Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1879-03-27
KENTUCKY LAWLESSNESS
A Gang Of DesperadOes Operat-
ing In Shelby County-The LO-
cal Press Afraid to Report
Their Crimes.

lnelr SrlmeS.
SHELBYvILLE, KY, March 26.-Sevsral
years ago there existed a gang of desper-
ADDE'S in Owen county, KY, known as
the Simmons Gang" who banded
themselves together for the sole purpose
Of murder and robbery. These men
soon became terror to the community,
and efforts were made TO arrest and
punish them. These efforts were only
partially successful, and those of the
party who were arrested gave straw
bal, and were again turned loose upon
the community. They, however, trans
ferred their operations TO Shelby county,
and continued their devilment.
The head OF the gang is one Capt. Jas.
Mcconnell, who is now under indict-
ment in the Shelby Criminal Court, but
defies arrest, and the Sheriff OF the
county, knowing the desperate charac-
ter of the man and his followers, is
afraid to execute writ upon him. No
one in the community dares to inform
on the men, because they know that
death and the burning Of their homes
will be the penalty. The parties
have regular rendezvous in the
hills, some ten miles back OF Shelby
vile, and almost nightly make
their raids. Some weeks since a prom
ising young farmer of the neighborhood
gave information as to some of the gang,
and he was shot, died few hours after
ward in great agony, and the physician
who waited upon him was forced TO
leave the immediate community. These
same men have been engaged in sys-
tematic swindling of Cincinnati mer-
chants-buying goods, having them
shipped &. q. d., removing them, and
burning the houses - new log huts,
which cost but nominal sum.
The two local papers at Shelbyyille
will not make mention OF the doings of
these desperadOes, because they know full
well what the consequences will be.
AJudge Assassinated.
FRANKFoRT, March 26.-Judge J. NJ.
Elliott, OF the Court OF Appeals, was assas.
sinated and instantly killed on the street
in front OF the Capitol Hotel at o'clock
to-day by Thomas Buford, of Henry
county. Elliott had rendered an adj
verse opinion in case Buford had in
court for some time. Buford loaded
shot gun and waited
for Elliott to come to dinner, and walked
up and shot him through the heart
without warning. Buford was arrested
and is now in Jail. Great excitement
and strong feeling against him prevails.
BufOrd, after the arrest, acknowledged
that the other barrel of the gun was
loaded for Judge Pryor, and he would !
have killed him also had not some chill
dren been in the way. He is brother
of Gen. Abe Buford, OF Woodford
county.
LOUISVILLE, March 26.-News from
all parts OF the State deplores deeply the
assassination at Frankfort. \ Courier
Journal special tonight tells the story
aslfollows
FRANKFORT, March 26.
At quarter past one o'clock this
afternoon, in front of the ladies' en-
killed Judge John NJ. Elliott, of the
Court of Appeals. The weapon used
was a doublc-barrelled shot gun, loaded
with twelve buckshot in each barrel.
Judge Elliott, in company with
Judge Thomas III. Hines, was coming
up Ann street, when they were met at
the steps Of the side entrance OF the no.
tel by Buiorl, who appeared equ uipped
for hunting Buford spoke first To Judge
Elliott, saving, "Judge, believe | will
20 snipe hunting, won't you 20 along?
Judge Elliott replied "No. ""Well then"
said Buford, "won't you 60 and take a
drink" At this point Judge Hines
turned away, and had gone about SIX
feet when the gun was fired, and Judge
Elliott fell upon the sidewalk without
uttering word. Buford looked down
upon him and said, "Im sorry lie
then lifted his head and put his Buf-
ord'sl hat under it. Judge Hines
turned back and tried 10 raise the body
but life was extinct. He thought it was
an accident until Buford spoke to the
Deputy Sheriff and a policeman, who
came up Immediately 10 the scene.
Buford gave up his gun, saying to the
policeman, "Be careful with that gun,
| put twelve buck shot in it for Pryor.
submitting 10 arrest, he was taken he.
fore Esquire Gwynn, and on a bref
examination, was committed 10 Jail. On
his WAY TO the magistrates office, or
before he started Buford handed let
ter TO the deputy sheriff, addressed as
follows:
whoever may get this note ask
earnestly to deliver 1t 10 the person t0
whom il is directed.
The letters contents were as follows:
CAPITAL HOTEL, J
FgASKFORT, March, 20, 1879.
Whatever may happen to me, ! de-
sire that INV niece, Annie .. Wallace,
shall have everything both in equity
and law that belongs TO me. only ask
that INV body shall be laid by my sister,
Mary +. BufOrd, whom | loved ~ well,
Whose robbery and assassination | wish
to try and avenge.
THOMAS BUVoRD.
The body OF Judge Elliott was taken
10 A room in the Capital Hotel and
coroner's inquest held and the follow
ing verdict rendered I'VE, the jury,
find that the dead body now before W.,
il that Of Jno. W. Elliott, Of Boyd
county. XIV. who was at the time OF his
death Judge Of the Court Of Appeals,
and residing temporarily at Frankfort,
was killed and murdered in said clty on
the 2Gth inst, by being shot through
the body by ThOs. BufOrd with double
barrelled shot gun.
K,n1 ofthe Whisky Ring.