The Sedalia weekly bazoo. [volume] (Sedalia, Mo.) 187?-1904, 1882-10-31
Ben Mickev, the most Noto-
rious of Kentucky's Muir
derers Lying at Deaths
Door.
A History of His Terrible Deeds
Of Violence and Blood
and Contempt for
the Law.
The Wild, Reckless Youth Who
Could Not Find q Locomo-
tive Fast Enough for
Him.
His Many Murders.
LnuisyilIe Courier, Oct. -.

Louisville Courier, Oct. Is.
Another page in the criminal histo
~ Of Kentucky ia about to close with
the life of Ben Mickey, the famou.
murderer. It will be remembered
that about FIVE years ago he was sen
fenced to the penitentiary for life fol
the murder of John Wilson, at La
grange. For some time he held uE
under tie disadvantages ola prison
life, but at length bis health gave way
and he fell int" consumption. The
disease grew upon him rapidly, situa
ted as he was, out of reach OF proper
care and treatment. and seeing that
his DAYS were but few In this world
Gov. Blackburn parl,ned him and he
returned to his home 10 Oldham coun.
ty. which had also been the scene of
most of b s crimes. He seemed to i'm
prove for awhile under the change,
but it was only temporary, for he soon
again began to sink, until scarcely
able to move around, when he was
brought to the house of some his reia-
tives on First street near Gray, where
he has been ever since. For the last
few days the crisis has been arriving,
and every minute the
RND HAS BEEN LOOKED FOR.
Last night he was much worse than
usual, and the physicians stated that
he could not possibly live through the
night. His life has been a remarkable
one, on account of his high-handed
and bloody deeds, which alone has
brought his name into notorietv.
Mickey was born at Brownsboro. in
Oldham county, and lived there most
all of his life His parents we're very
respectable people. remarkably quiet
and orderly, and it was often a theme
Of talk among those who knew Ben as
to where he got his thirst for blood.
The family lived at that place until he
was about half grown, when they NOV
ed to Lagrange. As a boy he was con-
sidered rather quiet and peaceable ex-
sept when mad. at which time be
would hesitate at nothing, He con-
cluded to become q mechanic. and
taking a position i'm a shop he learned
the trade Of a plowmaker, at the same
time devoting much attention to en-
so that when his apprentice
1hip had expired he was not only skill.
ed in this branch of work. but was also
IN excellent locomotive engineer. He
worked in this city until the war,
when he left his position and took up
bis residence with the rest of the family
n Lagrange. While here he had
THE HABIT oFDRrNkING,
md was considered by those who knew
him to be extremely dangerous when
lnder the influence of liquor. lie did |
nothing to encourage this, however.
or although it was strongly rumored
hat he had killed man in Indiana,
While he was running a train there un.
IL the close of the war, when his first
rhine was committed.
One day while drinking, he had a
quarrel with q negro man, who made
ONE impudent remark to him, and
,e at once resolved to kill him. The
MSS took place at the station, and the
egro walked down tie street few
quares, entering Judge Mawbv's
tore. Mickey did not wait long, but
licking up a heavy bowlder. he fol
owed his victim in the store. The
egro was standing with his back to
lie slayer, who struck him q terrible
low on the head with the rock, kill
,g him almost instantly. He was
rrested and tried for the crime. and 8
Though the murder. was undoubted-
cold-blooded one. the feeling in the
ounty end throughout the state at
nat time was very strong against the
egroes and this fact. coupled with a
amount of money, legal I
oility and other circumstances, EFF. {
cted his acouittal Afr this he
IT into number of
SCRAPEs OF ALL SORTS,
I'd whenever he got drunk trouble
ould surely come. A couple of
,ars after this a murder was COM a
tilted at a railway station in La
range, of which he was strongly sus- a
ectea, and a great amount Of evil '
ence ~as brough, out showing him e
be the guilty party, but he again |
anaged to get clear. The murder a
as that of a passenger on one Of the d
sssenger trains, who was shit at the v
epot one night and taken to Midway. t
here he died the next day. The af- e
Lir created great excitement at the 4
me, but it Was never clearly proven Y
bat he was the man, although the p
,ntiment vas strongly against him. Ia