The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-04-30
THE THOMPSON HOMICIDE.
The Congressman's Statement of the
Causes of the Killing of Davis.
Both Sides of the StOry-PeOple Who Be-
Iieve Davis Guiltless-The Buckner
WOman-ThOmpson's Speech.
Harrodsburg Special to Courier-Journal.


This has been cold, cherries day. have
never seen so sad a community. Not a
glance of sunshine has penetrated the dark
fiecked skies, nor have seen a joyous face.
At first the people were in flame of excite
ment That subsidized in measure after the
first day and night, and to-day the matter
stands like molten metal upon which thin
crust has rested. This is a thoroughly hos
pitable and typical Kentucky people, and
their great human heart is cut to the core
by this calamity. 1 came here to give the
foundation facts in this frightful drama,
without fear or favor Both men were my
friends of long standing, and l want to be
square. The first thing did this morning
was to hunt up Little Phil" He was stay
ing with his twin brother, John b.
Thompson. A man was walking up and
down the open portico, smoking a cigar, in
the chilly atmosphere. 1t was Little Phil"
Near him sat Mr.. Cardwell, United States
revenue officer, and brother-in-law of John
B. Thompson. Phil greeted me in his old
social way, and as spoke feelingly to him
he put his arm around me. He was the
coolest-looking man 1 ever saw, and when
the tender subject was touched he talked
without hesitation and without qualification.
He said he had nothing to conceal, and talked
in a deliberate, business-like way, saying
there was nothing else for him to do He
said: Only part of the story about my
wife had been sent me at Washington, but
that was enough to make me miserable for
life. When came through Cincinnati last
Tuesday, and investigated there, it was more
than any man could bear The world was
not large enough for Davis and myself. One
of US had to go. 1t was only question of
time. l had sufficient grounds to shoot him
Oh the train from the standpoint Of self
defense, butt do not put it upon that basis
He ruined my household, and he must pay
the penalty. He got my wife maudlin drunk
and then debauched her while in helpless
condition"
Phil. then told me all he had gathered in
Cincinnati, and said it was convincing He
had not one unkind word to say of his wife
He said; "Mollie has been in wretched
health for years, and has been taking liquors
off and on for years until the habit has
grown upon her l have seen her when she
had too much sometimes when we had COM
pany, bur was disposed to overlook it and
be indulgent; but this bad habit had grown
upon her more than knew since my services
in Congress, and my friends would not tell
me of it. She was utterly irresponsible
was no reason she should be taken advantage
of and ruined. She wandered about the
hotel after Davis turned her out of his room,
and fell in Jessie Buckner's ROOM limp
Davis thought that because l was in public
life l could not afford to resent
this wrong, and if l did he would
have even chances with me and shoot me
down. He was armed for that purpose.
He passed down the street every day since
my return with shotgun. If he was inno-
cent why did he not write or send to me- or
why. did he let all this talk go on undenied
to me or my friends, and why did he steal
away?"
Phil talked straightforward, freely and
frankly, about all the details of the case and
when it came to the killing of Davis he cut it
short, saying there was nothing else to do
John Il. Thompson came upon the scene at
this 1uncture, having arisen and made his
toilet since my arrival He said that he had
gone over to Cincinnati to look into the case
and corroborated what Phil had related He
said Davis knew this and had never come
near him nor attempted to reIute the charge.
He could not move in the matter however
as his brother Phil was the proper party TO
settle the trouble. The twin brothers chat
ted about matters generally, and when break
fast was announced ate heartily Later the
brothers and brother-in-law walked down
town and mingled with. the gather
ing crowds attending Circuit Court.
certain. III Is tnaJ Little PhlI'
thoroughly satisfied himself of Davis's guilt
and made up his mind then and there to
avenge the disgrace with blood He has not
been home until this week since Congress adj
journed He believes firmly, and cannot be
shaken in that belief, that Davis did the deed
while Mrs. Thompson was unconscious in a
room at the hotel. He went once over to
New York and then back to Washington, and
it was said he would never return. He told
me he was written to by lawyer to come
and attend to some cases he had in court |
doubt not every hour of his life for two or
three months past has been an added hell
HE had no home to so to-" he says. He
looks like man who had been through
white-heated crucible and then cooled. in
deed frozen over. Mingling with the crowd
to-day, l found men who justified him TO the
letter, if the premises are detailed right They
say there is an uhwritten law in Kentucky
that swaps death for seduction. Others will
not believe Davis guilty of anything other
than drinking spree; but all agree that
Phil believed the chaice poisoned and drank
: it to its deepest dregs.