Semi-weekly south Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1883-1889, 1888-02-28

hODeft nelson the young man WIN
; was shot by w. L. Bradley near tn
old Fair Grounds last Wednesda,
night, died from the effects of TN
wound at 8 o'clock, Thursday night
in great agony. His remains wer'
taken TO Greenbrier, Tenn, his hom'
for interment, Friday morning, hi
father ACCOMPANYING them. Nelson
was delirious the most of the time az
ter he was shot and made no STATE
ment concerning the shooting. Ht
was about "a years old and unmar'
ried.
THE EXAMINING TRIAL.
, The examining trial of Bradley
was commenced late Friday after
noon, the witnesses being recognized
Saturday morning the taking of testi'
mony was commenced and the fol-
lowing evidence was adduced by the
Commonwealth witnesses:
Bob LAsTER-Am a local freight
brakeman on the l.. IL N. Railroad,
Went out to old Fair Grounds with
Nelson and others on night of shoot
ing, to see that part of the city. Sep
arated from Nelson before shooting.
Heard first shot then heard Nelson say
"shoot again" Nelson had no weap-
ON. Don't know under what circum-
stances shots were fired. Nelson
was much of man weighing proba-
bly, 1856 pounds. Did not know Brad
ley. Am married man. Our train
crew consisted of Bob Nelson, Ben
Casey and myself with Ed. Elcy as
assistant or fourth brakeman, on
Conductor Smiths train. Melvin
Brown and Jno. Rowden were with
us on night Of shooting. Nelson
drank some hard cider before we left
the depot for the walk. Saw him
hoon rooi;n, @% else He may have
| :
drunk.
BEN CAsEY-Saw Bradley in a
house near entrance to Fair Grounds
on night of shooting. Asked who
was proprietor. lie replied he was,
and went out. In two or three min
utes / heard shot. then went out
Heard Nelson say, "Shoot again you
d. s. of a b." then heard an
other shot, when Nelson and Bradley
clinched. asked Bailey not to shoot
him again. lie replied, at is not ne
cessary, 1 have killed him, got the
thing to do 1t with" Nelson was a
little drinking and talking in loud
tone. We drank six or eight glasses
Of cider before we went to Fair
Grounds. Fatal shot was fired before
Nelson laid hands on Bradley. Nell
son was very stout man and If he
had succeeded in getting a hold on
Bradley before he was shot he would
have "wiped the earth up with him."
MELVIN BRowN-Saw the shooting
Heard Nelson say "Hello pard" when
Bradley first appeared. Bradley
made some reply. Nelson then cursed
Bradley and kicked him. Bradley
then fired. Nelson advanced upon
Bradley, he bradley retreating
across the road, and telling Nelson
"Not to come to him." Nelson ad-
vanced and they clinched and fell.
Fatal shot was fired before they fell.
When they fell Bradley said, "Take
him off or I'll shoot him." Nelson re-
piled "You have already killed me-"
JNo. RowDEN-Am at work for
DR.. Wood. Was not very near par
ties to the shooting when 1t occurred.
Heard first shot. Heard Nelson say
you son of b.. Next saw him APP
proach Bradley and understood him
(Nelson) to say ~ am going up to
make friends with that man." Don't
think Nelson reached Bradley before
second shot was fired. They clinched
and fell. Bradley said stake him off
or I'll shoot him." Nelson said "you
have already killed me-" and rolled
of. Nelson was very stout looking
man, much stouter looking than
Mr.. Bradley.
Ed. ELEY-First shot was fired
about 8 80 o'clock. About ten min
utes elapsed between first and Sec
ond shots. Heard some one say an
shoot you g. d-you." Then heard
first shot. They were about fifteen
steps apart when first shot was fired.
Laster took Nelson away after first
shot. l left then and got some
distance away when heard second
shot.
DIR. BLAKEY-Was called soon af-
ter shooting. Found Nelson was
suffering from pistol shot wound
in the bowels. Nelson was delirious
and talked incoherently. He died
from the effects of the wound.
j. @. Bradley told
me an hour before shooting that lie
was employed to protect the proper
ty of the Fair Ground Association
and intended TO do so. Seemed TO
be slightly drinking. Heard first
shot, then heard cursing. After
about 10 minutes heard second shot.
This closed the testimony for the
Commonwealth.
Mr.. Bradley, In his own behalf, tes-
titled as follows: l am employed by
the Commissioners of the old Fair
10, L