Buford is the son OF the late William
Buford. in his time one Of the best known stock
breeders in Kentucky. Another son. Con. Abe
Buiord. Of the Bosquc Bonita ' farm. was the
owner Of Enquirer and other celebrated racers.
Whom William Buford died. by will his prop
eriy was to be divided among his surviving
children. The estate was valued Mt some
100000, and Gen. Abe Buford took the Bos1ue
Bonita farm as his share Between Thomas
and Henry Buford-thc latter now candidate
for tho next Legislature from Fayeite County
there arose difference Rs TO the division.
Henry offered to sell his interest to II. A. Alex
andcr. the famous breeder Of Woodford County
Thomas sent word 10 Mr. Alexander that he
would kill him il the purchase was made
Mr. Alexander did not buy. The quarrel
between the brothers grew. One day they
met in the main street Of Versailles. the county
town OF Woodford. There were some words
and Thomas drew his pistol. II is remembered
by old citizens of Versailles that Henry calmly
folded his arms and looked his brother fairly in
the face. although he had a pistol in his pocket
within easy reach. The man who is now in
Frankfort Jail for the assassination Of Judge
Elliott deliberately fired three shots nj his nm
resisting brother before the bystnndrrs inter-
fered TO prevent the murder. Henry Bufori
was unnurt, and Thomas was not arrested His
Al |I tFHHtfH MO
Two or three months after ono George
Thomas. u friend Of Henry Buford made some
rsterence 70 the quarrel in the hearing Of
Thomas There were III rents. hut no blows or
display OF weapons and the two separated.
They met the next day nt the county fair. There
reach Of pistol bullet. Both mon drew their
weapons. and the firing began. Both emptel
their pistols. Then ms they paused. friend
named Ferguson handed his pistol To- Thomas
Gen. Abe Buiori who was with his brother.
rushed at Ferguson. caught him by the hair,
drew bowie knife. AMI mt him to the ground.
The byslanders interierrd and thetwo Bulorls
were taken to ono part OF the grounds and
home badly but not fatally wounded. young
negro girl in the crowd was sho, in the mouth.
but neither OF the Buiords nor Thomas was
arrested.
After ihrcc or four ycars-all this happened
in lS57-Thomas Buforl removed 20 Henry
County. wnere his mniden sister, Mary had
bought farm ut AGO acres. Thomns had
wasted OIL his part OF the estate leit hy his
father. Mary Buford had agreed 10 Jay s32 500
for this faru-slOul1 in cgsh. aud % give three
To
The cash payment was made and In" first note
for 10000 was taken up mt maturity. The
other two notes were not paid and suit wins
brought on them eight years ngo % foreelo-o
the mortgage on the farm. which Ind boon
given to secure tho notes. The answer set NJ
that the title 10 the farm. rs given To-
Mary Buford. was defective and prayed that
her title be perfected or the contract ui sale cnn-
cellod, A demurrer % the answer WIS sus-
tnined and judgment rendered for tho plaintiff
The case WIS appealed aud Judgment reversed
BY the Court % Appeals upon a 10 'Auirgu point.
Upon another trial judgment was again given
for the plaintiff. Miss Buford unsurctssfully
claiming that tho person from whom she mad
purchased the farm had fraudulently repre-
s"ntcd that the title WIS perfect. and that She
had been unable o. sell or mortgage the land hy
reason OF the stnie of the title which wns known
70 the community. hut not known 10 her. as she
had removed to Henry from n cistnut county
(Woodfordl. The hand wis sold in pursuance
Of the Judgment OF he fayrt.e court AMI
bought by the plaintiff IN the action Tor about
$4,000. tho amount of the deferred payments
Miss Buford thereby losing tho $50 OO SHE had
already paid. The Judgment WAS affirmed iy
III, Court of App.nis In nm ouinion triivero1
By Elliott about n year MO- In The mean tine
Miss Buforl hnl lied leaving of her proI,-
erty To- uirr,. Mis-. Annie Wallace. and naming
Thomas Buiorl M her executor
Execution uton Inc iu. ..u,.ut vns issued and
the SAeriA attempted t. lcvy upon the property
1nnruu. pff',r.t MT min, f,. ~