The daily morning journal and courier., 1903-06-15
A REIGN OF INTIMIDATION
ENEMIES OF LAW RESORT TO
 ARSON IN KENTUCKY.

Hotel Owned by Captain B. J. Ewen,
 the States Chief Witness Against Ac-
 cused Murderers of J. E. Mnrcum, Is
 Fired-ERoFt at Bribery Had Failed.
 Jackson, Ky, June 14.-The burning of Ewen's hotel this morning is not only considered as incendiary, but also as accessory to other acts of intimidation in connection with the pending trial of those accused of the murder of J. B. Marcum. who was an attorney of the contestants of county offices, now held by leaders of the faction with which the: defendants were identified. It has open ly been predicted that arson would go along with assassination. It is now stated that other witnesses for the com monwealth are not property owners but that the jurors, who are farmers, and witnesses who could not be found when detachments of troops were trying to bring them into court, are property owners. The burning of Ewen's prop erty not only caused renewed fear for both life and property, but also has in- creased the general doubt of conviction of either os the prisoners.
 Captain J. B. Ewen was the chief witness for the prosecution in the pend- ing trials of Curtiss Jett and Tom White. He testified that he say Jett as he advanced with pistol in hand to fire the last shot into Marcum's prostrate body, as it lay in the court house door, way. Through fears of his own safety he testified that he did not dare to allow Sheriff Callahan and County Judge Hardness to know what he had seen. When it did become known, he was first prisoner in his home and then he fled the county until he could have the pro- lection of troops. His house had been under tke guard of soldiers for several weeks and as more stringent precau- tion against assassination he slept in camp at the provost marshaps head quarters.
 Several days ago man visited him at his home and made him proposition that if he would repudiate what he had related on the witness stand saying that he testified to what was not true be- cause of the excitement which he was under, he would be given $5,0OO by a certain prominent citizen, and that if he did not accept this offer he would be assassinated.
 He encouraged his visitor to return in the afternoon and stationed two witt nesses in closet, who overheard a rep etition of the proposition and the threat which was accompanied by the tender of five $1,000 notes. No one has doubted that Ewen was in actual danger, but few were prepared for a step so desper- ate as that which came to-day, and it is believed generally that the incendiary fire was due to the statement made to States Inspector Hines about the att tempted bribery. as we'll as to Ewen's testimony.
 Good work by soldiers and citizens saved possibly the entire south side of the town. The Ewen hotel is at the end of a long row of miners cottages all of which were in grave danger. When those in the hotel were notified, the fire was under such headway that the guests who had not arisen had only time to save part of their clothing.
 John Clarey of Louisville, a telegraph operator, was asleep on the second floor. In the excitement he was not awaken ed until the flames had shut off egress by the front stairway, and he had a narrow escape from death.
 Mrs. Even and her children were poorly clad and los everything. The hotel and the furniture had been in- sured but only a week ago Captain Even was notified that on account of threatening conditions. the company had decided to cancel his policy. The house and fixtures were valued at about $50,O00. They were the savings of life time and Even and family tonight are homeless and Dependent on the hospi- tality Of the troops in the camp.
 Three men reported having seen Joe Crawford and Ed Thap, wagoners for the Hargis Bros.. come across the bridge and return just before the blaze was discovered, and Major Allen order ed the men arrested. They were taken into the military camp by the soldiers and manacled in the guard house.
 Gray Haddicks was retained by the provost guard as a witness. Soon the Hargis people were very active. They sent Attorneys John D. O'Neil of Gov ington and E. B. Golden of Barborville, defending Jett and White. and swore out writs of habeas corpus before Judge Redwine making them returnable at once. The writs were served on Major Allen and he sent the prisoners to the court house under a strong guard com- manded by Captain Maddox.