The Cape Girardeau Democrat. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1876-1909, 1900-01-20
killed N Old KENTUCKY.
Ex-Congressman David G. ColsoR
Does Some Promiscuous Shoot
ing at Frankfort.
THREE MEN KILLED and MANY WOUNDED.
of h Capitol Hotel, Which " .
Crowded with Attendants ON the
Election COntests-Fully Twenty
Shots Were Fired.

Election COntests-Fully Twenty
Shots Were Fired.
Frankfort, KY, Jan. IA shocking
tragedy in which the lives of three
prominent men were sacrificed and
that of a fourth hangs by a slender
thread, while two others miraculously
escaped with painful injuries, occurred
here at N o'clock yesterday. The
principals in the tragedy were EXON
gresham David G. Colson, of Middlcs-
boro, and Lieut.. Ethelbert Scott, of
Somerset. Scott was shot six times by
| Coison, and almost instantly killed.
Innocent Bystanders
Luther W. Demarree, assistant post
master at Shelbyyille, an innocent by
stander, was shot three times, and died
instantly. Charles Julian. another by
stander, was shot, and died half an
hour later, and Capt. b. b. Golden, of
Barboursville. CONFERENCE.-The attor-
ney of the Twenty-seventh judicial dis
trict, was shot in the back, and is not
expected TO survive. Col. Colson him.
self was shot twice in the arm. Harry
McEwing, of Louisville, was shot in
tie foot, and w. o. Ridpatch, of Chica-
go, sustained a broken leg by the life
less form of Scott falling against him
Us it rolled down the stairway.
In a Crowded Hotel Lobby.
The tragedy is one of the most sensa-
tional IN the history OF the dark and
bloody ground" The killing occurred
in the lobby of the Capitol hotel, the
| principal hostelry of the state capital,
the room being well filed at The time
with politicians and others who are
here attending the contests for state
offices before the legislature.
Col. Colson is in Jail, charged with
murder. but he claims self-defensc.
Many Conflicting Stories.
The witnesses to the affair were
taken so much by surprise when the
shooting began that most of them
were almost panic-stricken, and there
are many and conflicting stories us To
how the fight began. Col. Colson and
a party of friends, among whom was.
Demarree, were sitting in the lobby en-
gagged in conversation, as Scott and
Capt. Golden came up the stairs from
the barroom. When they had advanced
about halfway across the room walk
ing in the direction of Colson. the lat
ter, it is said, half rising from his
chair, fired at Scott, who instantly re-
turned the fire.
The hOOtln Became General.
The shooting then become general,
end ~bystanders are at variance as to
the number engaged in it. Demarree
was standing in front of Colson. and
young Scott is said to nave crCuciIed
behind him to ward off bullets from
Colson's revolver. In an instant De-
marree fell dead, pierced by three bull
let's. Capt. Golden, who accompanied
Scott, reeled to one side, falling in the
arms of ex-Gov. James b.. McCreary. ex-
claiming: Il am shot"
Continued His Murderous Fire.
The smoke in the locality of the an
tagonists became dense, but Colson
continued to press Scott, who retreated
backward. shooting. as he moved. Col
son enptied the chambers of Il 81
caliber revolver, and quickly brought
| a A into action. Scott, by this time
had been shot several times, and as he
staggered back and fell down the
stairway, Colson, who was within az
| few feet of him, continued to fire until
the form of Scott rolled over and
showed life extinct.
The Battle wns Terrific,
The battle was terrific, and bullets
fairly rained through the lobby of the
hotel. several of which went wild,
piercing windows or embedding them
| selves in the walls and furniture of the.
hotel. 1t was not discovered for sew
eral minutes that Julian, who died Ia
ter, had been shot, and at first his
wound WIS thought to be only trii!ing..
Three Men I'm KendaI Green.
After the killing, Col. Colson ran out
of the hotel, and hurried to the resi-
derce of Chief-of-Police Williams,
where he surrendered. He was almost
exhausted, and as he entered the house
gasped: II am sorry he would not let
me alone. There were three of them
shooting at me-"
Wild Excitement in the Hotel.
Meantime the widest excitement
prevailed in the hotel lobby where the
killing occurred, and irs%the dining.
room near by, where about 300 guests, .
had been seated at dinner when the
fusillade began. Men fell over each
other in frantic efforts to get to places.
of safety; women tainted, and it was,
several minutes before the awful scope.
of the tragedy wa fully known. The
dead were left lying in pools of blood,
and messengers were dispatched in ev-
cry direction for physicians and nurses
to care for the wounded.
-a-a-A