The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1900-01-17

W. ".
FRANKFORT, KY, Jan. 16-A shock
ing tragedy, in which the lives Of three
prominent men were sacrificed, and that
Of fourth hangs by a slender thread,
while two others miracufously escaped
with painful injuries, occurred here at
10 o'clock today. The principals in the
tragedy were ex-Congressman David G.
Colson, of Middlesboro, and Lieut.. Ethel
bart Scott of Somerset.
Scott was shot six times by Colson and
almost instantly killed.
Luther W. Demaree, assistant post
master at Shelbyvile, an innocent by
stander, was shot three times and died in
stantly.
Charles Julian, another bystander, was
shot and died half hour later.
Capt B. B. Golden, Of Barboursville,
: commemorative attorney of the Twenty
seventh judicial district, was shot in the
back, and Is not expected to survive the
night.
Col. Colson himself was shot twice in
the arm.
Harry McEwing, of Louisville, was shot
in the foot.
w. o. Ridpatch, of Chicago, sustained
broken leg by the lifeless form of Scott
falling against him as 1t rolled down the
stairway.
The tragedy is one of the most sensa-
tional in the history of 1.-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 we'll filled
at the time with politicians and others
y who are attending the contests for state
officers before the legislature.
Col. Coison is in jail tonight charged
with murder, but he claims self-defense.
The witnesses of the affair We're taken
so much by surprise when the shooting
began that most of them were almost
panic stricken, and there are many and
conflicting stories as to how the fight be-
gan.
SHOOTING BEGINS.
Col Colson and party of friends,
among whom was Demaree, were sitting
in the lobby engaged in conversation, as
Scott and Capt. Golden came up the
stairs from the barroom. When they had
advanced about half way across the
room, walking in the direction OF Colson,
the latter, it is said, half rising from his
chair, fired at Scott, who instantly re-
turned the fire. The shooting then be-
came general, and bystanders are at
variance TO the number engaged in 1t.
Demaree was standing slightly in front
of Colson, and young Scott is said to have
crouched behind him to ward off bullets
from Colson's revolver. In an instant
4 Delnaree fell dead. pierced with three
4 bullets. Capt. Golden, who accompanied
Scott, reeied to one slde falling into the
\ arms Of ex-Gov James Z. McCreary, eX-
A claiming: II am shot.
A The smoke in the locality of the an
A tagonists became dense, but Colson con.
tinCed to press Scott, who retreated
backward, shooting as he moved. Col
sen emptied the chambers of q thirty
\ eight caliber revolver and quickly
brought a forty-four into action. Scott
n by this time, had been shot several times
A and as he staggered back and fell dowI
4. the stairway Colson, who was within
few feet of him, continued to ire unit
the form Of Scott roiled over and showed
life extinct.
hs The battle was terrific, and bullets fair
ii ly rained through the lobby of the hotel
III several of which went wild, pierced win.
III dow glass or imbedded themselves in the
III walls and furniture of the hotel.
iii 1t was not discovered for several min,
III utes afterwards that Julian, who died
III later, had been shot and at first his
III wound was thought to be only trifing.
AFTER THE KILLING.
After the killing Col. Colson ran out o.
III the hotel and hurried to the residence o
IN Chief of Police Williams, where he sur
IL rendered. He was almost exhausted, an(
II as he entered the house, gasped.
II am sorry he would not let me alone
IN There were three of them shooting a
me-"
III Meantime the widest excitement pre-
III vailed in the hotel lobby where the killing
IN occurred and in the dining room, nearby
where about 300 guests had been seated
III Mt dinner when the fusillade began. Mel
fell over each other in frantic efforts t.
II get to places of safety, women tainted
\ II and 1t was several minutes before tn
i II awful scope of the tragedy was full,
Ill known. The dead were left lying Ii
MI pools of blood, and messengers wer
fA despatched in every direction for physl
X clans and nurses to care for the wounded
Charles H. Julian, who was shot il
the leg. died shortly after reaching
n room, death being due to loss of bloo
~ and the shock to his nervous system.
Capt. Golden was removed to a. room
and made statement that Colson wa
4 n the aggressor
( Col Colson has long been prominen
I 4 figure in Kentucky politics. He serve
A two terms in congress. and declined
denomination at the hands Of the Re
publican party of the Eleventh district, i
1895, in order to accept the colonelcy O
the Fourth Kentucky regiment in til
Spanish war. Scott was lieutenant, an
Golden was captain of q company /
~ Colson's regiment, and the trouble whic
led to the tragedy today began then.
N Col. Colson was removed to the res
dence Of Chief Williams while the SUI
geons dressed his shattered arm, and h
was not taken to tail until 5 o'c.ock. h
begged to he allowed bail. The gran
Jury is in session, and an indictmant WI
= probably be returned against him tonlol
Fl row Coroner Meagher will also hold a
inquest tomorrow morning.
Colson tonight still declined to tall
He is in a highly nervous state, and al