Semi-weekly south Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1883-1889, 1884-12-26
A Bloody Christmas.
JAKE ToRIAN AND PETE AD-
COCK AssAssINATED AT
LoNGVIEW.
An Inoarnate Tiend Shoots Them
Down While They are Sit
ting by Their Fireside.
The Affair Involved in Mystery.
THE BLOODY DETAILS.


The Affair Involved in Mystery.
THE BLOODY DETAILS.
Last Tuesday night at Z o'clock
two prominent and highly esteemed
young farmers of the Longview
fneighborhood were shot down by a
brutal assassin, while they were sit
ting by the fireside at Mrs. Eliza Ste
gers. Jake Torian and Pete Adj
cock, both young men about "a years
of age, were the victims of the tfage-
dy, which has never been excelled by
any of the long list of bloody crimes
that have disgraccd our county.
The details, as learned from va
rious sources, are as follows:
Torian had been managing Mrs
Stcgcrs farm, near Longview, this
year, and he occupiedla room IN her
fAesidence. Adcock, a young man
about the same age, lived with Mr..
+. L. Steger, who lived few HtiisHs
dred yards away, on the Governing in
question Adcoek HAL gone to
see ToEltn and. they were sitting
alone in fhSslattefs rooms TSrian,
it seems was Writing aleffer inAxhich.
they were both Interested. Wfilc
titus engaged pistol report rang ope'
at the window and Tolian fell FROM
his chair corpse, shot through'ii'om
side TO side, the ball entering under
one arm and lodging near the skin
under the other, lie iapyer uttered
u word and died ignorant OF the cause
of his death. AS he fell Adcock,
who was sitting beyond Torian, leap
,ed'to his feet and attempted to leave
the room by door on the opposite
side. Before he could open the door
IY2ur shots were,fred at him in rapid
Succession, one of Witch took effect
in hlss shoulder, sranging inwardly.
DC did not falIlut his hand and arm
with which he was opening the door
were paraIyzethbp hesshot .ande he
had to changes lslrls< TO ufbojt the
door. Three bullets. Struck the wall
by the side Of the door ~
WHO DID Ifsss
The whole affair ia involved in
mystery. All that is known us that
the shots-five in number-were
fired from a pistol, probably by one
and the same person. There is 10
means by which clue can he dis
covered. The ground was frozen
and the assassin did not make tracks.
1t is not known that the young men
had any enemies and no possible
cause can he conjectured for the
tiendish act. The murderer Stood
so close TO the window that tho pow
der smut was left on the shattered
glass. lie evidently took
deliberate aim at his
unconscious victims. The darSs
ness without and the light with
in of course gave him every oppQr-
tunity to fire with effect, without
fear of detection. Unless TorianIhe2
some private grudge that led to his
assassination it is impossible to as
sign reasonable cause for the das-
tardly. deed 1t is not known, that he
had incurred anyone's Asplsasure
and if he knew of the existence of
mortal enemy the knowledge sleeps
with him within the narrow confines
of his grave. Let us hope that "mur-
der will out" and that the scoundrel
may yet be discovered and justice
meted out to him.
THE DEAD BOY.
Jacob Torian was the youngest son
of the late Thomas Torian by his Sec
ond wife who was Mrs. Eliza Jones
Cooper. He was a half-brother Of
Col. j. o. Cooper, of this city, and
belonged to one of the most highly
respected families of the county. He
was about "a years old and a young
man of excellent morals, unblemish-
ed character and Industrious habits.
He united with Locust Grove Bap-
tist church less than two months ago
and gave bright promise of life of
usefulness and christian piety. 1t is
said that he was to have been mar
ried within few days 10 q most es-
Unable young lady, but of this we
cannot speak authoritatively. An in
quest was held over his remains
Wednesday morning, but nothing
was elected further than the facts
stated above.
THE SECOND VICTIM.
Peter Adcock, the wounded man,
lisa younger brother of Messrs. w.
E. and j. G. Adcock, of the Church
ilill neighborhood. His condition
Wednesday afternoon was very
critical. The ball had not been
found by probing and he was suffer-
ing intensely and splitting blood.
His physician, DR.. j. p. Thomas,
pronounced the wound very danger
GUS, and it is not unlikely that his
injuries will prove fatal.
With snow falling steadily, and
winter still triumphant, there is
certain mockery in the sudden APP
pearaEcc of one and another seed cat
alogue. "Vicks Floral Guidev leads