River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1903-06-18
LOOKS LIKE AN
ACT OF REVENGE
City Hotel at Jackson, KY, De-
stroyed by Fire.
ENDIARlSM is SUSPECTED
building Was Owned by Capt. Even,
Who Is the Principal Wit
ness Against Jett
and White.


Louisville, XIV, June 15.-The City
hotel, at Jackson, KY, a three-s'tory
building owned by Capt. b. j. Even,
the principal witness against Jett and
White, now on trial there for the as
sassination of Lawyer j. B. Marcum,
was burned to the ground early Sun
day morning. There were Is guests in
the hotel, but all escaped without in
jury. There was no insurance on the
structure and the hotel, together with
its furnishings and the effects of the
guests, is a total loss. The origin of
the fire is unknown, but the belief is
general that the fire was of incendiary
origin. Capt. Even had recently put
up an addition to the hotel. This was
just completed and was as yet unoccu-
pied. 1t was in this part of the hotel
that the fire was discovered.
The town of Jackson has no fire de-
partment and it's citizens were awak-
ened by the firing of pistols and guns,
much excitement prevailed. A detach
ment of militia came on the double
quick from their camp across the river
and rendered valuable aid in assisting
the guests to escape and preventing
the flames from spreading. Capt. Even
has been Kept at the camp of the mill
tia since he testified last Monday that
he saw Curtis Jet fire the shot which
killed Marcum Nobody was seen to
leave the hotel before the fire broke
out. 1t was only two days ago that
jackson was put under martial law.
The fire has caused renewed appre-
henSion.
An Act OF Intimidation
The burning of Ewen's hotel 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. 1t has been openly predict
ed that there would be the flashing
of incendiary warnings, that arson
would go along with assassination
as disciplinary measures might be
needed in Breathitt county. 1t is
now stated that other witnesses for
erty 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 Ewens' property has not
only caused renewed fear for both
life and property. but also increased
the general doubt of conviction in
either of the pending cases.
Even Threatened.
Capt. B. j. Evan was the chief
witness for the prosecution in the
pending trials of Curtiss Jett and
Tom White. Even is the deputy
sheriff who testified that he saw Jett
as he advanced with pistol in hand
to fire the last shot into Marcums
PROSTATE body as it lay in the court
house doorway. Through fears for
his own safety he testified that he
did not dare to allow Sheriff Callahan
and County Judge Hargis to know
what he had seen. When it did be-
come known, he was first a prisoner
in his home, and then he fed the
county until he could have the pro-
lection of troops. His house has
been under the guard of detail of
soldiers for several weeks, and as
more stringent precaution against
assassination, he has slept in camp
at provost marshal's headquarters.
Several dayaAgo party visited him
at his home 8s,d made him a PROPOSE
ton that if he would repudiate what
he had related on the witness stand.
saying that he testified to what was
not true because of the excitement
which he was under, he would be given
$4,000 by certain prominent citizen.
and that if he did not accept this offer
he would be aSsassinated. He encour-
aged his visitor to return in the after
noon and stationed two witnesses in
a closet who overheard. repetition of
the proposition and the threat which
was accompanied by the tender of five
crisp one thousand dollar notes. No
one has doubted that Even was in ac-
tual danger, but few were prepared for
a step as desperate as that which came
Sunday, and it is generally believed
that the incendiary fire was due to the
statement made to State Inspector
Hines about the attempted bribery as
well as Ewen's testimony.
IMPORTANT WITNESS GONE.