The south Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1879-1883, 1879-11-25

Hiiouo VI Sc'lhS ~ 'uc IhCto III ''e
unfortunate affair III which j. II.
Combs lost his life, the South KEN
TUcKIAN reporter wassprcscnt at the
examining trial, AMI took an official
report OF the testimony, which he
gives below. The defendant, jas. =.
Ferguson, charged with the killing OF
Jacob II. Combs, in IIopkinsville,
Nov. 18th. was brought into court OH
Monday l7th inst. and the following
evidence was heard, OH the plea OF
not guilty.
LANGLEY BELL.
| was returning from supper, and
when opposite Pools barber shop
heard report, and saw Combs run
from hi3 meat shop, into the barber
shop, holding his arm and side, and
saw n man follow him into the shop,
raise his gun and fire. Combs fell in
the back end of the barber shop.
This was Thursday night. | did not
know the man who shot. | don't
think Tcould recognize him now. II
was about twilight.
HENRY II. ALTERNATELY.
saw the killing, was in the bar
Der shop and heard report on the
street. saw Combs run into the shop
and man follow him into il and
shoot again. Isaw Combs fall, | did
not know the man and could moi
identity him now from what l saw.
heard the prisoner say at the in
quest that he did the shooting. This
was about half OIL hour afterwards.
saw Combs wounds. Four balls
passed through the right arm at the
elbow, seven went into his side, and
twelve into the back of his head. lie
did not speak after lie fell.
ALBERT W. LANDER.
Twas in the barber shop, and heard
the report OIL the street, and saw the
flash through the window. Just as
Combs ran in at the front door with
the man after him, went out at the
back door. No one told me to go.
went voluntarily and Of my own ac-
cord. | did !not see anything else
until | reentered the room and saw
Combs lying upon The floor, dying.
| was at the Inquest, and heard Fer
guson say he did the shooting.
JOEL PHELPS, COLI
was sitting OH one side Of the
door Of Mr.. Combs meat shop, and
he on the other. saw man come
up with . gun and say live got
YOU" and shoot Combs. He jumped
up and ran into the barber shop and
the man followed and shot him again
| did not see the last shooting. The
man who did the shooting was a
small one with dark clothes and dark
hair. | did not know him.
ESQ. ALLAN WALLIS.
am Justice Of the Peace, | held an
inquest over the dead body OF Combs
Thursday night al 7 o'clock. Fer
guson was before me at tho trial, ant
the witnesses could not identify hin
as the man they saw shoot Combs
whereupon the prisoner remarked
II am the man who did it," and,upor
being asked his name said 1t was J
p. Ferguson. lie made no othcl
statements. / did not see the shoot
a ing but heard the two reports abou
half an hour before.
s ALEX POOL, (col.)
/ was in my barber shop, heard
gun fire at Mr.. Combs door next {,
mine, then Mr.. Combs ran in at m,
door holding his arm and MAJ
followed, stepped in the door ant
o. shot him in the back OF the head.
+ did not Know the man but heard Mir
Ferguson say at the inquest, that h
did the killing.
i, JNo. YOUNG.
/ have seen the prisoner before
: saw him at the barber shop after tn
7 shooting. | did not sell him gun a
. l was not at my store.
WADE NEwcoMB,
G was then introduced but knew moth
c ing about it except that he heard tn
: reports, of the gun.
FRED DRYER.
was at Overshiner's and saw
man pass with gun, and a momer
afterwards heard report at Comb
door. The man had the gun nnde
his arm. l run down that way an
heard another report in the barbt
shop, and met the man at the doc
, lie said he was ready to give up.
did not know him and would II,
know him now. The gun was und,
his right arm. 1t was about ha
past six.
DIR. Z. @. ALEXANDER.
y About 81 o'clock l was sitting
Gray g. Buckner's door, heard tw
shots and some one cry out "a man
killed." Istarted down 10 the me
shop and met a man with q gun.
went into the barber chop and exam
ined Combs wounds. The rig
3 arm was shattered at the elbow, 6
s balls had entered the right Luz
and liver, and the back of the he,
was fractured in several places.
told the bystanders he would die
1t few minutes.
=, GUS YOUNG.
=, - l don't know the prisoner. / SO
l. q man a gun about61 4 o'clock, THU
81 day evening. lie was of mediu
Il size. He bought the gun and pa
ss for it, and | loaded it for him. Abo