Woodville Republican., 1902-11-15
KENTUCKY SENSATION
Delay Demanded In the Hargis-
Coclzrill Feud Cases.
Attorney Marcum Declares That Witnesses
Are Deferred Prom Appearing Ia the
Case Tor Fear of Assassinatiou,

Lexington. KY, Nov iO.--Two of the
most sensational afldsvits ever fled
in a Kentucky court have just been
placed on record at Jackson, Breathitt
county. That county Is the scene
OF the Hargls-Cockril feud. and with.
In Its borders thirty men have been
killed during the past year. A mum
ber were assasslnatei and are cred |
tied TO one or to the other Of the
factions. while several men are exiled
from the county because Of their fear
of assassination. The afldauts are
by Attorney ]. D. Marcum and Moses
Feltner. his client, accused Of the
killing OF Jesse Fields, The pur'
pose of the affiiavits is to secure a
continuance in the case of Feltner.
They follow on the heels of sensa
tlonal statements contained In letter
written to Circuit; Judge Redwine of
Breathltt 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 governog will send company OF
militia to protect him, alleging that
a deputy sherlfr attempted to assas
sinate him and that the persons who
desire his death win kill him II he
returns without the protection OF
| troops.
In his afIldayit Moses Felner 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 aequiesce. but
warned Marcum each time so that the
plans failed. He says he fears to ap'
pear on the streets Of Jackson; that
such state Of Iawlessness exists that
there Is no protection to any citizen,
especially to any who are not in sym.
pathy with the county Judge and sher.
| III. He says he has been informed
and believes II to be true that those
officers have made efforts to have him
assassinated AS for Mareum, 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 1t. He continues that he feared
to refuse and by appointment met
Hargis, Callahan, Abnor and Smith
that night lie says the plan as un
folded at the meeting was for him Ia
go TO Mareum's house. get him to
come to his law office at night and
after parting with him on the return
trip at place where shotgun was
to be concealed he should shoot Mar
cum In the back.
He says Hargis gave him $35 tC
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 tolt
them" that Marcum would not come
out after dark. He says the mex
plan was for him, John Smith ant
Tom White to hide near Mareumt
house and shoot him when he left /
on morning he was to 20 to
neighboring town. Again he says b.
warned Marcum and though they la!
In ambush Marcum did not appear
He says the next plan was for Ton
White TO shoot Marcum from Hargi
Bros. store, but that Marcum carriet
his four months old baby In his arm
and White would not fire. He say
that suspicion finally fell upon hin
as warning Marcum and on getting
continuance of his case In court h
followed Marcum in flight. He say
he has returned to Jackson but fear
to leave his room and that his attor
neg, Marcum, is also a prisoner #
his own house through fear OF assai
sination. He asks for continuance
In his affidavit Attorney J. b. MAI
cum gays he fears to appear at th
courthouse or on the streets of Jacl
son near tne courthouse; that he ha
not been in his Office but once since th
18th Of July. He says he has bee
: outspcken against the parties VIII
! are accused Of assassination or ha'
ing assassinated~ DR.. Cox and jaime
Cockrill on the streets OF Jackso
and that by reason thereof and b
, reason of his attorneyship in coul
in other cases pending In this coul
, he has incurred the enmity OF DANCE
! GUS and lawless men and Is afral
! they will carry out their threats
assassinate him which he believe
} they have made. He says the she
: If and his deputies are in attendanC
| at this term Of court aRe eh.a atiant
2 afraid to risk himself in their hant
!, after receiving the information /
9 has, all OF which he believes to |
! true He asks that the case Of Eel
ner and all others in which he
attorney be continued.