Semi-weekly south Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1883-1889, 1884-05-20

casion to go upstairs. No sooner
had he reached the landing than he
was Mortified at the sight of
JUDGE REID LYING PROSTATE
on the floor, weltering in his blood,
a pistol with an empty chamber lying
near. Running for the nearest doc
tor, he shouted the intelligence to
some men standing near. The news
spead like wildfire. Business houses
were closed. Men and women were
dumb-foundcd.
A coroners jury was impanelcd,
and after the testimony of three or
four witnesses was heard they came
to the following conclusion:
awe Of the jury find the deceased,
Richard Reid, came to his death by
a pistol-shot fired by his own hand
between 8 and IL o'clock, May Is,
1884,"
On the bureau in the room in
which Judge Reid was lying, was
found a card, in his handwriting,
which bore the only pathetic inscrip-
ton:
"Mad, mad. Forgive me, dear wife,
and love to the boy"
How he really fired the shot is a
matter Of speculation. The closest
scrutiny failed to show that even a
hair of his head was scorched. 1t is
supposed that he stood before the
bureau mirror, aimed deliberately
and fired. His body lay diagonally
across the floor, his feet pointing to-
wards the bureau"
These are the facts as tclcgraphed
to the press. Such is the tragic end
ing of the life of 4 good man, an up
right Judge and a useful citizen.
Judge Reid was born on October
3, 1888, and began his law studies at
Georgetown under Judge Alvin
Duval. He rose to the foremost rank
in his profession, and two years since
was placed on the Superior Court
bench. Before his election thereto
he had been candidate for the Court
of Appeals, and was beaten by lar-
gis by only the fraction of vote.
The Superior Court Of which
Judge Reid was Il member, expires
by Limitation in 1856, and he was ii
candidate to succeed Judge llargis
Oh the Appellate Bench. lie was en-
gagged in an active canvass Of the dis
trict, and since he was subjected t.
the humiliation of beng cowhidcd
by Cornelison, many of his friends
deserted him and the prospect of de-
feat, added to his other troubles
drove him to the deed which put {
tragic end to his earthly career. lie
had been depressed for some days
but Oh Thursday morning he seemed
more cheerful and his friends ha(
greatly encouraged him. lie ate Iii
breakfast, kissed his wife good-by,
and went to town to visit a portion
: of the county with friend and tn
: rest is told above. lie had been in
duced by his friends to carry pistc
since his difficulty with Cornclisol
] and in a moment of insane despair Il
l took his own life with the weapon.
Judge Reid was a member of IL
: Disciples church and was an eide
Il Cornelison was also a member of Il
II same church, but was expelled son
v days ago. When the news Of the sa
e event was communicated to Cornell
son he turned CHASTITY pale, and wit
the exclamation Il am sorry" ro'
u and hastily left the Office and left Il
= town the next day TO stay till the e!
u citcment subsidies.
!, The funeral of the dead judge WI
II preached Saturday. The Court
Is Appeals and the Superior Court az
" journed until to-day upon hearing
v his death. A meeting of the bar
e the State has been called at Fran
y fort next Thursday to take actic
y upon his death.
TIE LESSON.