The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1879-04-03
Assassinating n Judge.
FRANKFORT, KY, March 2G

tain that her own unenviable record of
murders furnishes no parallel to the crime
that was committed here to-day, for Il
disappointed litigant, angry at judicial
decision, went out cunning for the
Judges of the Court of Appeals and sue
ceedcd in assassinating one of them,
Judge John NJ. Elliott, in front of the
Capitol Hotel, of this city. Col. Thomas
Bulord, of Henry County, has for some
time had case of much Importance to
him pending in the Court of Appeals,
and the case was decided recently by the
Court adversely to Buford, and Judge
Elliott delivered the opinion. At l
o'clock the Court adjourned, and the
Judges went to the Capitol to dine.
Chief Justice Pryor arrived at the hotel
the first of any of his colleagues, and
spoke to Buford, who was sitting on the
porch, and at that time unarmed. In q
very little while Judges Elliott and Hines
followed the Chief Justice. In the
meantime Buford had left his seat and
procured double-barrelled shotgun,
and with game bag over his shoulder
he looked as though he was starting on
an innocent cunning expedition. Judge
Elliott met him at the foot of the massive
stone steps of the hotel, and remarked
pleasantly to the discounted suitor:
"It is fine day for sniping."
eyes," replied Buford. "Won't you
come take drink ?"
This invitation Judge Elliott politely
declined, and bowling to Judge Hines.
who was going elsewhere, turned and
started up the steps of the hotel. Before
he had half reached the top Bufore de-
liberately levelled his gun at Judge FL
liott and, firing, the load passed through
the left side of the Judge and lodged in
his heart. The gun being loaded with
buckshot. of course the Judge fell dead.
Buford placed his hat under the head of
his victim and said:
"Now die like man."
The assassin was Immediately taken in
custody and the dead Judges body was
carried into the hotel, where the other
Judges and his numerous friends gather
ed around it. When brought before
Esquire Gwynn. Buford passionately
kissed the barrels of his gun which he
had taken from the hands of bystandcr.
In the Jail he said, ~ intended the other
load for Judge Pryor, but changed my
mind" The excitement here is beyond
all precedent, and we are we'll accus-
toned to it at that. Threats of lynching
have been made but nothing has been
done up to II o'clock. The suit was
brought some years ago in Henry County
to enforce heavy lien on Buford's farm.
Judge Pryor, now Chief Justice, was Cir
cult Judge of that county at the time
and decided the case against Buford.
The decision meant his utter impoverish-
msnt. A rehearing was granted and a
change of venue was taken 10 Lexington,
Fayette County. Judge Hunt decided
in the same way. On appeal to the
Court of Appeals the murdered Judge
Elliott affirmed the lower courts. A re-
hearing here was also granted, but again,
few days since, the Court reaffirmed
the case, Judge ICofer writing the opinion
this time. Buford's purposes was to kill
all who had decided against him.
Judge Elliott, though not esteemed by
the bench and bar rs a very learned
jurist, has had long and creditable pub
lie career. He was born in Scott County,
Virginia, May 1G, 1920, and his people
moving to Kentucky when he was boy
he was educated in the public schools of
the State. Having studied law, he was
admitted to the bar in 1S43. -Four years
later he was elected to the State Legisla-
ture, where he served until his election
to Congress in 1858. He was in Con-
gress three terms, and during the last
two terms-the Thirty-fourth and Thirty
fifth Congresses-was chairman of the
Committee on Public Expenses. He was
also Representative from Kentucky in
the First and Second Confederate Con-
crosses.
Chief Justice Pryor, whom Buford said
he had also intended to Kill, has sat upon
the bench of the Court of Appeals for
several years, and is known to be a learn
ed, honorable and upright Judge, enjoy
ing the confidence and respect Of the bar
of the whole State. The only matter for
rejoicing in the whole dreadful busines.
is that Judge Pryor escaped the sad fate
of his colleague, Judge Elliott.
Before the murder Butord wrote the
following letter:
FRASKFoRr, KY, Capitol Hotel,
March 26.-Whatever may happen to me
| desire that my niece, Annie E. Wal
lace, shall have everything, both in
equity and law, that belongs to me. l
only ask that my body shall be laid by
that Of my sister, Mary l.. Buford, whom
| love so we'll, whose robbery and assassi-
nation wish to try and avenge.
THOMAS BUFoRD.
The assassin is brother of General
Abe Buford, and is well known through
the central part of the State. The Bu-
fords have been notable family in this
State for many generations, and though
rs rule they have been looked upon as
n quick tempered people, they have
never been thought to have been lacking
in those generous and manly qualities
which keep men from doing such cow
ardly deeds as that of to-day. General
Abe BuforJ, the brother Of the assassin,
is known and esteemed all over the coun-
try as an upright, honorable and enter
prising patron of the turf. The General
was graduated from West Point in the
class of III, which had in it such famous
men as Don Carlos Buel, John +. Rey-
nolds, Thomas |. Rodnan and Schuyler
Hamilton. For twelve years he served
in the old First Dragons and at the bat
tie Of Bucna Vista in the war with Mex
leo he was brcvcted captain on the field
for gallant and meritorious conduct.
Resigning FROM the army in 1854 he be.
gan farming and breeding thorough bred
horses. During the war Of the rebellion
he served in the Confederate army with
distinction. Only short while ago the
death of General Buford's wife, which
followed many other mislortunes made
his ncighbors think that the old man had
certainly had his last grief, but they are
again called upon 10 sympalhizc with
him in sorrow only like the others in
that he had no hand in bringing it upon
|, l,;,,,,o1f