Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1883-06-19
lHarrodsburg, Ky, letter.

lHarrodsburg. Ky, letter.
1t may have been apprehension of
revulsion Of public feeling on the one
hand and responsive activity on the other
that gathered at the tables of counsel in
the trial of Congressman Phil Thompson,
an array of talent that of itself would
have made the trial notable. The de-
PENDANTS father was not the least distin-
guished and was probably the most in
dustrious of any on either side, although
not openly connected with the case. he
stands second to none in the State as
criminal lawyer. 1t is his boast that no
one whom he defended has been hanged,
and he has had many clients in murder
cases. Tom Buford was one of them.
The leonine eloquence of Senator Voor-
hees was heard for the first time in Mer-
Ger county in Thompson's behalf. He
had little to do with witnesses, but poured
upon the jury aphorisms on the sanctity
of home for half day with such effect
that by the time he had finished every
one was calling him "Dln." Joseph
Blackburn, of the fierce moustache and
glazing eye, made the last plea for the
defense.
The lawyers were no apprentices in
criminal proceedings. The career OF
Thompson, senior, embraces not alone
victories in desperate murder cases. His
own hands are not blood free. Ten
years ago, within these same walls,
Thompson, senior, and Theodore Davies
were at suit over a promissory note.
The suit was full Of heat and spirit.
Crowds focked to hear it, and among
those who went were the three sons OF
each of the litigants. The Davies boy
who bore his fathers name, Theodore,
proposed to young Phil Thompson that
they go out into the courtyard and settle
the matter. On the way out, in the
hallway, before reaching the yard, shot
was fired. Every mans hand in the
court room reached for his hip pocket.
The Thompsons and the Daviesses all
drew and fred and old Theodore and his
son Larue fell dead. Sharp work,
meanwhile, was going on in the yard,
where young Theodore Davies had
clawed Phil Thompson's scalp like tt
ger Old Phil, his pistol still smoking,
looked through the window at the COM
batants and, seeing his boys face be-
smeared with blood and supposing him
to have been knitted or shot, sprung over
the sill. Young Theodore ran out OF the
yard and started down the street.
Thompson chased him as far as the gate,
when he fred at the retreating figure and
the undertaken made three collins instead
of two that week for the Daviess family.
The preliminary hearing satisfied the
community that everybody had had a
fair chance and the grand jury refused to
indict.
The blood and thunder stories told OF
Joe Blackburn may be mythical, except
as illustrative of Kentucky principles,
but mythical or not it pleases the natives
to relate how, when he was young at the
bar, it fell to him to prosecute case
that had enlisted public sympathy. The
evidence went in and they say Blackburn
got as far as the argument when he was
warned to quit under the penalty of
trouble. The next day he appeared in
court and began the argument. He had
not proceeded far when there was sus-
picious noise from the rear. He wheeled
to find confronting him sympathizer
with the accused in anger and about to
strike. Whether Joseph Blackburn fired
through his pocket or not, mythology
doesn't say, but an instant later the
would-be assailant was ready for an in
quest and Blackburn turned coolly to the
, Jury with "and now, gentlemen, as was
saying"
This story runs suspiciously current OF
we'll authenticated experience of Colo
) mel Denny, of counsel for the prosecution.
When attorney for the county some years
ago it became his duty to prosecute his
his uncle. Certain members Of the fam
, ily objected and threatened him with Vi
r olence, even in court. The situation be-
coming critical when the argumentative
stage of the proceedings was reached
. Denny carefully laid pair of revolver'
. on the table in front of him and saying
| mildly, 81 shall now argue this case,
f proceeded without interruption through a
, snorting argument.
"A South End man, who is preparing