Semi-weekly south Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1883-1889, 1886-02-12
A SNOWFALL AND A BULLET.
Wilbur Wilson Shoots Jno. W.
Breathitt, Jr., Tuesday At
ternoon.


have been SO frequent of late years
that they seldom created more than a
ripple of excitement. However, when
, the news became circulated Tuesday
, afternoon that Jno. w. Breathitt, Jr.,
had been perhaps MORALLY wounded
by Wilbur Wilson, the report created
the most intense excitement on the
streets and in the homes of the peo-
pie. The victim of the cruel bullet
was known to be one of the most
worthy, exemplary and popular gen.
tlemen in the city, liked by every
body for his genial, happy disposition
and uniform courtesy and gentle
manly bearing. His condition
was believed to be hopeless
by his physicians for 36 hours after
the shooting occurred. The ball was
f22 calibre and was fired from a
target gun. 1t entered in the lower
part of his abdomen little to the
right and had every appearance of
belnga fatal wound. DIR. Fairleigh
was called in and upon probing the
wound found that the ball had en-
tered the cavity. Mr.. Breathitt suf-
fered intensely and threw up at
frequent intervals. During Tuesday
night lie was kept under the
influence of an opiate, but he con-
tinued to grow weaker and Wednes-
day morning the sad announcement
was made by his physician that he
could not possibly recover. All day
his friends crowded about the door
Of his room, anxiously inquiring
about his condition and expecting
every hour to hear that the flickering
spark of life had gone out. DIR.
Fairleigh gave it as his opinion that
the ball had passed through his blad-
der and produced a wound that
must surely prove mortal. About 5
o'clock DR.. Feland came in from the
country and called TO pay friendly
visit to the sufferer. lie examined
him, and told his father, Maj. Jno.W.
Breathitt, that he did not believe the
case was hopeless and that it was
his opinion that the bladder had not
been punctured. DR.. Fairleigh was
sent for and an operation indicated
the fact that the bladder was not
hurt, the action of the kidneys hay.
ing been checked by the shock to the
system. The patient was much re-
lleved by the simple operation and
at once began TO improve. The fay
orable change was hailed with de-
light by his friends and when the
announcement was made yesterday
that the probabilities of recovery
were quite good and improv-
ing every hour, the news was
received with the liveliest mani
festations of rejoicing by the friends
of all parties to the unfortunate affair.
At this writing the indications
point to a favorable outcome. Mr..
Breathitt is resting easy and growing
gradually stronger and the worst
appears TO be over.
HOW 1T HAPPENED.
The following account of the affair
is based upon the testimony of sever
al persons who saw the shooting
Several young men, including John
Breathitt, were standing in front of
the latter's grocery store at $50 Ninth
Street, and amusing themselves
throwing srow-balls over the tower
Of the Methodist church on the OPP
posite corner. About 2:30 o'clock,
and while they were thus engaged,
Ernest Foulks and Wilbur Wilson
came along. The latter had target
gun in his hand. They paused a
moment and some one said some
thing about throwing at them as
they were starting of. Wilson
stopped and put cartridge in his
gun, remarking II will shoot the first
man who throws at me-" The crowd
laughed at the remark which was
spoken in tone that appeared to be
free from anger. The boys took it
as "bluf" and as Wilson walked
away John Breathitt and Her.
bert Pollard each pitched a snow
ball after him. One struck the pave
ment near him and the one Breathitt
threw passed over his head. Wilson
turned and gun in hand asked "Who
did that" There were probably
twenty persons standing around and
there was general stampede to get
out of the range of the gun. Breath
lit jumped in his store laughing and
then stepped back into the door and
replied to Wilson's question, still
laughing, ~ threw it," Wilson pat
ted the stock of the gun and said
"You saw what 1 put in it didn't
you," and raised the weapon and it
fired. Breathitt jumped back into
the store and exclaimed SThat
plagued boy did shoot me-" He
walked up stairs to his room in the
same building and at once became
very sick and was to put bed. Wilson
without looking back walked down
the street and did not learn Of the re-
suit ofhis shot until some minutes
later. lie at once went to Mr.. Breath
tits room and appeared to be over
whelmed with grief and remorse. He
and his father, Mr.. r. II. Wilson, re-
manned at his bedside till late at
night and much sympathy was ex-
prnecnd for oil na,Iias II 20 n d;A, |