The Mt. Sterling advocate. (Mt. Sterling, Ky.) 1890-current, 1895-02-05
Still HANGS FIRE.
Nothing New in the Blair Lynch
ing Case.
Ex-JAILER JAS. BEST RELEASED.

The interest in the ferreting out
of the parties engaged in the
lynching of Tom Blair, has not
died out in this community in the
last week, although the outward
manifestations Of excitement kept
up by the somewhat ostentatious
display Of activity on the part of
the detectives, has, to appearances,
abated. The grand jury reported
on Wednesday there had been no
evidence presented to them on
which they could base an indict-
ment of ex-Jailer James Best, and
he was consequently dismissed
from custody, This body on the
same afternoon adjourned till yes
terday morning. Up to the time
of their adjournment they had re-
turned no indictments against any
of the alleged members of the mob
except Roach and Forman.
Immediately after the release of
Best the detective, Drake, and his
workers left, and, up to this
writing have not returned. Detec-
tive Drake succeeded in earning
for himself very large amount of
contempt from the major portion
of the more intelligent people of
the county by the methods he
adopted while here. He seemed to
be more bent upon making a series
of grand-stand plays that would
insure for him, for the time, the
attention of all eyes, than on inves-
tigation in a cold, calm, business
waythe crime of the lynchers.
The impression Mr.. Drake made
upon the more intelligent portion
of the community is anything but
complimentary to his intelligence
as detective. Any common clod-
hopper might have made as credit
able a showing as did Mr..
Drake. 1t seems to us the reward
offered is sufficient to induce man
of some intelligence in detective
circles to come here and see what
there is in the case. But if it is
ever ferreted out we are Of opinion
itmust be by man of larger mental
calibre than Mr.. Drake exhibited
while here. Personally Mr. Drake
may be very pleasant gentleman,
there are many who know him who
say he is, as detective his record
here thus far stamps him a failure.
We do not undervalue the Difficult
ties in the way of discovering the
perpetrators in this crime. For if
there are any engaged in it who
have friends with either money or
influence, these friends will be
found doing their utmost to cover
up the tracks of the participants
in the outrage. One does not have
to go to Montgomery county to
ascertain if, as a rule, the above is
true. 1t is done everywhere; lit
tie more successfully, possibly,
in some places than in others. The
better class of people in the COM
munity are exceedingly DESTROYS of
having those engaged in the lynch
ing brought to justice. Whether it
will be, or can be, done remains to
be seen.
Roach and Forman, through
their attorneys, have attempted to
secure an early trial. Judge
Cooper set their cases for next
Friday. We are informed an effort
was made to swear Judge Cooper
off the bench in these cases, but
when the affidavit was presented to
the Court he quietly pocketed ii
and remarked he would consider it
later. In o conversation with
County Judge Orear few days
since, he told US Judge Cooper had
expressed willingness himself to
make motion to vacate the bench
in these cases, If the local attor-