Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1883-05-10
g,yistellaueons 4eaaina.
1.-THE KENTUCKY TRAGEDY.

| after,the commission OF the ueed, mace Pne
following tolicfling statement:
"May it please your Honor, know it is
not customary on occasions OF this Kind tor
the person appearing before the court to
make any statements of the facts, but l
deem it due to myself, the position 1 occu-
DIV, the community in which | lived sOlong,
and hothape..so often honored me- that |
should say something in reference to this
unfortunate affair. | need hotpoint to my
long life and unblemished character for hon
or before this people as justification OF
what do, but do feel that they should
know from me, or hear from me, a portion
cember, being called to Washington by the
duties growing out of my position, was ac-
companied by;my wife to Cincinnati, and
being anxious to get to Washington as soon
as possible, left the city on Monday, the
same day of my arrival there, and left her
with friends The next day Mr.. Davis, the
deceased, came to Cincinnati, and, having
met her upon the street, registered him
self at hotel and learning from her and
the lady who accompanied her that she was
stopping at the ST. Clair Hotel he followed
again under an assumed name and took a
room. He then took her out and having
piled her with drink against the protest of
her friends, until she was utterly besotted,
we'll knowing her infirmity it that regard,
continued his application until he carried
her to to his room, debauched her and made
her the victim, in her unfortunate condi-
ton, ,iof: bis degraded lust, then turned her
out to Wander where she would until pick
ed up by the night watchman and carried
to her friends. Having accomplished my
dishonor, he left the house before break
fast. While had been informed beforeC-
some of the facts relating to her intoxica-
ton, and that he was the cause Of her
public exposure and degradation at the
hotel, I did not know the extent Of the
wrong until on Tuesday night, last, as
came home. " was fully Informed Of the
infamy which he had heaped upon her and
my family. 1 do not believe that l will
receive the censure of this people, butwhat-
ever is the will of the court will bow to
and bear as becomes good citizen. This
has broken up and destroyed my relations,
nv peace and happiness. My daughter,
lie from home, an outcast from society.
She has sobbed herself to sleep on my bos-
ON under this great.calanlity, part of which
she only knew. This blood is but a feeble
atonement for tears and if he had hun
dred lives all of them would not atone for
this great wrong. For the first time, this
morning I met him, and feel that / did
what every man who has a home which ne
loves and daughter dear to him, would
do if he has the courage to defend them
from wrong. In this I will receive the
sympathy of the good and virtuous, and
now submit to the action of the court"
There was profound silence in court and
few dry eyes while Mr., Thompson was
speaking. & a. 90 ~ '"i't''
Judge G.. A. Hardin said: ut is perhaps
improper in me, occupying the position OF
Judge, to express to Mr.. Thompson the SYM
pathy I feel for him as man. Under my
official duty am compelled to hold him to
answer any charge the grand jury may find.
1 will allow him to give bail in the sum OF
$5,OOO."
Bail was Immediately given. There is
intense sympathy for Mr.. Thompson, though
and two children. He was only 26 years
old, and Mrs. Thompson is 40. He was
prominently connected. His widow is a
stepdaughter of Gov. Robson, of George
town, XIV. The case went to the grand jury
the same day. AS yet no indictment has
been found ~ n .Ss 81
|, Mr.. Thompson is native of Harrodsburg,
and is 3S years Of age. He is by profession
LAWYER. He was elected to the Forty
Fsixth Congress, and was reelected to the
Forty-seventh Congress as a Democrat, re-
ceiving ii ,249 voets, against 12,OO4 votes for
Fry, Republican. Davis was a grocer, but
had soldhis stock and was about to 60 TO
Chicago.
Per contra to the above statement by the
slayer of Davis, the friends of the deceased
make the following publication
The funeral of Mr.. w. H. Davis, the vic
tim of Congressman Thompson's murderous
shot, took place at Harrodsburg, Ky, on
| Saturday. An immense crowd was present,
| including Odd Fellows and Knights Of
Honor, in full regalia. More than a hundred
carriages were in the procession. The Rev.
Mr.. Young, who delivered the funeral ser
mon, in speaking of the deceased said that
there were many Christians outside OF the
church, and that Davis had lived an upright
and honest life, and had done no man
wrong. The wife bore the ordeal better than
was expected, but she and her sster-in-laW
tainted at the grave. Mrs. Thompson is We
hement in her protestations of the inno-
cence of. both herself and Davis. She said:
"I will die procIaiming him innocent. Oh,
why was not killed rather than poor Wal
rr' She says that her husband has been
killing her by inches for years; that she has
cried until the fountain of her tears is dried.
The wife of Mr.. Davis says that her hus-
bands character shall be cleared. Her fam
ily and relatives are wealthy, and if Thomp-
son is indicted the ablest counsel that can be
secured will prosecute him. Miss Buckner.
who informed Thompson of the behavior OF
his wife, and was therefore the cause Of the
tragedy, was married eight years ago to
William TomlinsOn, of fHarrodsburg. They
movedt to Louisville, where Tomlinson went
into the grocery business with Atwood
Bowman. During Tomlinsons absence
Bowman piled Mrs. ,Tomlinson with drink,
her friends assert, andled her astray. There
was subsequent meeting, followed by de-
lection and separation. After some time
Mrs. ~Tonlinson brought suit for divorce,
charging abandonment. Tomlinson admit
ted the charge and claimed the custody OF
their infant. This was allowed, and Mrs.
Tomlinson assumed her maiden name.
| Davis friends say that Miss Buckner and
Mrs. Davis, having been schoolmates and
friends, and Mrs. Davis having cut her ac-
uuaintance after her relations with Bow
man, Miss Buckner, in the presence OF wit
Inesses, vowed her ruin, and they add that
she instigated, the scandal to that end.
Thompson's wife, it is said, makes these
charges.
Miss Buckner a year ago, was connected
with a concert troupe Of opera singers IN
Boston, but is now living in Cincinnati. In
an interview she said in substance, that
last December Congressman Thompson and
his wife went to Cincinnati and sent for her
to SUP with them at the Burnet. Thompson
then asked her to stay with his wife all
night, as he had to 90 on that evening. She
declined, but invited Mrs. Thompson to stay
with her at the st. Claire, and to this Mrs.
Thompson agreed. The next morning,
while shopping, they met Mr.. Davis at
Fourth and Race streets. He addressed