The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1884-06-12
A Sad Case.

Intense excitement reigns throughout
Kentucky on account of the suicide o.
Judge Richard Reid, of the superior
Court, who was cowhided at Mt. Sterling
on April Is, by John Jay Corneilson, {
prominent lawyer, who charged him with
hypocrisy and influencing his fellow
Judges to decide a case against Cornell
son. The suicide occurred at Mt. Sterl
ing on the 18th of May, at II o'clock, il
the Office of Judge Brock. Reid entered
the Office at halfpast 0, complained of q
severe headache, and asked permission to
| lie down in Brooks bedroom overhead
He went upstairs and Judge Brock left
his office, returning an hour later. Co.
ing into his room to wash his hands
Judge Brock found Reid lying on the
bed dead. The bed was soaked with
blood, and the suicides right hand
grasped Smith & Wesson revolver.
The ball had entered below and back Of
the right ear and emerged on the left
side of the head.
The theory is that Reid was so humili-
ated by his position and the certainty
that he would be overwhelmingly defeat
ed for appellate judge and his future
ruined, that he took his life as the easi-
est solution Of his troubles; the spirit of
his wife, it was predicted, would leave
him no peace.
His friends are claiming that it was
caused by mental alteration, but the
general opinion is that he pretended
headache in order to encourage the idea
that his brain was affected, an accusation
apparently carried out by the following
note, written on the back of business
card and found by his side:
"Mad,, mad Forgive me, dear wife,
and love to the boy p
This was not signed, but is in the hand.
writing of the suicide. 1t is q singular
fact that no one heard the report of the
pistol. The weapon used was one Judge
Reid kept at his house but never carried,
and appeared to have just been loaded.
Commenting upon this affair and the
occurrence that led to tue suicide, the
Louisville Courier. Journal says:
The announcement of the death of
Judge Reid by his own hand may we'll
shock people somewhat used to TRACE.
dies. It has features so peculiar, 80 full
of sorrow and affliction it is so shocking
in all its aspects, and from public
standpoint, it is at this time so calamitous
that to the people of Kentucky, it must
have much more than passing interest
Judge Reid is the victim of the COW
ardly assault of one man, and the vita
ted public sentiment of the State. His
murderer is John Jay Corneilson, but in
a community where law was enforced,
where crime was swiftly, surely punished,
where life was protected, where prevailed
an intelligent appreciation of the obi.
cations Of all the citizens to obey and
uphold the laws, Judge Reid would not
have died as he did.
Assaulted without warning, stunned
by blow from behind, dazed and strick.
en- and then beaten with cowhide in
the hands of an attorney dissatisfied with
his course as Judge, Mr.. Reid did not
succeed in defending himself at all.
This is matter greatly to be regretted,
and the regret to-day is intensified many
times.
Failing in this, it seems to be the duty
of every man, according to the code
which most prevails in Kentucky, that
he pursue his assailant and slay him
wherever found. The situation in which
Judge Reid found himself was, indeed, a
trying one, full of difficulties, leading by
any path to undying remorse. 1t was not
death he feared, as we see; it was dis
grace in any form. His own convictions
of duty were not enough; he stood in a
public place, a candidate for a public
office, and he was necessarily keenly
sensitive to every change and shade OF
public opinion.
The path he had chosen was steep and
rugged the burden which he had assumed
was too heavy. The sense of shame and
indignity which, had been coarser man,
more of bully and blackguard, he would
not have felt, preyed on him, driving
him to madness. His actions were mis-.
represented; his motives were questioned /;
in a State of brave men, few men were
brave enough to stand with or for him.
He believed the best judgment of the
people was with him, as it is, but he could
not wait for passion or Indignation to
subside. Much of that sympathy which
went out to him he felt as rebuke; he
was acutely alive to any blame or mis-.
understanding, and life lost its charm.
Ambition died within him; the support
and kindness of his friends could not
heal bis wounds. Even the love of those
nearest to him, thoughtful and consider
ate as he was, could not sustain him, and
he dies wounded not only by Corneilson,
but by all who make public sentiment in
this State.
How frequent are these sickening ca.
lamities how fast they follow one an
other; how impotent are our laws; how
false our verdicts; how warped our
judgments have become. Here is con-
scientious, upright, honorable man driv.
en- to death by the miserable attacks of
one who uses only the weapons of a
blackguard and bully. Corneilson has
friends and they have been quick in his
defense. His case, resting on his own
testimony and his own pleadings, has
been decided against him. The impres.
sion has grown strong that his attack
was political conspiracy, esigned to
defeat Judge Reid in his pending canvass.
Whatever the motive, malice was there,
premeditated malice, and the death OF
Judge; Reid is the consequence. No man
in Kentucky would attack man with a
cowhide unless he was prepared to kill
him if it was necessary. Assailiug his
victim from behind, laying his plans so
as to take him unawares, it was not
necessary to kill him. Now borne down
with humilI. lion, feeling inexpressibly
the shame aud indiguity, bearing grief
which b. must bear alone, Judge Reid
finds relief in suicide.
Again we say, as so often we have said
in these columns, that from the sin of
blood guiltiness no citizen of the Com
monwealth is free. We do not deal with
crime as we ought. We tolerate murder
and pardon vice and honor criminals il
they are brave. Physical prowess is the
only virtue that appeals to us. We are
passionate, unreasonable, unrestrained,
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