The Forrest City times., 1895-08-09
WANTON BlOODSHED.

Sether huu son SbOt Down In Cold Blood The Son Dead and the Father Dying-The Cruel Tragedy Enacted by A Man Just Recovering from a Drunken Debauch- Statement of the eMurderer-In M Danger of Lynching.
 LEXINGTON, Ky. Aug. 6-The most desperate and tragic duel that has taken place in the Bluegrass region since the famous fight in which Good Toe and Swope killed each other, oc- cured in the Woodford hotel at Yer. saiiles yesterday afternoon, when Will liam Newton Lane, of this city, shot and killed James Rodenbaugh and mortally wounded the young mans father, H. c. Rodenbaugh. The facts leading up to the difficulty show that it was the result of drunken debauch. Lane was drunk at Lexington Saturday night and Sum- day morning. He went to Versailles yesterday morning. and on arriving there continued drinking. About noon he went to the Woodford hotel, and was given room and slept until about o'clock yesterday afternoon. A few minutes before that hour he came down stairs and met James Roden- baugh in the hallway. He was in bad humor He asked the young man the amount of his bill, and upon receiving an answer, Lane began to abuse Roden baugh, who is a cripple. Their words soon led to blows. and both men drew their pistols about the same time. Lanes first shot struck Roden baugh in the neck, just above the collar bone, and lodged just under the skin in the back of his neck. Almost at the same instant that Lane fired, denbaugh's pistol was discharged, the bullet producing a flesh wound Of little consequence in Lanes left side in a line with his heart The blood rushed from Roden- baugh's throat, and. giving few gasps, he fell backward a corpse.
 Just as he fell his father opened the door, and as he did so. the slayer of the son turned upon the father and fired. the ball striking him in the mouth and lodging in the back part of his head. He reeled and when in the act of falling, Lane fired again. the second bullet lodging in the old mans spine. He dropped to the floor and lay by the side of his son.
 Casting glance at his victims, Lane walked out of the hotel, only to be ar rested at the door by an officer and placed in jail.
 When physicians arrived they found the young man dead and his father in such a serious condition that hls death is expected at any hour
 H. c. Rodenbaugh was a first lieu tenant in the Ninth Kentucky cavalry, and was gallant soldier. He was postmaster at Nicholasville for two terms under President Grant. He was also prominent turfman, being for years the senior member of the racing firm of Rodenbaugh X Rodegap. w. N. Lane is a native of Montpom- cry county and is about 2S years of age. He has been considered a good business man and was quiet when sober, but when drinking he is quar- | relsome. Lane comes of good fam- fly and is related to some of the best people in Montgomery and Woodford counties.
 The Murderer's Version of the Array May be Lynched. ~~<NA-NpAO AAy's mug O--Iduc was seen in jail tonight and told the fol- lowing story:
 'I came down and told Mir. Roden- baugh that the room was so filthy that did not care to pay for it. He cursed me, and started toward me as if to do me great bodily harm. I shot the old man, because thought he was going to kill me. While I was talking the boy got his pistol and began shooting at me, and l had to shoot him or be killed"
 There is great excitement in Nich- olasville, and the people of Versailles are highly wrought up over what they consider an unprovoked murder It is believed that should Rodenbaugh die before ? o'clock his slayer will be lynched.