Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1885-02-18
DEATH OF A NOTED KENTUCKIAN.

AS has been stated in the GAZETTE, there
died in the Anchorage Asylum, in Louis
Vile, KY, man whose history is replete
with romance. Col Thomas Buford, once
the pride of the State, dashing, brave and
brilliant, breathed his last, after an illness
of many months. He was the slayer OF
Judge Elliott, and his disgrace SO affected
the mind of his brother, Gen. Abe Buford,
the we'll known sportsman, that he blew out
his brains in despair in indianapolis last
summer.
Tom Buford was known all over Ken
lucky. He belonged to the proudest aris-
tocracy of the blue grass region and he in
herited fortune. The Bufords were a his
toric family, scarcely less famous than the
Breckinridges, the Clays or the Marshalls.
Judge Elliott's slayer was a typical Ken
tuckian in his powerful physique, his hand.
some face, his intellect and the prodigality
of his life. Few men were better read than
he; his manners were the perfection of
grace and courtesy, and he was brilliant
conversationalist He was a bachelor, de
voted to the ladies and to wine. He played
cards and bet on horse races with the bold
ness and dash SO characteristic of Kentuck-
ians, and whether at poker or on horses be
won and lost with a touch and go freedom
He fought many duels. His family for gen
eratious had been noted for their suscepti
BILE honor and fiery temper, and these quail.
tiles were conspicuous almost to cxaggera-
tion in Tom Buford.
Reverses came after while, and first one
and then another of the Butord possessions
slipped away from the family. The dash,
ing Colonel lost, too, and then one disap'
pointment after another changed hin from
a bon riuant to a moody, reckless man. He
took to drinking and brooded till he became
a monomaniac. Finally d long4awsuit gave
his last farm, nominally owned by his sister
Mary, to man named Guthrie, and Tom
Buford was a beggar. One day he took
shot gun, and, throwing it over his shoulder
started out to kill the man who, he believed,
was leagned with his enemies. He met
Judge Elliot and slew him at sight. His ar
rest and the trial which followed made an
epoch in the criminal jurisprudence of Ken
lucky. The ablest legal talent in the land was
engaged for both the defence and the pros
ecution and money was spent like water to
secure his acquittal The defence raised the
plea of insanity, and the most noted experts
obtainable gave their testimony for or
against the theory. The first trial resulted
in verdict of guilty, and Tom Buford was
condemned to hang. new trial was pro.
cured, and after months had been consumed
in going over the case he was acquitted on
the ground ofinsanity and removed 10 the
asylum at Anchorage. Both trials occurred
at Owentop, KY.
Buford took his acquiltal as haughtily as
he did his arrest. He had pever denied his
guilt, and be sloried in the deed which, he
i "a Il l,x,S md
He was sent to Anchorage, where DR.. Gale
allowed him many privileges, and nearly
two years ago no took advantage of this
laxity to make his escape Even this action
was characteristic He went boldly to
Louisville and then proceeded over TO JEFF
fersonvilie Once of Kentucky soil he
snapped his fingers at the asylum authori-
ties, and they could not cajole him into re-
turning. He took up his quarters at the
National Hotel in Jeffersonvile, where he
lived until last June Captain ]. Crit. Ire
land went over to see his old friend Ar
irving at the hotel he asked an emaciated
old man if he could see Colonel Buford.
The man broke down and cried like child
when he found that one Of his best friends
had failed to recognize him in the wreck to
which suffering and disease had brought
him. From being giant of 225 pounds he
had dwindled down to l1S, and it seemed
as if he was almost ready to sink into the
grave. He was without money, hope or
| friends, almost without clothes and utterly
broken hearted. Capt Ireland was greatly
affected, and induced the old man to come
over and visit him. He at last succeeded
in persuading him to return to Anchorage.
He carried with him his fishing tackle, and
when they neared the asylum he could not
restrain his delight. The place which was
once his prison he gladly welcomed, and he
was most kindly received.
He returned broken down in body and
mind, his giant frame wasted by disease to
skeleton, and his naughty spirit utterly
cowed by his misfortunes and sutferings:
His condition gradually grew worse, and
several weeks ago it was announced that
his recovery was hopeless.
AN UNFORTUNATE PERsON.-The most
| unfortunate person in the world is one af.
ficted with sick headache, but they will be
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