Omaha daily bee., 1903-05-28
MARTIAL Law AT JACKSON
Kentucky Town f. Having n Hot Time
During Grand Jury Inves-
tiEatiOn.

JACKSON. KY, May 27.-The special
grand jury this afternoon began its In
vestigation OF the Assassination OF City
Marshall James Cockrill here last July. AS
in the Macrum case, the assassin was sta
toned In the court house, shooting Cockrill
with Winchester rife from the court
room window as Cockrill stood in the street.
1t was Immediately after this that the
Cockrill brothers had to fee the country
for safety. With them was CaptaW John
Patrick who in a letter 20 Judge Redwine
soon afterward. said that he and others
saw the assassins and would come back and
testify II troops were sent to protect them.
Judge Redwine declined to ask for troops
and had an attachment issued for Patrick,
who, to escape going back to what he con-
sidered certain death, has since had TO live
in seclusion. 1t is said that he will appear
tomorrow to testify. and. with others. will
name the assassins. The assassination of
DIR. Cox. uncle of the Cockrin boys, will be
taken up next
II seems certain now that to avoid
mistrial the trial OF Curtis Jett and Tom
White, accused of the assassination of J.
b. Macrum, will not be entered into until
next week. when the regular term begins.
The special term ends Saturday.
Seperate trials viii be asked for the men.
In the court room today when their cases
were called and BY agreement Jett and
White were guarded By twenty soldiers
The prisoners were not ironed Judge Red
wine issued an order for every one who
enters the court room to be searched for
weapons. He also gave Colonel Williams
authority to make arrests in town for dis
orderly conduct or any misdemeanor, which
makes martial law in jackson practically
absolute.
A detail of soldiers was sent today into
the interior of Breathitt county to bring in
as witnesses Captain Ned Strong and Henry
Back. Strong was quoted saying to a
number of people, among them Mrs. Mac
runs father, that he overheard discus
sion of the plot to kill Macrum In blind
tiger, three miles from Jackson. the day
before the murder. Being unable to go
himself to warn Maerum, he sent Back
with message, Back arriving just in time
! to see Macrum shot down.
| Friends of Macrum, who contradict the
afidavits, say that both were intimidated
into making the affidavits through fear of
assassination. Owing to these circum-
| stances. their testimony is awaited with
much interest and may prove the connect
I ing link between the conspiracy and the
! assassinations. 1t Is believed that when
once started testimony which will uncover
the ring from which the numerous assas-
| snatons have emenated- will be freely
| given and ample. The possibility of this
and the desperate measures that might be
undertaken to prevent 1t still makes the
guardians of the peace and some citizens
uneasy and apprehcnsive.
! 1t was determined this afternoon not to
spend futher investigation into the Mac
| rum murder until the witnesses present ir
the Cockrill case could be examined
Twelve witnesses were examined in tho
Cockrill case seventy-ave are to be heard
4 The Hotchkiss gum and ammunition ar
rived from Iyouisvalef fhis svening. A test
of its destructive work Will be made on
trees tomorrow.