Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1879-03-29
FRANKFORTS TRAGEDY.
The City a Scene Of Sorrow --Th(
Murderer's Remorse---The Fu-
neral Services.
Special to Cincinnati Enauirer.l

Special to Cincinnati Enauirer.l
FRANKFORT, KY, March 27.-The
shocking murder Of Judge Elliott yes
terday is still the absorbing theme of
conversation upon the streets, which
are crowded with people of town and
country. The prevailing opinion is
one of intense adherence of the
crime that has been committed, and a
desire to see the perpetrator punished
speedily. 1t is not now probable that
the regular course of justice will
be interfered with by any mob vio-
lence. Governor McCreary in con-
yersation with an Enquirer reporter
to-day said that he had ordered out
troops yesterday evening to guard
the Jail on the requisition of the
county judge, whose fears the gov
ernOr thought, from personal obserya
tion, were we'll founded, the throngs
of excited men gathered in knots about
the streets boding i'll for the prisoner,
and no doubt is entertained now, that
but for the precautions that had been
taken, Thomas Buford would have
been hanged by the mob last night.
Some of those who, it is thought,
would have been willing to lend as
siStance in visiting summary punish
ment on the murderer are members of
the battalion which was ordered on
duty at the Jail, and, as they would
have done their duty in this instance
as they did in Breathitt, the would-be
lynchers bridled their indignation.
contenting themselves with denuncia-
tiOn Of the outrage.
THE MURDERER's REMoRsE.
Thomas BufOrd is an altered man
to-day. After nights reflection he
regrets the occurrence, and in an in
terview to-day said that he was sorry
it had occurred. He says also that he
wishes he had not met Judge Elliott,
or that the Judge had gone up the
steps of the hotel before the fatal
meeting. His remorse comes too late.
He is of opinion that if he had had a
little more time to reflect. Judge
Elliott would have been alive to-day.
lie would have the impression 90 out
that the assassination was the sugges-
tiOn of the moment, the offspring of
sudden passion, and altogether the re-
suit of an irresistible impulse. For a
crime committed in sudden heat and
passion, the preparation had been most
elaborate. The facts do not bear Mr..
Buford out in his presentation of the
case His dislike of Judge Elliott
and determination to do him some
personal injury dates as far
back as 1872, when Judge Eli
Oft delivered a decision in the suit
against the interests Of Buford. Af-
ter the adjournment of court, jude,
Elliott meeting Buford said, more ouC
Of kindness than anything else, that
he was sorry that he had to decide
against him, but he was bound to rule
according to the law. Afterward,
Buford meeting Judge William Lind
say, also an appellate Judge, said
We'll, judge, you decided against me,
but don't make any apologies like
Judge Elliott" " Lindsay answered
"You are mistaken in the man. ] am
not going to apologize to you" Bu-
ford then said, "All right, come and
take a drink" " but the judge declined
and went his way. He was mistaken
also in Judge Elliott's apologizing to
him. Than John Milton Elliott a
man more personally brave did not
live, but he was a politician by habit,
and to this must be attributed his at
tempt to smooth Buford's ruffied feel
ings. The fact is the man harbored
i'll feeling against every judge that
ever sat in the trial Of the case, which
first began in 1869 or 1870, before
Judge William Pryor, then of the
Henry Circuit Court. He says to- day
that he never intended to kill Judge
Pryor, but.he spoke differently yester-
day. Only two minutes before Judge
Elliott fell, Buford stopped Judge
Pryor at the foot of the steps leading
to the ladies entrance of the Capital
Hotel, and asked if he had anything
against him. The Judge replied that
he had not. Buford was then armed.
A gentleman standing by at that mo-
ment, little dreaming that the man
with his gun and hunting bag was
contemplating assassination, invited
the judge to go and take a glass of
cider. Without rejecting upon the
state of his appetite in that particular,
the judge accepted the offer on the
instant, and was never more relieved
in all his life than to get out of the
way of the gun, for the man who was
holding it so carelessly over his left
arm spoke with tone and look that
meant mischief.
A PICTURE OF WOE.
Never has Frankfort's history pre-
sented such a sad picture as since the
cruel assination of Judge Elliott.
Business has been almost entirely sus-
pended, and at noon to-day every
store and place of business was closed,
and the citizens turned out en- masse
to attend the funeral and to pay the
last tribute to the honored Judge.
The State house was draped in mourn
ing in respect to his memory, and
every office vacated. For fully two
hours before the funeral took place
the streets in the vicinity of the Cap
ital Hotel were thronged with men,
women and children, and a deep gloom
rested over every one AT 3 o'clock
the remains were conveyed from the
the Capital Hotel to the herse, and
thence to the Christian Church, where
the funeral services were conducted.
Tho chnrch 10 silnntnh ON Ann strnnt