Semi-weekly south Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1883-1889, 1886-05-14
A MOUNTAIN TRAGEDY.

A MOUNTAIN TRAGEDY.
Crippled Bills Littio Kate Dying
for a False Lover.
A party OF United States Internal
Revenue officers, under command Of
Special Bailif Tom Prather, lately
raided through Rowan and the adjoin-
Ing county Of Morgan, Kentucky. At
an abandoned still house on one Of the
numerous headings Of Yocum creek.
Morgan County, they found the dead
and partly decomposed body OF DicA
Alfrcy, the last Of that famous family
of moonshincrs, who have for years
deiied the United States authorities.
The still house was rude shanty Of
unhcwn logs, and, lying in one corner,
with his head among the dead embers
OF the still fire, was Alfrey's body. Ike
had evidently committed suicide, for
the muzzle Of his long squirrel rifle was
clcnched between his ileshless Jaws.
The upper part Of his skull was missing
and pieces OF the shattered bone were
found imbebbed in the dry bark Of the
logs composing the shanty. His taking
oil was the last act Of most pathetic
tragedy. Two years ago Alfrey ran an
illi0it still in the very house in which
he committed scli-murder. His part
ner was old Bill Elliott, wcll-known in
both Rowan and Morgan Counties as
Crippled Bill, he having been badly
wounded In one ofJohn Morgan's raids,
from the effects of which he never re-
covered. Bill Elliott made his appear
ancc on Yocum creek Immediately after
Me surrender at Appomattox and
bought small tract Of rough land on
Squirrel Ridge. BY dint OF much labor
he cleared away the heavy timber and
thick underbrush and erected small
cabin, u COW shelter and the other rude
shantics that go to make up the build.
ings Of Ridge farmer. He might
have been very sociable and com.
psniunablc man in his early manhood
but his misfortunes seemed to have
sourcd his disposition and he made few
acquaintances and fewer friends.
His nearest ncighbor was esquire Dinl
Hanna, and one night, much to tn,
'Squire's indignation and every ont
else's surprise, Crippled Bill and hii
neighbor's youngest daughter, Capitola
mounted their horses and rode acros
the country to the Ohio river, crossing
which stream they were made man ant
wife by Squire Massie Beasley, at Abcr
deem, the Gretna Green of America
They returned to Squirrel Ridge twt
days afterward and began life quictl,
and modcstly In Crippled Btll's hnmbl,
cabin. Bill evidently loved his younl
and pretty wife, and she was devotedly
attached to her homcly husband
Squire Dink Hanna never forgaye hi
daughter for her marriage and the twt
families were estranged. About yea
after the elopement daughter wa
and three days after tbe little on,
opened It's ewes the mother closed her
in death. Crippled Bill mournod 10
bis lost mate as only strong man can
and when an unlettered mountain
preacher pronounced over her gray,
the last rites that Christians give /,
their dead. he threw himself upon Tn
mound and groaned In agony Of spiHt
The rough but kindly neiShbors led hin
home. When he entered his cabin witt
a sad and melancholy face his haooar
ewes fcll upon the mothorless babe sfeen
inc ouietIv In the bome-madc eradl
that the nelgbbor woman. who ha,
nursed Bill's wife in her last sickness
had drawn up before the blazing fire 4
pine knots. The helplessness and in
nocencc of the babe no doubt kindleI
in his bosom new hone for the futnrq
for his face grewbriohter and he t,irne
TO tho neiphbors who had follovod hir
and said. with rou0b kindliness.
"Naburs, the burryin's over. rr
gwine ter make fresh start ter-mol
row for her saker, and be nointed !
the sleeping child and. bending down
XII sed thc little pink cheeks. FrN'
To eyerybody's surprise the chill
lived. He called her Kate and as oh
grew older tho adjective ,.little'' wa
added to her name because of her fair,
like grace and delicaoy Of limb and fe'
tire and when she was seven years ii
everybody on Yooum knew Cripnle
Bilps Little Kate. H
She loved her rough old father and h
lived only for her. About this time. Of
TO be more precise. in 1874. Cripnle
Bill fell in with the Alfrey bovs an
thoy induced him TO ioin them in rur
ning n moonshinc still The profits Z
theIbusiness were something enormous
II Won didn't oet cauoht-a3d Cripplo