New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-04-28
manager Of The Miner have been arrested on charge
criminal libel
MURDER BY A CONGRESSMAN.

MURDER BY A CONGRESSMAN.
WALTER DAVIS KILLED BY P, b. THOMPSON
DAVIS SAID TO HAVE BEEN UNDULY INTIMATE WITH
THE CoNGREssMANs wIPE-THoMPsoN GIVES
HIMSELF UP IN OPEN COURT.
[BY TELEGRAPH TO THE rRTBUNE.i
HARRoDsBURG Ky, Apr 27.-This morning Philip
b. Thompson r., member of Congress for the 'liitn
Kentucky District, shot and killed Walter DAVIS
popular business man of this place. Sixteen years
ago Thompson married Mollie Garnett, the oeiio
of Mercer County. Some years afterward she 1eii
seriously i'll and her physician prescribed ale Ihe
habit of drinking grew on her, despite her hus-
bands efforts Last November. as he started ior
Washington, his wife came as far as Cincinnati
with hlm, stopping with friend, Mrs. Buckner'
Mt the ST. Clair Hotel. After Mr. Thompson
left, his wife met Walter Davis,
friend, who had registered at the same hotel under
false name, and lie persuaded her TO remain over
ng ght and attend the theatre instead OF returning
home immediately, as she had intended lie man
aged 10 get her to drinking, and after their return
from the theatre he took her to his room, saying
it was Mrs. Buckner's. He kept her there some
time and then turned her out into the hall, where
she was found by the watchman. She was intoxi-
Gated, and was taken care of by Mrs. Buckner, VINO
wrote to Mr.. Thompson about the affair MIS-
Thompson went to Washington TO be reconciled'
but her husband refused to have anything more
to do with her. He arranged TO pay her 5000
year and allowed her to keep their son and 10 i've
at the homestead, he retaining his daughter, hi'eeh
years old. W,
Last Tuesday Mr.. Thompson came from Wash
ington to Cincinnati and saw the proprietor OF the
ST. ClaIr Hotel. He then obtained the full stOry
of his wifes dshonor and Davlss treachery. lie dld
not before know CT anything worse than ms wiles
int ito and ind
he became nearly frantic. lie came here on Wednes-
day. and after arranging some matters hs TOOK
the tram thIs morning UicaGo came into the
car and nodded spoke to Mr; 1h0mp-
son. The latter at once said You ~, ~.
do you speak to met" and drew his pistol Davis
retreated down the steps and Thompson fiieu
through the window the bali striking DAVIS III the
head hd lie 1God dead down s the bcSy sy' %n.
at once returned to Harrodsburg and on the
same strain Thompson returned. Golng INTO opei,,
court he interrupted the Judge and IN digninea @
way he told hs story in full and gave himself up.
The Judge held him over III So,OOU Dali, which WAS
at once gwen.
HIS FRIENDS NOT ENTIRELY SURPRISED.
Mr. DAVIS SAID TO HAVE BEEN CAUSE OF TROUBLE
oRsoME TIME-THE CoYGREssMAN's READINESS
WITH THE PISTOL.
lBY TELEGRAPH THE TRIBUSE.l
WASHINGTON, April 27.-rhe intelligence
caused deep sensation to-day in Washington, where
the young Kentucky Congressman IL well known and
extremely popular. His intimate friends have known
for some time that there was trouble between Mr.
Thompson and bis wife account OF Davis and one OF
them said tonight a." think It was well understood be-
tween them that whenever they should meet they would
shoot. II was OF the Kentucky conyentionalites
which neither Of them would fail 10 observe"
Mrs Thompson has not been In Washington since her
husband was elected Congress, but OF their chill
drc-a daughter In her fourteenth year-is attending
Roman Catholic school In Georgetown, d. Z. she
IS her fathers pet. The other chid about twelve
years old is with his mother az her
home in Harrodsburg Mr.. Thompson was In Washing.
ton few days ago and left for his home last Tuesday
evening expecting to arrive there Friday morning, as he
did
Mr Thompson bears the reputation OF being man OF
great pluck aud and the number OF men ne mas
killed Is variou.y reckrned 1--we TO twice that num-
ber friend who knows hin Intimately says Davis IA
the firth or sixth who has fallen by Thompsons
plstol which, however, he declares never before
drawn except In seldefcnce. The friend said that
yhilo Thompson O member Of John Morgan's com
maud during the he on one occasion shot down two
men who had their rifes leveiled at him. On
another OCCASION after the war; when he was
prosecuting attorney OF the court at Iarrods0urg he
took an active part In fight n the courthouse, where
five men we're killed "inside OF two minutes.' That
WAS the result OF family feud between the Thompsons
and the Davses Three Thompsons were sitting In the
COURTROOM all armed, when four Dayses entered Ike
wise armed, and tho shooting Immediately began.
Three OF the Davises killed the spot and the
future Congressman the only Thomp.on who es-
caped lie was arrested and tried but acquitted
on the ground that acted in sedefonce II Is not
known here whether the Davis who killed to-day
WIS relative OF those who engaged In the bloody
encounter before described but one of Mr Thompsohs
friends has mpression that inc Iate Victim was
relative Of the Congressman.
Mr. Thompson will be thirty'eieht years old next
October but he looks younger He was born In liar.
rodsburg KY. october Is, lsf5 and Is lawyer
He IA man Of small size, with dark brown
hair dark complexion and wears thin mustache. He
IL aulet and unobtrusive in his manners. MT Thompson
has seryed two terms In and reelected ast
fall In the XLVIth Congress he was member OF the
Committee on War Claims and OF the Joint Committee
ON the Census lie took rather prominent part In the
discussion the Apportonment bill which passed the
House al the last session OF that Congress In the last
Congress served the Committee Leyees and I'm
proyements OF tho Mississippi River and was also "a
| member of the Committee Militia. He took an active
mart in the discussion Of the Apport0nment BILL the
varous revenue bills which before the House, and
the measures TO provide for the judicial ascertainment
nj caims against United States Although he Is not
pleasing speaker he IL keen and ready IN debate and
WAS regarded AS OF the leaders OF tue younger and
| more aggressive Southern element on the Democratic
side OF the House lie strong adv0 cate OF Mr. Black
| burns election as Speaker.
Among his fellow members OF the House on both sides
Mr. Thompson Is great favorte, and such OF them as
are ia Washington deeply affected by the news OF
the shooting to-day Major Mckinley, of Ohio said:
have often neard Of ThOm OsOn's kJg men, but come
| how would hardly believe It, Many time have
noticed him on the oor Of the House always 80 quiet
| pleasant and gentlcmanly that could not persuade
myself TO the thought that he would could Kill man.
| / know him very well and Ike him. lie has more
friends on side than ay other Democrat know OF
In the House Yet, have always found Thompson 10
he peTsistent man in debate and while he has gente
eye he las also a determined one. am sorry Tor his
| misfortune" . c,
| cinnat, heard the news he exclaimed; "Grrat
| God, Is II possibef Arc You not JeSunsf
While have heard no particulars of the killing be-