Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1883-04-28
REPIS PISESENTATIV THOMPSON,s
REVENGE.

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REPRESENTATIVE THOMpsoN,s
REVENGE.
HOW and Why he Shot W alter Davis
Desperate Deed Induced by n Wife's
Untaithtulncss and n Trusted Mans
Perfidy-A Beautiful Womam's Dis
grace.
The shooting by Representative Phil. b. Thomp-
son, or Kentucky, OF Walter Davis on railroad
train near Harrodsburg, KY, yesterday, as an
nounced In an associated press dispatch in THE
STAR last evening, has been much discussed In
this city by the friends and acQuaintances OF the
Congressman. telegram from Louisville, Ky,
to the Philadelphia Press, says: "There was great
excitement in all the towns in Kentucky to-day
when 1t WAS learned that Congressman Philip b.
Thompson had shot Walter Davis. Those who are
intimate with them have been expecting the
trouble for some time. Walter Davis and Philip
thompson were bosom friends they got drunk
together and played cards together. Their farnl-
hes were wealthy, and from their boyhood up they
have helped one another, politically and financial
ly. Davis became dIstifler at Harr0dsburg and
made money hand over tist- Thompson drirted
into politics and was elected to Congress. first
from the seventh district and then from the eighth
FRIENDS IN YOUTH AND MANHOOD.
"DaVls married Miss Livernia Herring, a STEP
daughter Of Governor Robinson, and Thomson
married Mary Garnett, who was said to be the
belle OF the Blue Grass region. The two friends
bought adjoining farms in Merton county, and
their Intimacy continued. Davis built himself
prfncely home, and is said to have contributed
$4,000 in Thompsons race against Ewell, the re-
publican candidate, last year Not word was
whispered against ThOmpson's wife TIL last fall
when, In company with her husband and Davis
she went to Cincinnati. Thompson went Oh 10
Washington, and Walter Davis and Mrs. Thomp-
son. who appear to have been On terms OF init
macy remained in the town. They visited all tie
variety theaters In an opera carriage, and ended
their debauch In disreputable house
TWO DEADLY SHOTS.
"When Thompson heard of his wife's faithless-
ness he disowned her, and swore that II he and
Walton Davis ever met either OF them would have
to die Davis avoided him till this morning. Both
men got on the train which leaves Harrodsburg at
6o'clock. They met In the smoking car. Without
saying word Thompson reached back for his
pistol and fired two shots IT Davis In rapid sue
cession. Both balls took effect in Davis head.
HIS brains Splattered the car seat, against which
he was leaning. He died without saying word.
When Thompson saw that he had killed his bosom
friend, he threw the pistol on the floor and ex-
claimed: "ThtS man took my wife to Cincinnati
and M de9auched her swors to kiIl him on sight.
to be stopped and delivered himself up.
BLOODY BATTLE.
"This not the dtst time that Phil Thompson has
killed his man. When a very young man his fam
lily and the Davis family became engaged in q
lawsuit over some land. They had pitched bat
"A
father and two sons on each side, and all armed
with knives and pistols, after hand-to-hand con-
fict that lasted for nearly noun, the Thonpsons
whipped the Davses, killing the father and the
two sons Phil Thompson shot one OF them
through the head and his father stabbed the other
two Phil was the commemorative attorney.
ately called him, is one of the most popular men,
personally, In Kentucky. The sympathy here is
decidedly In MS favor, and the prevailing opinion
Is that he will certainly be acquitted"
ANOTHER ACCOUNT OF THE SHOOTING
= A telegram from Harrodsburg last night SAYS:
Thompson and Davis had taken the train for
Cincinnati, but did not meet till they came to
Harrodsburg Junction, where both got into the
smoking car Thompson Immediately began an
assault on Davis, who tried TO escape. As he
reached the platform Thompson drew revolver.
and saying. you'll not take my wife to Cincinnati
again!' fired, and Davis fell dead. Davis was a
grocer; had sold his stock, and about to go to
Chicago Thompson got OF the train and walked
THE CAUSE OF THE SHOOTING.
Cincinnati dispatches say that from the hotel
registers and other sources at Cincinnati, 1t is
learned that Hon. Phil B. Thompson and wife took
supper at the Burnet house, Nov. q, 1882, with
Miss Buckner, cousin OF Mr.. Thompson. Mr
Thompson went on to Washington, while the
same evening Mrs. Thompson went to the St
Clair hotel The next day the name OF w. Davis
OF Harrodsburg, appeared on the register. Mrs
Thompson had weakness for liquor which she
acquired by its medical use. After Mr.. Thompson
left for Washington she met Davis on the street,
and he supplied her with liquor and then took her
TO his room in the hotel She was found In the
morning lying in the corridor in a drunken sleep.
Mr. Thompson was informed OF his wife's conduct,
but nothing was said about Davis, and he refused
to recognize her his wife. Last Tuesday, Mr.
Thompson, returning from Washington, heard for
the first time Of Davis share In his wife's disgrace
Yesterday he met him for the first time and Davis
spoke to him. Thompson with an oath said,
How dare yon speak to me-" and drawing a
pistol fired as Davis was going through the Car
door He fell and rolled down the embanKment.
Mr.. Thompson left the train, ana ret urned 10
Harrodsburg on the same train with the body of
his victim Going to the court house he stated
the facts to the Judge and gave himself up.
What Is Said in Warrington.
This deplorable affair is an almost universal
theme OF discussion here in Washington, where
"Phil," as he is popularly called, is generally
known. Though not yet thirty-eight years old,
he has served two terms, and was last fall elected
for third. He was secretary OF the democratic
campaign committee last year, and gave nearly all
his time to the duties Of the position. Though
thus prevented from devotlng his personal atten-
OF his competitors were strong enough TO beat
him. His record since the war presents singular
OF his character as 1t appears in So
cfal intercourse. He Is genial, good-natured and
generous. He has capacity for making friends
which rendered him 1avorlte In Morgan's
h''SSs:1' he was % memSer eurins % the reDe'iion
In Congress, among democrats and republicans, |
he is most favorably regarded. 1t has always |
Harrodsburg court house tragedy, mentioned |
above, was forced upon him: that he simply de- |
Tended the lives OF his father, brother and him.
self At any rate, public sentiment justified him.
for 1t alter that scrape that he was elected to
Congress. He Is fond OF conn any, is Jovial COM
panion, will stick TO a. friend through thick and
thin and is devoted to his children, two OF whom,
a daughter, aged about Is, and son a couple OF /
years younger, are at school In Georgetown. /
During the recent session OF Congress an account
OF the Harrodsburg court house light and OF Phirs
part in 1t was related to group OF Congressman |
at the Capitol One Of them. republican, said,
with apparent surprise: ''You don't mean that /
was our Phil Thompson here" Upon being as
sured that 1t was the same he added: "Why, i
should never have taken him for q man OF that /
kind. He Is the most uniformly good-natured /
man. believe, ever saw. He doesn't look as y
though he had 1t In him to get real mad"
Political Notes.
The friends of Gov. Hamilton, of Maryland. are /
sanguine over his prospects for denomination.
The Connecticut senate yesterday rejected the
law forbidding the employment Of women and
children In factories for more than ten hours any
one day.