Oxford eagle., 1902-11-13
KENTUCKY SENSATION
Delay Demanded in the Hargls-
Cockriil Feud Gases.
Attorney Marcum Declares That Witnesses
Are Deferred From Appearing 10 the
Case for Fear OF Assassination.

Case for Fear OF Assassination.
Lexington, KY, Nov 10.-Two Of the
most sensational afidavits ever filed
in a Kentucky court have Just heen
placed on record at Jackson, Breatnltt
county. That county is the scene
of the Hargis- Cockrill feud, and with
in its borders thirty men have been
killed during the past year. A num-
Der were assassinated and are cred
tied to one or to the other Of the
factions. while several men are exilea
from the county because of their fear
of assassination. The affidavits are
by Attorney ]. B. Marcum and Moses
Feltner, his client, accused of the
killing of Jesse Fields. The pur-
pose of the affidavits, is to secure
continuance in the case OF F'eltner.
They follow on the heels OF sensa-
tional statements contained in letter
written to Circuit Judge Redwine OF
Breathitt by John Patrick, an exile
living in this city, in which he said
he knew who killed James Cockrill,
being an eye witness. but declines to
return TO Jackson to testify unless
the governor will send company of
militia to protect him, alleging that
deputy sheriff attempted to assas-
sinate him and that the persons who
desire his death will kill him If he
returns without the protection of
troops.
In his affidavit Moses Feltner tells
in detail of alleged plots to kill Attor-
ney j. B. Marcum.
In several instances he was to do
the work, he says, and fearing to re-
fuse, pretended to acquiesce, but
warned Marcum each time so that the
plans failed. He says he fears to ap-
pear On the streets of jackson; that
such a state of lawlessness exists that
there is no protection to any citizen,
especially to any who are not in SYM
pathy with the county judge and sher-
if. He says he has been informed
and believes it to be true that those
officers have made efforts to have him
assassinated. AS for Marcum, he says
that in last May he was invited to
Judge Hargis' office, where he met
John Smith and John Abner, friends
Of Sheriff Ed Callahan and County
Judge James Hargis. He relates
that they told him j. B. Marcum must
be killed and that he was the man to
do it. He continues that he feared
to refuse and by appointment met
Hargis, Callahan, Abner and Smith
that night He says the plan as un-
folded at the meeting was for him to
go to Marcum's house. get him to
come to his law Office at night and
after parting with him on the return
trip at place where a shotgun was
to be concealed he should shoot Mar
cum in the back.
He says Hargis gave him S35 to
pay Marcum on account and handed
him shotgun and shells loaded with
buckshot. He says he went to Mar
Gums house, warned him and then told
them" that Marcum would not come
out after dark. He says the next
plan was for him. John Smith and
Tom White to hide near Marcum's S
house and shoot him when he left 1t
on morning he was to go to a
neighboring town. Again he says he
warned Marcum and though they lay
in ambush Marcum did not appear.
He says the next plan was for Tom
White to shoot Marcum from Hargis
Bros store, but that Marcum carried
his four months old baby in his arms
and White would not fire. He says
that suspicion finally fell upon him
as warning Marcum and on getting a
continuance of his case in court he
followed Marcum in flight. He says
he has returned to Jackson but fears
TO leave his room and that his attor-
ney. Marcum, is also a prisoner in
his own house through fear of assas.
sination. He asks for continuance
In his affidavit Attorney j. B. Mar
cum says he fears to appear at the
courthouse or on the streets of Jack
son near the courthouse; that he has
not been in his office but once since the
10Th of July. He says he has been
outspoken against the parties who
are accused of assassination or hay-
ing assassinated DR. Cox and James
Cockrill on the streets of Jackson
and that by reason thereof and by
reason of his attorneyship in court
In other cases pending in this court
he has incurred the enmity of danger
Gus and lawless men and is afraid
they will carry out their threats to
assassinate him which he believes
they have made. He says the sher-
if and his deputies are in attendance
at this term OF court and this afiant is
afraid to risk himself in their hands
after receiving the information he
has, all of which he believes to be
true. He asks that the case of Felt
ner and all others in which he is
attorney be continued.