The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1883-05-03
A HUSBANDS vESGEANcE.


conEressman Phil. Th0npxon Kills Wal.
ter H. Davis at Harrodsburs function,
Ky.-A story OF Domestic Shame and
swim Retrfbuti tion-Surrender 0fThomp-
SON, and His Release ON Rail.
LEXINGTON, KY, April 81.
The entire State was startled this morn
ing by the reception of the news that
Little Phil" Thompson, the present men,
Der of Congress, had shot and instantly
killed Walter Fl. Davis, a prominent bust
| ness man of Harrodsburg. The esteem
with which both men are regarded, and
their position in politics and society, made
the affair one of unusual interest. Thomp-
SON and Davis for many years have been
intimate friends, and the latter was q fre-
quent visitor at the formers house.
A few years ago, when Mrs. Thompson
was recovering from serious illness, stim-
ulants in the shape of liquors were pre-
| scribed, from which she derived an inordi-
nate desire for them, and notwithstanding
entreaties from her husband and relatives,
persisted in taking them. Mr.. Thompson
having been elected to Congress for the
third time, started for Washington, and
consented to let his wife accompany him as
far as Cincinnati. Arriving there, he took
| an Eastern-bound train for his desti lation,
expecting his wife to leave for home the
same evening. She was at the time with a
Georgia lady, Mrs. DR.. Buckner, stopping
| at the st. Clair Hotel. That afternoon, as
Mrs. Thompson was out shopping in the
| city, she met Davis, who, eware of the lady's
propensities for liquor, supplied her with
| it, and finding out at what hotel she
stopped, went around there with her, get
started out together, telling her they would
| go to the theater. After going around for
awhile, they returned to the hotel at 8
| O'Clock, and Davis took her to his room.
Somewhat late in the night the night
watchman of the hotel found her lying in
tor of the st. Clair Hotel, and would have
| turned her into the street, had not Mrs.
Roth recognized her, and she was taken to
Mrs. Buckner's room. The unfortunate
lady on learning of her shame and dis
honor, the next morning, was nearly over
whelmed, and lett on the first train for her
home. Mrs. Buckner wrote then to Mr..
| Thompson, telling him of his wife's con-
duct, but refrained from saying anything
of Davis conduct. She then wrote a sec
ond letter to Mrs. Thompson, stating that
| she had informed the husband of his wife's
conduct. On receipt of this Mrs. Thomp-
son started for Washington, and in an in.
terview with her husband he refused to
recognize her any longer as his wife. He
sent Tor his daughter, a handsome young
| lady of fifteen years, and placed her In a
convent school at Washington. His p ro-
| vision for his wife was that their son should
|
stead, and $500 annually should be paid for
| their support.
Mr.. Thompson returned from Washing
| ton, and came to Cincinnati Tuesday nigIrt
last, where from Mr. Roth he first learned
| of his wiie's disgrace. His friends perfidy
almost distracted him. He came to Har.
rodsburg Wednesday,. and perhaps from
otner sources learned of the disgrace that
had come upon his family. This morning
he had occasion to come to Lexington, and
L IN f4n of fhn fbxxyaS Stksr-r,
| Railway, which connects at Harrodsburg
| Junction with the Cincinnati Southern
Railway. At the depot Davis saw Thomp-
| son, and, colorinG, seemed very much con-
fused. Thompson and his friend, John P.
Chinn, prominent turfman, went in the
/ coach and Davis went into the baggage car,
where he stayed until the train arrived at
the Junction, and then until the Southern
train arrived, thinking, probably, that
| Thompson, If he bore him any resentment,
1 would have come to him ON tie first trafn
He got on the train and opened the door
| OF the smoking car, in which Thompson
and Chinn had entered. The latter was
engaged in turning seat, and both were
Thompson as he entered. Thompson re-
piled: "You damned - how dare
you speak to me-" at that instant
drawing his pistol, a Smith & Wessor
self,cocking, thirty;eight caliber. Davis
made motion to draw his pistol, but in.
stantly changed his mind and pulled the
door to with slam. Bending his head he
started down the platform steps as the
train was moving off, and Thompson fired
through the window in the end of the car
the bullet smashing the glass and striking
Davis back of the right ear, and the unfor-
tunate man fell down from the platform
rolled down an embankment of eight
feet, striking his forehead on the
rocks, and when they reached him he
was dead. The conductor pulled the bel
cord, and as the train stopped Mr.. Thomp
son said to the conductor: 81 want to gel
off and go back to Harrodsburg and give
myself up"
The party then got off the train, and the
same train that took them back to Harrods
burg carried the body of Walter Davis
When the train arrived at its destination
Thompson went to the Courthouse, where
the Circuit Court is now in session, ano
addressed Judge Harding in these words
May it please your Honor, know that il
is not customary, under the circumstances ot
this kind, for persons situated as am to make
duty, both in justice to myself and due to thu
community in which / have lived, and by
which have been honored SO often. to make
brief statement of the facts and circum
stances of this unfortunate affair, In Novem
ber last was on my way to Washington, anC
my Wv wife ed me as far as Cincinnati
her to return on the evening train. My wifi,
was unfortunately addicted to the evil habi
ceased, knew full well On that day he me
her in Cincinnati, and prevailed OF
her to remain until next morning
Finding at which hotel she stopped
he registered under an assumed name, ant
piled her with whisky until she was completed.
under its influence. Then he accompanied he
ostensibly to the theatre, but returned to tn
hotel at O'Clock, she in a besotted condition
from drink. She attempted to go to Mrs
Buckner's room, and he insisted on her goin,
to his room, where he debauched her, she re
naming in his room for more than an hour
and he then turned her out in helpless con
inp atn nr1ae Il he
disgrace. Found in the hall she was taken t.
Mrs. Buckners room by the watchman an
the proprietor Id an unconscious drunken
condition. My domestic relations ar
bankrupt and broken up. My lit
tie daughter, whom l prize more than any
| thing on earth, anu love dearer than life itsel1
| is now exiled from home, and an outcast froI
society, the result of Davis desire to gratif
his beasty lust, and publish my dishonor I
| the world. Night after night my daughter ha
sopbed hersen 10 sleep on my bosom. Not a
his blood were worth her tears, and if he ha
thousand lives they could not atone for tn
broken happiness and household misery b
! has caused me. 1 throw myself upon the jul
tice of my countrymen, ana feel that ever
man who loves his family and his fireside, an
has the courage to defend them, will justif
| me in my course"
Judge Hardin placed Mr.. Thompson VI
der IS, 5,O5O bail to await the action of th
| Grand Jury. The bond was furnished an
? he was released. Public sentiment is
| vided between the two families.
Davis was, until lately, member of til
firm of Davis & Fisher, grocers, and is
] | brother of Crit. Davis, the well know
! | horseman. His wife and two chileren, :
boy and girl, aged six and seven, surviv
him.
"A Louisville Chinaman has sue
| both daiiy nu mara FIR lihpl He /, onin