Semi-weekly south Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1883-1889, 1884-10-07
A BRACE OF KILLINGS.
NICK GIBSON KILLS FRANK
DOUGLASS, COL, AT THE
FAIR GROUNDS, FRIDAY
IN A DISPUTE OVER
A GAME OF
CHANCE.
cambridge Comes to the Front
with a Bloody Tragedy satur-
urday evening.
A Shooting Affair in which one
man is Killed and Another
Badly Wounded.
ALL ABOUT THE TWO HoMIcIDEs.

ALL ABOUT THE TWO HoMICIDEs.
At | o'clock Friday afternoon two
pistol shots rang out in quick success
sion Just outside the front gate Of the
Fair Grounds and as the smoke
curled above the heads of the specta-
tors, Frank Douglass, COL, gave a few
gasps and grOans and died weltering
in his blood from two pistol shot
wounds inflicted by weapon in the
hand ofNick Gibson, "a white man. A
representative of tie South Kentuck-
ian was one Of the first toreach the
spot and he found Douglass lying
under gambling tent in the agonies
Of death with blood gushing from his
mouth and oozing from bullct-holc
in his stomach. The dying man was
moved into a shade and soon died
without ever being conscious after
being shot. A crowd of negroes was
around the tent where the killing
occurred aud they told so many con-
llicting stories that 1t was impossible
to get at the facts. 1t was evident
that they were biased in their opin-
ions and disposed TO make the affair
out cold bloodcd murder. After
considerable inquiry the reporter
succeeded in finding reliable eye
witness, in the person OF Mr.. j. X
Hicks, Of this county. Mr.. Hicks
said he was standing close by when
the shooting took place. Douglass
was manipulating "chuck luck"
box at the tent just in front of the
gate. Gibson came up and took a
risk in the game. lin throwing the
dice three skies were thrown Gibson
was TO be paid 50. Three skies were
thrown and Gibson claimed the mon
ey. Douglass refused TO pay it over,
claiming that there was IL cooked die
and that il must be tried over Glib
son cursed Douglass and told him
that ho intended 10 have the 81 or
Kill him, To which Douglass replied
with an oath, at the same time draw
ing pistol, ryoL can shoot quick
or than lean, light in." Quick as a
fash Gibson snutGhcl out sell'cock-
ing Smith Il Wrsson aud sent 4 bull
lei into the upper part of Douglass
, stomach before the latter could pull
the trigger Of his weapon. Douglass
fell back and his hat fell of and Glib
sons second shot went through the
falling hat and struck in the corner OF
his mouth and passed through
his head. Douglass dropped his pis-
til after the first shot. These seem
TO be the facts in the case. Both
wounds were necessarily fatal. I'm
mediatcly after the shooting, Gibson
ran towards the hill on ilusselville
street. lie was followed by crowd
Of negroes, but he fired one or two
shots at the pursuers and they quick
ly gave up the chase. Deputy
Sheriff John Boyd and
captured him in the suburbs OF
the city. His pistol was empty when
he was caught. The prisoner is now
in Jail and claims that he acted in
self-d9fense. Another man said TO
be u half-brother of Gibson's was ar
rested and dubbed over the head by
some negroes who thought he was
Gibson. His head is badly gashcd
but ii is only scalp wound. Thi:
man-lIenry Brewer by name-is al
so in Jail, charged with being acces
sorry after the fact in trying to aid
Gibson TO escape. The men arc resi-.
dents of the Fairview neighborhood
and Gibson is, we believe, cousin t
a man of the same name who was in
dicted for murder by the last grand
Jury but who has never been caught
Nick Gibson, the principal in Fri
days tragedy, is young man
heavy and swarthy with a blacl
moustache.
The negro killed lived in this cit J
and appeared 10 be about 35 years
old. lie worked in one of the ware.
houses and was regarded rs a very
good negro, except that he had ;
propensity for carrying pistols am
: was rather turbulent in his DISPOSE
ton.
OF course the case will have 10 res
on its merits when the facts are
brought ont in the examining trial
There will doubtless be contradiction,
versions of the affair given,
Gibson and Brewer are still
in Jail and thor examining trials vii
be held Thursday. They have re
tanned Mcssrs. Henry u Payne l.
conduct their case and Gibson will
put ina plea of self-defense.
KILLING AT NoLAN'T STORE.