The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1883-12-20
Ohio WHISKY AND KENTUCKY BLOOD
"A BAD MIXTURE!
HOW THEY KILL OPoSSUMS UNDER THE
SCOTT LAW.

There are the usual number Of con-
Trajectory stories with regard to the
killing of Yates, near Coalton, last
week, and, as the Standard deals in
facts, we have taken the pains to Sc
cure as near an absolutely correct ac-
count Of the affair as it is possible te
obtain. Mr. Charles Rhodes visited
the scene of the murder, assisted in
the Coroner's investigation, and talked
with the people of the neighborhood
and our readers may rely implicitly
upon his report, which we subjoin, as
being correct in every particular:
On Tuesday night, Dec. II, 1888
between s and 9 o'clock, Rufus Yates
was fatally shot by Samuel R. Fraley,
at the Acorn Shaft, II miles east of
Coalton, in this county. Fraley'
home is at Newcomb Fork Of Little
Sandy. 5 or 6 miles from Martins
burg, the county seat of Elliott coun-
ty, Kentucky, where he has wife,
having married about a year ago.
Yates is single man, from near Lou
liza, county seat of Lawrence county,
KY.
Some time before the execution of
Craft, at Grayson, KY, Yates got into
fight and used a knife pretty freely,
cutting man so badly that warrant
was issued for his arrest and officers
were on the lookout for him. Yates
and Fraley were working together,
driving entry in coal mine in Ky.
and on the day Craft was executed
both went to Grayson. While there
Fraley went to ap officer and told him
Yates was there and pointed him out,
Yates was arrested and put in Jail. A
few days afterward, on payday, Fra
ley went to the Jail and Yates gave
him an order to draw his pay, about
$500, and to bring it to him; Fraley
drew his money and Yates also, and
instead of giving Yates the money
that he drew for him, he took the
money and came to Coalton, leaving
Yates in jail. Yates subsequently Sc
cured bail, giving 5000 security for
his appearance at next term Of Court,
and as soon as he got out of jail, he
came to Coaiton to find Fraley and
get his money-arriving>at that place
on Thursday, Dec. 6, when he learned
that Fraley had gone to Kentucky on
2 visit. He made arrangements to go
to work with John May and that eve
ming May was killed in the mine, and
he remained in that vicinity until
Tuesday, 18th inst, when Fraley re-
turned and the two met for the first
time after Yates gave him the order
to draw his money, when he was in
jail in Kentucky. They quarreled
during the afternoon, Yates threaten
ing if he did not pay him that he
would "beat him nearly to DEATH"
Fraley agreed to pay him as soon as
he could and they settled the difficulty
this way, Fraley agreeing to pay
balance due Yates Of about $1,000.
The two shook hands in friendship,
and in the evening at a shanty occu-
pied by Bill. and Dan. Workman they
had some warm words about the mat
ter again, but made it up and left the
shanty apparently with friendly feel
ings toward each other, Fraley with
Michael Anderson going to Earl
Branscomb's, about Is or 100 yards
from the shanty and Yates and one of
the Workman boys going to Glen Roy
for whisky. Yates and his companion
returned to the shanty and ate supper.
After supper Yates sat before the fire
picking his teeth with pocket knife,
and hearing somebody walking around
the chimney of the shanty, got up,
went to the door, which was very
low one, the top not being more than
4 feet from the ground, stopped to go
out, and seeing some one, said: "Who
are you?" No answer was given but
instead single barrel shotgun, loaded
with about No. 6 shot was discharged
at him, the weapon being so close that
it set his clothes on fire, and the entire
charge entered his body near the
shoulder on the left side, going down.
ward and through to his backbone,
inficting wound that caused death
almost instantly. He uttered the cry
80 Lord, I'm shot" two or three times
and expired.
When Fraley left the shanty with
Anderson they both went to Brans-
combs house and Earl not being in
they stayed short time when Earl
arrived, then Fraley asked Earl to
loan him his gun. Earl asked what
he wanted it for and he replied that he
wanted to kill an opossum. Earl told
him he did not like to lend it when he
gave Earl a revolver as security for
the return Of the gun and taking the
gun started from the house. In a
very short time Earl heard report Of
the gun and going to his door heard
Yates halloo, and Fraley came up with
the gun and asked him to load it again
and let him have it. Earl took the |
gun, loaded it and told Fraley he had
shot q man already and could not have |