The Leavenworth weekly times. [volume] (Leavenworth, Kan.) 1870-1880, 1879-04-03
THE KENTUCKY TRAGEDY.
Full De tails Concerning the killing
of Judge Elliott by hu.. Ruford.

FRASKFoRT, KY, March % Judge
| j. W. Elliott, Of the court Of appeals, was
assassinated and instantly killed on the
street, in front OF the Capitol Hotel, at one
| o'clock to-day, by Thomas Buford, of Hen
| ~ county. Elliott had rendered an adverse
| opinion TO case Buf I'd had in court for
sometime. Buford loaded double barrel
shot gun and waited for Elliott to come to
dinner, aud walked up and shot him
through the heart without warning. Bu-
ford was arrested and ia now in Jail.
There is great excitement and strong
feeling against him. Buford. after arrest,
acknowledged that the other barrel of the
gun was loaded for Judge Pryor and that
he would have killed him also, hsd not
some children been in the way He il
brother OF General Abe Buford, of Wood
ruff county.
LOUISVILLE, March &c News from all
parts of the State deeply deplore the as
sassination at Frankfort. The Courier
Journals special tonight tells the story as
follows:
FRANKFORT. March 26.-At a quarter
past one o'clock this afternoon in front Ct
the ladies' entrance of the Capitol Hotel,
| Col Thomas Buford. Of Henry county, shot
and killed Judge NJ Elliott, Of the Court
OF Appeals. The weapon used was
DOUBLE BARRELED SHOT GUN,
loaded with twelve buckshot in each bar
rel. Judge Elliott, in company with Judge
Thomas II. Hines, was coming
up Ann street, when they
were met at the steps OF the side entrance to
the hotel by Buford, who appeared equip
ped for hunting. Buford spoke first to
Judge Elliott, saying: Judge, believe
will go sniPe hunting; won't you go
along?' Judge Elliott replied mo
well, then" said Buford, won't you 90
and take drink ~ At this point Jrf "
Hires turned away, AMI had gone ab-ut
six feet, when the
GUN WAS FIRED,
and Judge Elliott fell upon the sidewalk.
without u;teriug word. Buford looked
down upon him, ard said,
"IM SORRY"
He then lifted hit head and put his hat
under it, Judge Hines turned back ard
tried to raise the body, bu;
LIFE WAS EXTINCT.
He thought it was an accident, until Bu-
ford spoke to the deputy sheriff and 2
policeman who came up Immediately 10
the scene. Buford gave up his gun, saying
to the policeman, BE careful with that gun;
PUT TwELvEBUCKsHOr IN IT FOR PRYOR"
Submitting to arrest he was taken before
Esquire Gwynn. and upon a brief exsmina
ton, was committed to Jail. Ga his way to
the magistrate oilicr, or before ne started,
Bufgrd
HANDED = LETTER
to toe deputy sheriff, addressed 10 follows:
Whoever may get this note | ask earnestly
to deliver il TO the person 10 whom 1t is
addressed" The letters contents were as
follows:
CAPITAL HOTEL, March z9.-Whatever
may happen to me, ! desire that my niece,
Annie o. Wallace, shall have everything,
both in equity and law that belong 10 me
| only ask that nv body shall be laid By
my sister, Mary f. Buford, whom | loved
so well, whose robbery and assassination /
wish to try and aveugs.
TEOS. BUFORD.
Tie body of Judge Elliott was taken to
a room in the Capitol Hotel, and coro-
ner'z jury was summoned Immediately, and
the following verdict rendered:
coEoNER's VERDICT.
ave, the jury. find that the dead body
now before Us il that OF Jno. NJ. Elliott, OF
Boyd county, Kentucky, who was at the
time of his death Judge of the Court Of
Appeals, and residing temporarily at
Frankfort, and that he was killed and muir
dered in said city on the Goth inst. by
beiug shot through the body by Thomas
Buford with double-barrelled shotgun"