Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-05-03
AVENGED HIS sIsTEE.
A Kentucky Villain Shot Down bv
Brother of His Victim.


Brother of His Victim.
A special from Danvile, Ky. TO the Nev
York World says:
L. ID. Woods OF Cleveland, Ohio. this After.
noon shot and MORALLY wounded Barney Hip.
gins, ex-mayor of Somerset. Tine affair oc.
CURED in the lobby Of the court house IN this
city
While mayor of Somerset, on January c. 1892,
and during a protracted spree. Higgins
saulted Miss Fion o. Woods at the Cincinnati
Southern depot in Somerset.
Miss Woods was on her way TO Somerset to
visit her sister. Mrs. r. V. Logan. and hap
pered TO arrive at Somerset on the midnight
train. Her relatives, not expecting her at
that time, were not at the depot to meet her,
and she fell into the hands of Higgins. who
volunteered TO accompany her to the city.
Some men at the depot, seeing Higgins con-
diuon, attempted 20 interfere, but he gave
them to know that he the mayor of the
city. and the lady YVES under his protection.
lie took her to private room IN the depot
building, oeiensibly 20 let her remain until
hack was secured. but in little while attention
was attracted to the room by sounds of a strug-
gle and the screams of woman. When the
r2om was entered there was no need for cues
hon;ng 10 indicate what had taken place
Higgins Was arrested and Miss Woods Was
taken 10 her friends but in a condition almost
H.
She had lucid moments, and during tleul gave
he. relatives the horrible particulars of her ex-
perience with Higgins. She was sent 20 the
asylum at Lexington ard from there to tie
GlnghaTnton State Hospital. Binshamton, ny.
letter from the superintendent DIR. {. g.
Wagner, to one OF Miss Moods sisters saws
regarding her condition:
Certainly there Is 10 Improvement She sits
about the hall most of the time IN a ser,-dazel
condition, and so far it has been impossible 20
| hsr f-fl.h fr Sos.
to the present time. The care certainiy slows
but little encouragement for recovery
higgins narrowly escaped iynchiig nj tie
hands OF lraie cItiAeus and was hurried 10 this
cary Tor safety On the examining trial he YVES
he'd ever for unlawful detention and i, civ
cult court was given a sentence of two wears in
the penisentlary. though the majority OF ito
Iurymen he'd out for the extreme penalty for
long time.
The court Of appeals granting him a new
trial. he Was given q change OF yenEe to tits
county, aud the case was docketed for TO-DAY,
but, owing 70 the absence of counsel for the
defense, was continued until the September
term % the court Mood raid. .'py God ia
il possible that a man cannot get Justice
under Kentucky law" turned on his reels
and started toward the court house. When
within zen feet Of the front door he raw Big
g:ns standing at the foot sof the stairs and
could 10 longer restrain his feelings Pallln-
his pistol he stepped within three feet of ,i,s
ex-inayor and fired The first shot was fired
VIXEN Woods was only two Feet away from his
victim. aud the ball struck him IN the r.rnt
side of the nose, glanced eff and did ltt,s
harm. The second shot was more deadly. Il.
struck Higgins full in the chest and peae-
iraied the ieft lung. Higgins fell and Woods
leaned over the PROSTATE body and snaput
the pistol twice before it exploued again.
The last three shots were fired while Higgins
was the floor, and one o. them entered his sh.
.es above the knee.
The court room above was crowded and
the noise Of the shots IN the hall below
created panic. men running in all dir,r-
lions, and making desperate efforts 10 get
out. Woods mingled with the crowd ma
when an officer shouted. who did the Shoot
ing." Woods, with the pistol sin smoking
bis hand. despatched with the blood OF HIg-
II did. That man attacked my sister and I
killed him.
On his way to the jail Woods was followed bv
crowd OF people and one or two of Higgins
friends. who came TO attend the trial gave vert
to ugly remarks, when Woods turned and
said:
IF You people knew the history Of this case
as know 1t. you would not blame NE TO- W has
have done"
Woods is about thirty years Of age and was
born and raised in Cszy county. this state.
lie has Tor some time been EMPLOYED as a
stenographer and booikeepor tor the Linz
lam company. Wholesale hardware dealots
at No. Isl Water s;re-i. Cleveland, ONO.
de has been married a little more thin a
year and has a wife and lltle child in Cleve-
land. Higgins is older man. being more
than forty. and is a native Of Cincinnati. When
be first went to Somerset he was ia -tae.en-
p!oy of tine Cincinnati Southern railroad, but
WAS elected mayor and soon gave the CITY an
unenvlabie notoriety. The crime with which
be Is charged. and which has robbed a Young
woman OF her reason and driven her relatives
TO desperation. was committed during the lass
spree that marked Higgins administration,