The Butler weekly times. (Butler, Mo.) 1881-1918, 1892-11-30
WAS SKOWNN IN ALL KENTUCKY

Death of Zach Henry. Who Rid the
Bluegrass State of the Gallagher
Gang.
The funeral of Zachariah 3. Hen
ry, natiye of Woodford county.
Kentucky, who died Saturday after
noon at his home, 633 WABASH ave-
nue. this city, will be held today at
Odessa, Mo. Death was due to a
Ill opsical condition caused by heart
dis ase. Mr.. Henry was 81 years old.
Zachariah Henry was a true Ken
tuckian Warm hearted and gener-
Gus to degrre, lie numbered his
friends by the scole in almost every
county in Kentucky. That he was
equally brave ard fearless was fully
demonstrated in the exciting en-
counter with a family of Kentucky
desperados which made him famous
all over Kentucky.
In 1876 MIR. Henry resided in
Harrodsburg, KY, which town at
that time boasted of the unwelcome
presence of the Gallagher family, all
round desperadoes and bad men.
The father of the family, Bob Gala.
CHER, had previously constituted
himself marshal of the town and no
one gainsaid him either the title or
its privileges. On that memorable
night in November, 1876, when Sam
uel J. Tilden had been rightfully
elected president of the United
Safes, party of which MIR. Henry
was one, sat down to an elaborate
dinner The feast was rudely dis
turbed by the entrance of Bob Gal
lagher, who eoolly pro
nounced his intention of partaking
thereof. Mr.. Henry jumped to his
| feet und ordered him to yacate or
take the consequences. Bob vacated
forthwith. Ten minutes later the
door was quickly opened and ill
stepped Bob and his three sons.
Before the guests could realize
what was happening Bob showed
pistol against Zach Henrys head
and pu'led the trigger. The weapon
exploded, but as Mr.. Henry had
turned his head partially around, the
bullet glanced from the skull, tear
ing portions Of the scalp with it.
Mr.. Henry dropped to the floor
and one Of the Gallagher boys thurst
a pistol against his abdomen. The
hammer struck the skin between Mr.
Henry's thumb and foretinger. and
once more his life was saved. The
Gallaghers then lett the place, think
ing they had flushed their man.
Just two weeks later, Mr.. Henry
had about recovered from his wound
the GaIlaghers learned that he was
still alive. Old Bob, with one of
the boys, started for Mr. Henry's ;
home, with the ayowed inten-
ton of killing him sure enough
this time. He saw them
coming and prepared for the
fray. He hal for number Of years
walked with the aid OF crutches, 4
spinal trouble having partially Grip
pied him, But hobbling resolutely
to the fireplace he took down his
double barreled shotgun and. load
ing the weapon, walked out on tle
lawn. Bob Gallagher opened fire al
once and Mr.. Henry dropped hin
with a load of buckshot. The con
tents of the second barrel found {
lodging place in the body of young
Gallagher, jr. Mr.. Henry then re
loaded and at the moment another
OF the Gallaghers galloped up the
road. Throwing the gun on hin
Mr.. Henry advised him to steer of
: which he concluded to do. Mr.. Hen
ry then re, entered the house and re
stored the gun to its accustomed
place over the hearth.
; When the news of the encounter
became noised abroad the friends O
Mr.. Henry fiocked to him in score,
rendering their assistance. Some
: of the brightest lawyers of Kentucky
offered to defend him. But he need
ed no defense. At the preliminar,
examination he was quickly exoner
ated and the citizens of Harodsburs
voted him their thanks for having
rid the community of two undesira
BILE characters.
This same gun which had served
Mr.. Henry SO effectually at a late
day served an equally deadly pur
pose i'll the hands of Thomas Bufort
who by its aid terminated the exist
ence of Judge Elliott of the Ken
tucky court of appeals.
During the war Mr.. Henry wa.
the lnan4ger of the celebrated Alex
ander STOCK farm. situated at Mid
way. Ky, near Lexington, and at th
time noted all over the west as th
great producer of Kentucky runnin:
stock.
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