The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1900-01-17
|LOODY KENTUCKY TRAGEDY.
COLSON'S PISTOL ENDED THREE
LIVES AT FRANKFORT.


the killing of Two Spectators and
the Wounding of Several Others.
Result of an Old QuarreI-CoIson
Is Under Arrest.
frankfort. KY Jan. LEX Congress
man David G. Colson shot and killed Eth
eburt Scott, Luther Demaree and Charles
Julian, and slightly wounded James Col
den, in the Capitol Hotel to-day.
The killing was a renewal of feud be-
tween Colson and Scott, which grew up
between>them while in the army last year.
Coson is under arrest.
Scott and Demaree died almost instantly.
Julian was thought to be only slightly
wounded, but died at SO p. m, from shock
and loss of blood, making the third death.
Harry McEweng of Louisville was also
hit by stray bullets, but not seriously
wounded. All but Scott were bystanders,
and were shot by accident.
Colson was shot in the arm, but not Sc
rlously hurt. After the shooting he went
TO the residence of Chief of Police Will
Jams, near by, and gave himself up. Lat
er a warrant was sworn out by Clint
Fogg, who witnessed the killing Fogg
says Colson shot first
The killing occurred in the lobby of the
Capitol Hotel, which was densely packed
with people who are here attending the
trial of the contests before the Legisla-
ture. Persons who were in the hotel
When the tragedy occurreds say fully
twenty shots were fired
Scott who was the first killed, was a
IF ay-
was assistant postmaster at Shelbyville.
and a prominent Republican politician.
Julian was one of the wealthiest far
mers in this county and belonged to an
old Kentucky family.
The trouble between Scott and Colson,
which began in the army last year, re-
suited in Colson being shot by Scott, and
it has been predicted since that one or
both would be killed should they meet
as they did to-day Colson is in a highly
nervous state resulting from excitement
attending the tragedy and as he has never
fully recovered from a stroke of paraly-
sis sustained last year, his friends are
greatly concerned over his condition.
How 1t Came About.
Accounts of the killing differ and it is
impossible to give details, further than
that while Colson and q party of friends
We're standing in the southwest corner of
and when near Colson the firing began
Scott, after being shot, walked backward
toward the stairway, looking to the bar
room, and fell down the stairs dead as he
reach them. His body rolled over against
The barroom door, and as il did, Col Col
SOIL who had followed shooting at every
step, fired one or more shots in the pros
tr1te form.
Demaree, who was killed in the general
fusillade, was shot twice, one ball piercing
the heart and the other either penetrated
the heart or went directly under it,
Those in the immediate Colson party
declined to talk about the affair, and while
1t is generally understood that several
others were engaged in sthe shooting, no
names are given
The bodies of the dead were removed to
undertaking establishments. and all of the
physicians in the city were summonded to
attend the wounded
Hundreds of people fiocked to the scene
Of the shooting and watched the tragic
scenes following the removal of the re-
mains of the dead from the hotel
The most profound sorrow exists over
The accidental killing of Demaree and Jul |
ian, and the feeling against Coson among
their friends is exceedingly bitter.
Others Had Hand in 1t.
An examination of Scott's body shows
mat he was shot at least six times. The |
fact that a part of the bullets were of 3S
cahoer and part of H-caliber indicates that
he was shot by somebody besides Colson,
or hat Colson had two revolvers.
Witnesses to the killing say that Dema- |
rec was directly between Scott and Col
son when the shooting began, and that |
he was killed by the first shot fired.
Colson lives al Middlesborough and rep |
resented the Eleventh district in Congress |
Ior Two years.
Scott was a young lawyer living at
Mount Sterling, and was lieutenant in |
VOL Colson's regiment in the Spanish |
war
When the killing occurred the city was |
thloWn into state of the greatest excite |
ment it being supposed first that it |
was the result of a clash growing out of |
islature
apt II. b. Golden, who is thought to |
n7 fatally wounded. is a lawyer who |
n.es at Barboursville, and was captain |
el g me Kentucky cavalry troop during the |
spanish American war
apt Golden made a statement in which |
~ said no words passed between Scott |
Sui Colson before the shooting and that |
toson fired first. Golden and Coson had |
nal trouble before and Colsons friends |
tNarge that Golden was engaged in the |
shooting to-day.
Colson Wanted Bail.
., ooL Colson, when he entered Chief Will |
gasped.
,, ! am sorry he would not let me alone. |
llr" N
"nen he was taken to Jail after the |
"seons had dressed his shattered arm,
Hs begged to be allowed bail The grand
..IE Is in session and an Indictment will
Nolably be returned against him to-
morrow Coroner Meagher will also hold
an inquest tomorrow morning Colson
alght still declined to talk. He is in a
i'tHly nervous state and appeared to
wa "@'e been weeping when a reporter call
&, ~ol' Colson, who killed Scott and who
- enarged with the killing of both De-
'i'"fea and Julian, and with shooting Col
~ mas long been prominent figure in
H. lucky politics. He served two terms
~ ,ohgress and declined nomination
u, ne hands of the Republican party of