Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-02-15
JACK CHM AND HIS KNIFE.

JACK CIIINN AND HIS KNIFE.
His Reasons for Thinking 1t a Better
Weapon Than n Pistol.
From the Philadelphia Times
The newspaper accounts of the unfortu-
nate affair in Frankfort, KY, state that
when the assassin's bullet pierced the body
OF the gubernatorial aspirant, he fell into
the arms of Jack Chinn, who was walking
, by his side. That episode VIII impress
more deeply than ever in Chinns mind the
belief which he has long held and which
he has frequently given open expression to,
that, except under extraordinary circum-
stances where attack or defense must
necessarily be made from a distance, a gun
or pistol is the weapon Of a coward. and
that knife is the true emblem of gentle
manly courage. He is one of the most
picturesque products of Kentucky life and
one of the best-known characters on the
American turf. He belongs to a class of
men utterly unknown and completely mis-
understood In the east, who look uDon the
horse race as the highest product of civili-
cation and upon gambling for high stakes
as the best form of amusement a true
gentleman can engage in. He has owned
horses and run horses, run gambling houses
and bet in gambling houses ever since he
was young man. In physique he is larger
and more powerful than James j. Jeffries.
He has the shoulders Of an OK.
While Chinn is respected by the entire
kentucky contingent, he is feared with an
absolute dread by the meaner mortals who
gather about race tracks. This is due to
the fame he has achieved by the use of
knife. This may sound strange regard
ing man whose friendship is valued by
men of affairs. and requires some ex
PLANTATION to make it entirely clear to the
minds of eastern men.
Jack Chinn has carved many misguided
gentlemen in the course of his career, and
when they have ESCAPED death it has gem
orally been said that he only wished to
leave his autograph on them. He never
placed steel into man, at least, that Is
the narrator's impression from the CONVEX
sations had with him, without the inten-
ton of killing him, because with him the
use of cold metal Is not intended as a
joke and is only resorted to when he thinks
that a life wager has been made. Nor does
he use bowie knife. but always a weapon
made from ideas of his own and which
some day will bear his name just as the
famous American dagger has handed down
to posterity the cognomen Of that famous
Kentucky gentleman who carried his
knife at the back of his neck. The narra-
tor made the acquaintance of Chinns steel
blade under somewhat peculiar circum-
stances, the narration of which will fully
explain his teory regarding weapons, which
has already been referred to.
Chinn came to New York in the winter
of 1880, and for some time, in partnership
with George Morgan. his brother-in-law
and a well-known bookmaker, conducted
a popular gambling saloon on 10Th street.
west of Broadway. The police, however,
although he was willing to submit to their
matchmaking extortions,- obeyed the de-
mands of rival establishments and would
no. permit Chinn and Morgan to turn their
wheel. After the place closed the former
returned to his Kentucky stock farm.
where once had grazed the famous Leona-
tus. the uninterrupted winner of more sue
cessive stakes than any other horse whose
hoofS have beaten on the American turf.
1t was while he was still a resident of
New York that the famous doubly fatal
encounter between Goodloe and Swope oc-
CURED in the Lexington post office. 1t will
be recalled that the first named used
knife and the latter a pistol. The san
culinary encounter took place on Satur day
afternoon or evening. The following Sunday
morning the narrator was seated with
which was then located at 26th street and
Broadway in New York city. The gentle
man from Harrodsburg-that Is the Ken
lucky town from which Chinn haiis-was
talking about the affair. and his close in
timacy with Goodloe, when he was handed
a telegram, which, after he had opened
and read he placed in my hands. 1t con-
tanned simply these words:
He used your knife
In response to an inquiring look, Chinn
said: You wonder what that means.
will tell you. More than one year ago my
friend, Col. Goodloe, and Swope had
time that the other man would attempt to
kill him, and that he should be prepared for
such an onslaught, and that he owed it to
his family, he having a large number of
children, to arm himself. He said that he
would do so, and that he would at once
provide himself with a pistol. / laughed at
him. You should know that Goodloe had
been paIs!ed for number of years and that
r, 7
said to him: What can You do with a
pistol? There can be no certainty about
your aim. You must carry a knife He
rather shivered at the suggestion and said
that he did not know how to use one. Then
1 taught him. 1 had two knives made.
Their handles were of horn, with grooves
cut in them to fit the hand, in order that
the grasp could not slip The blades. which
fitted into them exactly-not extending be-
yond, like the bowie knife-were fully one
eighth of an inch at the top, narrowing
to an almost razor-like edge. The blade
was moved by a spring which, when touch
ed, not only sprung the weapon into place,
but held it there. so that when plunged
into body 1t could not double up on the
hand as AN ordinary penknife would. This
spring also served another purpose. Col.
out his weapon. and then afterward get the
blade into position. My knife, however.
could be carried in the breeches pocket and
as the owner drew it, by touching the
spring, the Dfd0c WOUia throw ftSeff INTO
position even before the knife came in
sight, and its wielder would be ready for
battle. ] had two Of these knives made
and presented one to Col. Goodloe and
taught him how to use it. He said that
with such weapon he would have no show
against a man armed with revolver.
II quickly showed him that he was mis-
taken. l handed him an empty revolver
and told him to try to place 1t against my
breast and pull the trigger. As he moved
his right arm forward with the pistol I
grasped the cuff Of his coat with the fingers
of my left hand. and, with~the powerful
grip which l thus obtained, twisted back
ward the hand holding the weapon in such
a way that he was powerless. Then with
my right hand l sprung the knife from
my breeches pocket and made a score or
more of mock stabs into hts defenseiess
breast. Again and again I showed him
how to accomplish that feat, and that is
how he killed Swope, and that is the mean
ing OF the words in tbs telegram:
" He used your knife.
After Chinn had made his hearers blood
run cold by using him as model upon
which to exemplify the graceful use of the
Kentucky toothpick-hee thennand now car
rying a duplicate of Goodies knife-the
query was put to him: But why use a
knife?"
He answered: Different countries have
different customs. Why use pistol? Why
use anything to defend yourseife II a man