Connecticut western news., 1879-07-30
The Pistol In Kentucky.
THE NOTABLE MURDERS IN THAT STATE, THE STORIES OF WHICH WERE RETOLD ON THE BUFORD TRIAL.

murder of Judge Elliott, after being ou eighteen hours, brought in verdict O guilty of murder in the first degree Kentucky law permits the jury to de eide whether convicted murderer shal go to the gaIlows or to prison, and il this case punishment was fixed at i'm prisonment for life.
 The speeches in the trial were as re markable as any of the previous pro ceedings. There were eight of them not counting the openings on both sides and all except one were by Kentucky lawyers. Two speakers were Generals and all the rest were Colonels, except one, who was an ex-Judge. The speak ing occupied four days, from early ir the morning until late at night; but ora tory still has charms in Kentucky, and the jury did not show that they got wearied, while the court room was con- stantly crowded with eager listeners.
 Twenty years ago the Bufords were one of the most conspicuous families in Kentucky socially, but one of the wealth fest; now they are understood to be bank rupt. Bogque Bonita, the famous stock farm of Gen. Abe Buford, was recently sold under the foreclosure of 8 mort gage, and little property is left to any of the name. They have held their own in other respects, however, and 1t would be something strange for one of them to mount scaffold or occupy cell in a penitentiary. Murders by that class of persons in Kentucky have seldom been followed by punishment, and Tom Buford's case is regarded by some peo- pie as 8 test whether there shall be a change in this respect. That is why hardly case since that of Beauchamp, in 1921, has excited equal interest.
 The Beauchamp case, however, had the element of romance. J. O. Beau champ, a young lawyer, fell in love with Miss Ann Cook, the beautiful daughter of neighbor; but, try as he could, he for long time did not succeed in get ting her to seriously consider his suit. She had strangely withdrawn from soci- ety, and it was with difficulty that he could even get into her presence. Al length she told him that Col. Sharpe, formerly Lieutenant Governor of Ken lucky, had ruined her, which was the reason why she could not receive new lover; but she said she would marry him if he would swear to kill Sharpe. Beau champ sought out Col. Sharpe and chal- lenged him to fight with knives, but Sharpe fled, and Miss Cook married Beauchamp. Subsequently, when Sharpe was candidate for the Legislature, his conduct toward Miss Cook was used against him in the canvass, and he re- ported that not he, but negro, was the father of her child. When Beau champ heard of this he rode all the way to Frankfort, one hundred miles away, went to Sharpe's house in the night, with his face hidden by mask, called him out, and stabbed him to death. In the struggle, Beauchamps mask was torn off, and his face was seen by Mrs. Sharpe. Trial and conviction followed. Mrs. Beauchamp clung closely to her husband. They resolved upon suicide, and took 1audanum, that they had man. aged to conceal, but the poison did not kill. Their next attempt was with a knife. Beauchamp stabbed his wife to the heart in his cell, she having inn plored him to do so; but his own wound was not immediately fatal, and he was carried dying to the gallows. As all the parties to this tragedy were rich aud in' Auential, it has been kept in the minds of Kentuckians.
 A later blotched page in Kentucky social history is that which tells of { young New Orleans man who came tc Louisville about 1885 to marry noted belle. He disputed with his tailor ir the Galt House about bill, and killed him with dirk knife. His trial was z great event, and itresulted in his acquit tai, but only after weeks of hard worl by eminent lawyers. Sargent s. Pren tiss and Ben Hardin were among thu great lawyers engaged. The case O Matt Ward is still more celebrated. HI was brother of Miss Saliie Ward, thu famous beauty; and the Ward famil. was the most prominent, socially, il Kentucky. Although exceptionally quie in temper for Ward, Matt armed him self with revolver when he was tol' that a school-master had whipped hi brother, went to the schoolhouse, go into an alteration, and shot the ofende dead. That night 8 mob stoned tn Wards house, and Matt escaped by
 back way but when he was brought t trial, a verdict of acquittal was secure for him on the ground of self defence Afterward he married a daughter C Capt. Key, whose sister was Mrs. Hewitt the second wife of millionaire Zborowsk and went to live on an Arkansas planta tion. During the war party of Cor federates saw him climbing over fence and, as he wore blue blouse, mistoo him for Union soldier. The error wa deadly, for half a dozen bullets wer shot through his body.
 Last year Capt. Dent. Whips, one ( the most popular men in Louisville shot his unarmed partner, whose vii and child were witnesses of the deeG A defence was made on the ground ( self defence, to support which Whil swore that his partner, during th quarrel, put his hand back near hi pocket. That there was no pistol that pocket did not prevent the ju1 from rendering verdict of acquitta Probably they would have cleared th 1 six men who in an Arkanaas harmon