Semi-weekly south Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1883-1889, 1886-03-19
THE GIBSON CASE.
Synopsis Of The Evidenced Details
ofThe Trial The Speeches etc.


view, testified that Geo. VIM. Gibson
killed John Mccarthy in his saloon
March 81, 1884, They had previous
fuss and some one told me to go and
keep Gibson from cutting Mccarthy.
I did so, he went away and was gone
about an hour. He came back and
sat down on coffee sack and then
took his pistol out and went to the
Irishman and struck him. They
went down on the floor. Mccarthy
was drunk and got up and staggered
to the door and Gibson shot him.
Gibson did not drink any in my sa-
loon that day. The shooting was in
the afternoon. The first trouble was
before dinner. Gibson had knife
and they were talking about fighting.
After Gibson went out Mccarthy
staid some time and then went out
with Logan Boyd. l told Boyd to
take him home as he was drunk. He
soon returned with Davy Latham
and they took a drink and then went
into the front room. Gibson came in
and either pushed or knocked Nc
Carthy down and stamped at him.
His brother pulled him back and the
pistol fired. Didn't see where the
first shot hit. His brother attempted
to push Gibson out Of the back door
and the Irishman staggered up to the
door of the back room and stopped
and Gibson shot over his brothers
shoulder and killed him. Mccarthy
told me he was shot and lay down.
He lived about halt an hour.
Cross Frdmined-My house is 80
feet long. Mccarthy had his coat on
his shoulder. l did not see him
strike at Gibson. Mccarthy was
about 30 years old, not overly stout
1 did not go to dinner. saw the
dead man searched. lie had nc
weapons.
This was the substance ofthe tes-
timony of the main witness which
is necessarily much condensed.
JOHN HARTMAN testified that hi
went in Yancey's grocery and saw
Gibson and Mccarthy and two othel
; men standing by the showcase. Glib
son had out his knife and YanceI
> was sent for and came and put hin
out. Mccarthy went out shor
time but soon came back. Gibson
came back and he told him not t,
raise fuss with the drunken Irish
> man. Mccarthy was staggering
about. went to Yancey and TOLD
him Gibson would kill that man.
told Gibson he ought not to have
fuss and he said that was his d.
business. l went off and when l cam
back Mccarthy was almost dead
i Mccarthy was very drunk, He wa
80 or 40 years old.
w. II. LINDSAY was in at Yam
q cey's during the fuss. The Irishmal
n was drunk. Have known Gibson
/ since we were boys, he is about 2
years old. 1 think he was sober.
: heard the shooting after left ant
= went back and found the Irishmal
:. shot. Mccarthy had his coat off,
think it was on his left arm. Saw
him lay his hand on Gibson's shout
der just as left. They were cursini
S each other the Irishman had been il
: the neighborhood A or 5 months
:, Mccarthy was older and stronge
d than Gibson; he was about 30 year
II old.
:, WIN. MOODY, COL, was presen
and saw the shooting in the bac
y room. Gibson's brother was tryin
> to push him out at the back door an
. he shot over his shoulder. McCarth
10 was doing nothing but recling an
: rocking. He was drunk heap. Nc
u earthly told Yancey he was shot an
50 then fell. Gibson ran out and ia
across the field and kept lookin
20 back somebody told him to run I'll
~ other way, which he did with his phi
tol in his hand. A crowd started oil
after him. When Mccarthy came !
j. he seemed to be trying to get to ii
Of saloon counter.
I'd LOGAN BOYD. Had known Il
&c dead man about year, he lived
IS my house when l found him at Fai
ar view he was beastly drunk. Sa
al him turn and 60 back to Yancey
c. with Dave Latham. l went to Gil
e. son and told him to let the Irisbma
al alone as he was drunk. He said 81
ed God I'm drunk too and he must n
he fool with me-"
he FRANK WILKINS. Heard Il
D. first quarrel in at Yancey's. l to
Gibson not to cut Mccarthy and
said he would cut his id thro
lis from ear to ear. This was about
e. o'clock. was out when the shoe
,rt ing was done. l heard two shot
ny Saw Gibson running away. Ne
Is. saw him in jail last August.
tn GIP BEARDEN. Gibson stopp
at the field where l was at wor
Had a pistol in his hand. Didn't 81
70, he had killed a man, but he saw SOL
nss men coming and remarking that tn
at were after him he ran off. He W
as sober. About seven men were aft
to him on horseback.
ish TOM VEACH. Saw the last fu
on in Yancey's store. Heard Mozart
ng. say, "I'm as good man as you" a