The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1879-04-03
Assassi,.ating n Judge.
FRAHKFOHT, KY, March &c

contribute many bloody tragedies to the
annals Of American crime, but it is GER
tain that her own uncnviabc record of
murders furnishes no parallel to the crime
| that WAS committed here to-day, for a
disappointed litigant, angry at judicial
decision, went out cunning for the
Judges OF the Court Of Appeals and sue
cccdcd in arsassinating one of them.
Judge John NJ. Elliott, in front of the
Capitol Hotel, of this city. Col. Thomas
| Euiord, of Henry County, has for some
time had case pf much Importance to
| him pending in the Court Of Appeals.
and the case Was decided recently by the
| Court adversely to Buiord, and Judge
| Elliott delivered the opinion. At
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 }uford, who WAS sitting on the
porch, and at that time unarmcd. In q
very little while Judges Elliott and Hines
followed the Chief Justice. in the
meantime Buford had left his scat and
procured y double c-barrellcd 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:
1T is u fine day for sniping."
"lcs," replied Bulord "Won't you
come take Il drink %
| This invitation Judge Elliott politely
declined, and bowling to Judge Hines.
who was going elsewhere, turned and
;;'a;se:!! ":r the steps ::f he hotel. Before
he had half reached the top Bufore de-
liberately levclled his gun at Judge FL
liott and, firing, the load passed through
the left side of the Judge aud lodged in
his heart. The gun being loaded With
huckshot: of course the Judge fell dead
}uford placed his hat under the head of
his victim and said:
Now die like q man"
The assassin WAS Immediately taken in
custody and the dead Judges body was
carried into the hotel, where the other
Judges and lis numerous friends gather
ed around it. When brought before
Esquire Gwynn, Buforl passionatcly
kissed the barrels of his gun which he
had taken from the hands Of n bystandcr.
In the Jail he said, 81 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 / 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 Mt the time
and decided the case against Buford.
The decision meant his utter impovcrish-
ment. y rchearing was granted and
change OF venue WAS taken to 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. 4 re-
hearing here WAS also granted, but again.
q few days since, the Court reafiirmed
t"' case, Judge Cofer writing the opinion
.n,s time. Euford's purposes was to kill
all who had decided against him.
Judge Elliott, though not esteemed by
the bench and bar as n very learned
jurst, has had q long and cTedtabIc pub
lie career. He was born in Scott County,
Virginia, May lG, 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 1913. -Four years
later he was electel. to the State Legisla-
|
to Congress in 1853. He was in Con-
gress three terms, and during the last
two terms-the Thirty fourth aud Thirty
fifth Congresses-was chairman of the
Committee om Public Expenses. He was
also Representative from Kentucky in
the First aud 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 business
is that Judge Pryor escaped the sad fate
of his colleague, Judge Elliott.
Before the murder Buiord wrote the
following letter:
FRANKFORT KY, Capitol Hotel,
March 26.-Whatever may happen to me
| desire that my niece, Annie L. 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 C: General
Abe Bnford, and is we'll known through
the central part of the State. The Bu-
fords have been a notable family in this
State for many generations, and thopgh
rs rule they have been looked upon as
n quick-tempered people, they have
never been thought to have boen lacking
III those generous and manly qualities
which keep men from doing such cow
ardly deeds as that of to-day. General
Abe Buforl. the brother of the assassin,
is known and esteemed all over the coun-
try al an upright, honorable and enter
prising patron of the turf. The General
was graduated from West Point in the
class of Al, which had in it such famous
men rs Don Carlos Bucl, John +. Rev
nolds. Thomas !. Rodman 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 breveted 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 tho
death of General Bufords wife, which
| followed many other misfortunes made
his ncighbors think that the old man had
certainly had his last grief, but they are
again called upon TO sympathizo with
him in sorrow only like the others in
that he had no hand in bringing it upon
himself.