Omaha daily bee., 1903-06-16
JACKSON TERROR STRICKEN
oitiSens Dread More Reprisals in Dreadful
Kentucky Feud
GRAND Jury PROBES EVEN HOTEL FIRE
Judge Declares All Legitimate means
Must BE Used TO Indict Incen-
diaries Rnd Bring Them
20 Justice.

JACKSON. KY, June 15.-Interest in the
trial OF Curtis Jett and Thomas White for
the alleged murder of ]. b. Marcum was
secondary today to the preliminary hearing
OF the teamsters Of Hargis Bros, arrested
by the soldiers on the charge of burning
the hotel yesterday morning OF p. L. Even.
the principal witness OF the commonwealth
against Jett and White.
Although this place has become accus-
toned 70 transformations and to incendiary
nres during the feud of the last three years,
II never had such a night Of terror as hat
Of last night.
Many spent a sleepless night. not as men,
bers of any vigilance committee patrolling
the streets, but within their own doors, as
many are expecting the torch TO be APP
piled to their homes next.
Soldiers of Little BENEFIT.
since the burning of Ewen's large hotel
and the rally of the Hargis faction to the
aid of the men suspected of. having burned
1t. the citizens, hopeful that when the
militia arrived the intimidation would
cease. now shake their heads n say today
the state received no relief.
The Even hotel had 400 rooms, and II
was greatly needed. 1t is pointed out that
OF the fourteen incendiary fires here during
the past two and a half years ten of them
have taken place in the day time. The
Even family, including seven children,
have been taken care Of by the militia.
The family presented a pitiable spectacle
today. Even tried to console his heart
broken wife and daughters, but their dis
tross was great. Kind-hearted citizens, al
though feeling that in doing so they are
risking their lives and property, have sent
them clothing and bedding. They we're
breakfasted by the soldiers. Scores Of
people gathered to look at them.
Major Allan, in charge of the troops,
ordered the crowds dispersed and the guard
line set back so that the distressed family
might not be annoyed. The Jail last night
was under a heavy guard. The prisoners
suspected with burning Ewen's house were
detained in the camp. They were kept in
the camp guardhouse, manacled. so they
would have no opportunity to escape. They
were greatly frightened during the night,
fearing a mob would come to release them
and that the soldiers would shoot them.
spends Might In Tears.
rawfor cried during the night and re-
peated: WHAT a fool; what a fool 1 am"
II Is believed that these men will be re-
leased because the members Of the grand
jury are residents Of Breathitt and fear
vengeance similar to that wrought upon
Even IL they indiet the men.
Joe Crawford and Ed Tharp were brought
before Judge Redwine this morning and
testimony heard on the writ Of habeas
corpus for their release. GRAY Haddicks
and Jerry Lunsford identified Crawford as
one Of the men seen coming from the Even
hotel Just before the fire was discovered
and A.. P. Short said ne saw Crawford ana
Tharp crossing the bridge before the Ere.
The prisoners told conflicting stories nj
their whereabouts before their detention
yesterday. Judge Hargis and the attorneys
he employed to defend Jett and White rem
resented the prisoners. Judge Redwine
decided to hold them to .he grand jlrv
which was reconvened.
After the habeas corpus proceedings ~
Crawford and Tharp were disposed OF the
trial Of lett and White was called. TIL
prisoners, who have been greatly alarmed
over the arrest OF Crawford on the oharea
of burning the Even hotel, were brought
in court by the militia and turned over Ia
Elisor Jones. The witnesses were In court
as was Miss Sarah Hargis, the young
daughter OF Harkis. There was much ex-
element about the court and those enter
ing the court room were not only searched.
but also closely watched.
Wants I~ncendiarIes Indicted.
In his address to the grand jury Judge
Redwin charged them to investigate the
burning OF Ewen's hotel. He was forceful
In his charge, denouncfzs arson next 10
assassination and instructing the Jurors to
resort to every fair means to indict the
men who were guilty of setting fire to the
hotel. He doubted IL life and property were
ever so insecure In a civilized country as
in Breathitt county today. Judge Redwine
intimated that a special term OF court
would be held to try incendiary cases AZ
indictments were found.
The defense in the murder case opened
Will a statement that II would prove an
alibi and called both Jett and White as
witnesses on their own behalf to prove
that they did not enter the court house till
after Marcum had fallen. Both prisoners
made exceptionally good witnesses for
themselves, Jett was especially cool and
confident and apparently unconeerned.
Jett was asked what ne had said to Mrs.
Johnson on meeting her after Maroum was
killed. He replied: II said to her that she
could not lay this on me-; that every time
a man was killed they said / did it,"
Mrs. Johnson''s version was: "HarEis'
money killed him; I fired the shots" -
Jett Said at the time of the shooting his
right hand was SO badly swollen he could
not have pulled a trigger.
White, for his part declared that when
the shots were fred he was one-third of
the way across the street. He looked back
and saw Marcum fall and Even run away.
He saw a figure in the hall, but did not
know who it was.