The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1879-03-27
ASSASSINATION.
Judge Elliott Murdered in Cold Blood
by a SuitOr.
And a Load Of Slags in Readiness to
KtllJudge Pryor.
The Murderer is Arrested and Makes
His viii.

FRASEroRr, March 2G.-Judge ]. NJ
Elliott, Of the Court of Appeals was assas.
slnated and instantly killcdon the street III
front ofthe Capital Hotel at one o'clock
to-day, by Thomas Butord, OF Henry
country. Elliott had rendered an adverse
opinion in a case Buford had in court for
some time. Butord loaded double bar.
Frel shot gun and waited for Elliott to come
to dinner and walked up and shot him
through the heart without warning. Bu.
ford was arrested ind Is now In iail.
There is great excitement and strong
feeling against him. BuiOrd after his mr.
rest acknowledged that the other barrel OF
the gun was loaded for Judge Pryor and
would have killed him also llad not some
children been in the way. He Is a brother
OF General Abe. Buford OF Woodford
county.
News from all parts Of the State deplorcs
deeply the assassination at Frankfort. The
Courier'JournaEs special tonight tells the
story as follows:
FRANRRoRT, March 2O.-At n quarter
past one o'clock this afternoon in front OF
tho ladies' entranceot tho Capital Hotel,
Col. Thos. Bntord, OF Henry county, shot
and killed Judge Jno. NJ. Elliott, Of the
Court OF Appeals. The weapon used was
a dOuble-barrelled shot gun loaded with
twelve huckshot in each barrel.
Judge elliott, in company with Judge
Thomas II. Hines, was coming un Ann
street. when they were met at the steps OF
the side entrance Of the hotel by Buiorl,
who appeared equipped for hunting. Blu.
lord spoke first to Judge Elliott, saying:
Judge, | believe will 30 snipe hunting,
won't you 80 along?" Judge Elliott re-.
Piled. NO" "Wel, then," said Buford,
won't you go and take a drink" Al.
this point Judge Hines turned away and
had gone about six feet when the gun was
drc1 and Judge Elliott fell upon the side.
walk without uttering a word.
Butord looked down upon him and
said, ~ am sorry" de then lifted Ills
head and put his (Buiord's) hat under it
Judge Hines turned back and tried to
raise tho body, but life was extinct. He
thought it was m accident, until Buford
spoke TO the Deputy Sheriff and police.
man, who came up Immediately to the
scene. Butord gave up his gun, saying to
the policeman: "Be careful with that gun,
l put twelve buckshot in it for Pryor"
Submitting to arrest, he was taken before
Esquire Gwynn, and on brief examina-
ton was committed 10 Jail.
On his way 10 the Magistrates office, or
before be started, Buford handed letter
to the Deputy Sheriff, addressed as fol.
lows: "Whoever may get this note ask
earnestly to deliver Il to the person to
whom it is directed" The letters con.
tents were as follows:
@CArIrAt HorBL, March 90, 1879,
Whatever may happen to me desire
that my niece, Annie q, Wallace, shall
have everything, both in equity and law,
that belongs to me. ] only ask that my
body shall be laid by my sister, Mary +.
Butord, whom loved so well, whose rob.
berry and assassination wish to try and
avenge. THos. BUFoRD."
The body Of Judge Elliott was taken to
aroom in the Capital Hotel and u coroner's
inquest held and the following verdict
rendered:
We the jury find that the body now be.
fore us is that OF John NJ. Elliott, OF BOYD
county, Kentucky, who was at the time Of
his death a judge Of the Court Of Appeals,
and residing temporarily at Frankfort,
and was killed and murdered in said city,
on the 10Th inst, by being shot through
the body by Thomas Buford, with double
barrclled shotgun.