Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1902-11-12
BLOODY STORY IN KENTUCKY

DLOObl DlOtl i-N hL4' " Oh .
Two sensational affidavits have just
been fled at Jackson, Breathitt county,
KY. That county is the scene OF the
Hargis-C Cockrill feud and within its
borders 80 men have been killed this
year. A number were assassinated and
are credited to one or the other of the
factions, while several men are exiles
from the county because of their fear Of
assassination.
The afiidayits are by Attorney j. b.
Marcum and Moses Feltner, his client,
accused of the killing~of Jesse Fields.
The purpose of the affidavits is to secure
a continuance Of the case of Feliner
They follow on The heels of sensa-
tional statements contained in letter
written to Cncuit Judge Baldwin, of
Breathitt, by John Patrick, an exile
living in Lexington, in which he said
he knew who killed James Cockrill,
being an eyewitness, but declines to re-
turn to jackson to testify unless the
Governor will send a company of militia
to protect him, alleging that deputy
sheriff attempted to assassinate him and
that persons who desire his death will
kill him if he returns without the pro-
lection Of troops.
In his affidavit Moses Feltner tells in
detail of alleged plots TO kill Attorney J.
Z. Marcum. He was to do the work, he
says, and fearing to refuse pretended TO
acquiesce, but warned Marcum each time
so that the plans failed. He says he
feared 10 appear on the streets of Jack
son; Chat such a state of lawlessness
exists that there is no projection to any
man, especially TO any who are not in
sympathy with The county judge and
shend. he says he has been told that
those officers tried to have him assas-
sinated. As for Marcum, he says that i'll
last May he was invited tc Judge Hargis's
Office, where he met John Smith and
John Abner, friends Of Sheriff Edward
Callahan and County Judge James
Hargis. He relates that they told him
J. Is. Marcum must be killed and that
he was The man to do it. Feliner says
he feared to refuse and by appointment
met Hargis and Callahan and Abner and
Smith that night. The plan unfolded
at the meeting.was for him 10 go to Mar
GUMS house, he says, oget him 10 come
10 his law Office at night, and after part
ing with him on the return trip to shoot
Marcum in the back. Hargis, he alleges,
gave him S35 to pay Marcum on account
and handed him a shotgun and shells
Loaded with bucbshot. lie says he went
to Marcum's house, warned him and
then told chem" that Marcum would
not come out after dark.
The next plan, he states, was for him
JOHN Smith and Thomas White to hide
near Marcum's house and shoot him
when he left it on morning he was 10
90 TO a neighboring town. Again he
SAYS he warned Marcum and though
they lay in ambush Marcum did not APP
pear. He states that The next plan was
for Thomas White 70 shoot Marcum
from Hargis's brothers store, but that
Marcum carried lis 4-months-old baby
in his aims and White would not fire.
Suspicion finally fell upon him, he says,
as warning Marcum, and on getting
continuance of his case in court he fol-
lowed Marcum in fight. Feltner says he
has returned to Jackson, but fears to
leave his room, and that his attOrpe.r,
Marcum, is also a prisoner in his own
house through fear of assassination. He
asks continuance.
In his affidavit Attorney j. Il. Mar
cum says that he fears to appear at the
courthouse or ON the streets of ackson
and that he has not been in his office but
once since July 10. He says that he
has been outspoken against The parties
who are accused of assassipating DIR.
Cox and James Ccckrill and has in
other cases incurred the enmity of
dangerous and lawless men, and is afraid
they will carry out their threat to as
sassinate him
The lawyer says he is afraid to risk
himself in the hands of the Sheriff and
his deputies.