River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1895-08-08
BLooDSHED IN KENTUCKY.
A Trio of Tragedies Costing Several

/ LEXINGTON, KY, Aug. 6.-Ihe most
desperate and trn gle duel that has
taken place in thu Blue Grass region
since the famous fight in which Goodloe
and Swope killed each other, occurred
+ in the Woodford hotel at Versailles
Monday afternoon, when Will am New
ton Lane, of this city, shot and in
stantly killed James Rodenbaugh and
mortally wounded the young mans ia
ther. II. c. Rodenbaugh.
The facts leading up to the difficulty
show that it was the result of a
drunken debauch. Lane was drunk at
Lexington Saturday night, and Sunday
morning, it is said, had a wordy war
/ with hotel clerk because he would
not give him another drink. Lane was
very ugly and serious trouble was
barely averted. He went 10 Versailles
Monday morning and on arriving there
continued drinking. About noon he
went to the Woodford ho1el and was
given Il room and slept until about 4
o'clock Monday afternoon.
| A few minutes after that hour he
came downstairs and met James
Rodenbaugh in the hallway. He asked
/ the young man the amount of his bill,
and upon receiving an answer Lane
/ began TO abuse Rodenbsugh, 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 mis- neck. AL
most at the same instant that Lane
fired, Rodenbaugh's pistol was dis
charged, the bullet producing a flesh
wound of little consequence in Lanes
left side in a line with his heart. The
blood gushed from Rodenbaugh's
throat and, giving few gasps, he fell
backward 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,
/ tee 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 fred again, the
second bullet lodging in the old mans
spine. lie 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 arrested 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 his death
is expected at any hour.
Ii. c. Rodenbaugh was first lieu
tenant in the Ninth Kentucky cavalry
and was a gallant soldier. lie was
postmaster at Nicholasville for two
terms under President Grant. He was
also a prominent turfman, being for
years the senior member of the racing
firm of Rodenbaugh & Rodgap.
W. n. Lane is a native of Montgom-
cry county and is about IS years old.
lie has been considered good bust
ness man and quiet gentleman when
sober, but when drinking he is quar-
relsome. Lane comes of a good family
and is related u some of the best peo-
Pile in Montgomery and Woodford
/ counties.
FRANKFORT. KY, Aug. Ga bloody
tragedy was enacted on the streets of
Frankfort late Monday evening, and
as the result of a quarrel between
Richard Suter, brother of Hon. r.
| Ltt ouNClt NliC
Of Louisville. and Harry Kelly, ward
politician of this city, Kelly lies cold
in death and Suter is in Jail. Kelly
had a quarrel with William Willis on
Sunday and cut him up pretty badly.
Suffer-, who witnessed the fight, testified
In court against Kelly. This infuri-
ated Kelly and when the two men
met by chance quarrel was at once
started Finally Kelly drew a knife
and rushed towards Suter, who pulled
his revolver and fired three shots, one
Of which struck Kelly in the abdomen,
killing him almost instantly. Suter
was at once arrested and placed in the
county Jail.
PADUCAH, Ky. Aug. 6.-At noon
Monday VIII Sims and Lucy Perry,
! sweethearts, quarreled and Sims start
ed to leave the woman when she pulled
a pistol from the folds of her dress and
! fred. The bail entered his head and he
I died instantly. The Perry woman
picked the body up and kissed the man
+ several times. BY this time the neigh
borhood was aroused. Seeing the Off
GERS coming. the woman fired two shots
/ into her head, dying instantly. There
were no witnesses TO the tragedy, and
the direct cause is only conjectured.