The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1879-04-04
AN ATROCIOUS CRIME.
The Murder Of Judge Elliott of the Ken
lucky Court Of Appeals.

1
lucky Court Of Appeals.
The killing of Judge j. nj. Elliott, Of
the Appellate Court of Kentucky, the
highest judicial tribunal in the State,
by Col. Thomas Buford, a itigant who
was displeased at decision of the
court in which he was interested, APP
pears to have been as cool and DELHI
crate an act of cowardly barbarism as
ever led ruffian to the gallows. The
murderer is member of the well known
Buford family, wealthy and prominent
clan. A double-barreled shotgun was
procured, the intention being to kill
two of the Judges, but the fortunate
passing of a troop of children saved
one of the intended victims. A letter
from Frankfort, KY, furnishes the fol-
lowing particulars of this sensational
tragedy:
Shortly after the adjournment of the
Court of Appeals Judge Elliott and
Judge Hines, his associate, were walk
ing up Ann street on the way to dinner,
the former at the Capitol Hotel and the
latter to his residence in South Frank
fort. They parted at the ladies' en-
trance to the hotel. A few moments
after they had separated Buford came
up with double-barrcl shotgun in his
hand and game-bag over his shoulder.
Judge Elliott, being on very intimate
terms with him, remarked that it was
very pleasant and fine day for snipe
hunting. Buford replied: "Yes, Judge,
come and take drink with me-" Be-
fore Judge Elliott could reply Buford
raised his gun and fired the contents of
one barrel containing twelve buckshot
into Elliott's right side, killing him n
stantly. When the fatal shot was fir ID
Judge Hines was a few yards aways nd
Immediately ran back and knelt be ode
and raised the murdered mans head
While the ifeless body of Judge Elliott
lay on the pavement, the murderer
walked up and said: "Now, die like
man."
Judge Elliott's body was carried into
room 4 of the Capitol Hotel, where
large circle of his friends had assem-
bled, and the scene that followed beg
gars description. The grief and lam
e1tations of Mrs. Elliott over the re-
mains of her murdered husband were
heartrending. Buford surrendered
himself to Deputy Sheriff Mace Will
Jams and was taken at once before
Esquire Gwynn, who remanded him to
jail. While in the magistrates Office
he took the gun from the hands of the
officer and kissed the empty barrel.
In an interview he said he did not
regret his act, and that he had loaded
both barrels of his gun with picked
buckshot and intended to kill Chief
Justice Pryor, but after considering the
matter he changed his mind on account
of Judge Pryor's wife and children. He
carried his game bag to avoid suspicion.
Ga seeing Judge Elliott he followed
him, fully intending to kill him, and
was not sorry that he committed the
deed. When taken to the Jail he was
searched. and large five-shooter pistol
found on his person, which he intended
to use until it was emptied, on any per-
son that came to Elliott's assistance.
Buford is about 55 years old. broth
er of Gen. Abe Buford, of Woodford
county. He talks freely about the MUIR
der, and exhibits no sorrow over the
affair. He assigns as his reason for the
tragedy, that Judge Elliott had decided
case against him. Buford was in
volved in a heavy lawsuit amounting to
large sum of money, and the case was
decided against him three times, once
in the court below aud twice in the
Court of Appeals. He says his inten-
ton was to kill the Judge who tried the
case in the lower court, and also Judge
VIM. Lindsay, who was Judge of the
Court of Appeals when the case was
first decided in that court. Buford,
seeing that all hope to gain his case was
lost, determined as revenge to murder
every one of the Judges.
His victim was loved and esteemed
by every one who came in contact with
him. He was 50 years old. He had
served in the Kentucky Legislature
and also in Congress for several terms.
He was elected Judge of the Thirteenth
judicial district, and in 1876 was elected
for period of eight years as Judge Of
the Appellate Court.