Hopkinsville Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1889-1918, 1890-07-11
Two Shot DOWN.
Tom Bellamy Killed While Try
4 ing to "CIean Ont" the
81 Police Force. ~
officer Cliborne Receives Three
Troublesome Wounds.
Beilamy Finally winged by 0nicer
Harvey McCord.

Harvey McCord.
A had MAN FROM HENDERSON.
| In a shooting scrape on Main street
Tuesday evening Thos. r. Bellamy
was killed and Policeman J. Il. Gil
BONE shot three times in the legs and
badly wounded. Five shots were fired
by Bellamy, three by Policeman Har-
vey McCord and two orr three by
third party from across the street,
whose identity has not yet been fix
ed.
HOW 1T CAME ABOUT.
Shortly before 7 80 o'clock Policeman
Cliborne came around the corner of
Eighth street walking with Bellamy.
The latter was drunk and very noisy
and Cliborne was demonstrating with
him. He had out pistol which he
was hourishing in his hands and do
flying arrest. When they reached Saw
ages produce store ON Main, two
doors from the corner, both parties
stopped. Cliborne stood on the curb
ing in front Of Savage's and Bethany
a little lower down in front OF Bells
saloon. At this juncture someone
telephoned to the Police headquarters
that Cliborne was in trouble aud OF
icer, Harvey McCord started to his
assistance. The distance is about
three squares and all this time Bell
amy was aourishing his pistol, every
now and then pointing il at Cliborne
and ordering him to hold up his
hands. Cliborne made no effort to
draw his own weapon, but was trying
to quiet Bethany by talking to him,
and says he did not believe Bellamy |
intended to shoot him bnt thought he |
could finally get him quiet and ar
rest him without trouble.
JUDGE sAvAoE's STATEMENT.
Judge j. I. Savage was an eye wit
ness to the affair and as be is very
cool and self-possessed man, who sell
dom gets excited his, testimony may
be taken as very reliable. He sat in
chair in front OF Hooser's, the store
adjoining his own, during the whole
trouble. Taking up the matter at the
approach OF McCord his account is as
follows:
"McCord came across from Howe's
corner and seems 10 have reached
Hooser's before Bellamy or Cliborne
saw him. just as McCord reached
my door he drew his pistol. Bethany
at the same time saw him and turn
ing his weapon from Cliborne to Nc
Cord both raised and fired simultane-
ously. McCord stood in my door be-
hind the chicken coop and Bellamy |
about ten steps from him in front OF
Bells saloon. Cliborne was on the
curbing about half way between them.
After the first shot McCord got be-
hind the door facing and took deliber-
ate aim at Bellamy and shot twice
more. One OF these shots killed him.
Bellamy in the meantime had turned
his weapon upon Cl;borne at close
range and shot him in rapid success
sion throe times. His last shot after
receiving his death wound went wild
and struck the window frame to the
left OF the little vestibule in front of
Bells saloon. All five of Bellamy's
shots have been accounted for. The
first struck the top frame work Of
Savage's chicken coop, was detected
downward, killed a chicken in
its passage through the coop
and came out at the
other end, within a few inches OF Me-
Cords legs. II the shot had been
aimed two inches higher. McCord
would have been bit, as he was di
rectly in line and his body showing
from the waist up. Bellamy's next
three shots were fired into Clibome.
Two of them made flesh wounds in
his left thigh and the other shattered
the bone Of the right leg four inches
above the knee. Cliborne fell after
the third wound and dragged himself
ON one knee and dropped in Savage's
door. He never drew his weapon at
all. II was in his pocket with two Of
the Eve chambers empty after he fell.
McCord fred three shots, only one of
which took effect. The others served
to scatter the crowd sitting around
the Phoenix Hotel corner, but injured
no one"
The above account is corroborated
in all essential details by r. H. Hol-
land aud L. Bell, who also saw it
from their doors. In addition to the
eight shots located, other shots were
fred; two Of these struck the facing
of.Bell's window and which evidently |
came from across the street. The
witnesses decline to say who this third
party was. Officer McCord's state
ment is substantially the same as
Judge Savage's.
Bellamy, after receiving his fatal
wound, staggered back a few steps
and fell at the Opera House door.
When picked up he was dead, having
been shot through the body.
Thos. II. Bellamy was of English
parentage and was born in Evansville
81 years ago. He was brichmason
by trade and while living in this city
In 1879 married Miss Matte Davis.