The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-06-15
ARSON At JACKSON.
Hotel Belonging to B. J. Even, Wit
ness Against Jett and White,
Is Burned.
Reign Of Terror Continues in the
Kentucky Town and the Au-
thorities Are Powerless.

Jackson, KY. June 15-Interest in the
trial OF Curtiss Jett and Thomas White,
for the murder Of J. B. Marcum, attor-
ney for the contestants for county Of
fees, was secondary to-day to the prelim
mary hearing of the teamsters Of IIargis
Brothers, arrested by soldiers son the
charge Of burning the City hotel yester-
day morning
Crawford and Thorp were kept in the
camp guardhouse manacled They were
greatly frightened during the night, fear
Ing mob would come to release them and
that the soldiers would shoot them.
Crawford Breaks Down.
Crawford cried during thA night and re-
peated: What a fool what fool am. !"
It is believed that these men will be re-
leased because the grand jurors are resi-
dents Of Breathitt county and fear ven
geance similar to that Wreaked upon
Even If they indict the men. The people
OF the town are completely intimidated
and are awaiting the results at the court
house with greater fear than ever.
j. o. Crawford and Edward Thorp were
brought before Judge Redwtne this NOR
ming and the testimony heard on the writ
Of habeas corpus sued out for their re-
Haddtoks and Jerry Lunsford identified
Crawford as one Of the men seen coming
from the Even hotel just before the fire
was discovered. A. II. Short said he saw
Crawford and Thorp crossing the bridge
going In the direction Of the Even hotel on
hour before the fire. The prisoners told
conflicting stories of their whereabouts
yesterday. Judge Hargis and the attorneys
he employed to defend Jett and White
represented the prisoners. Judge Red
wine decided to hold them to the grand
jury which was reconvened this morning.
Big Case Is Called.
The trials of Jet and White for the as
sassination of Marcum we're then called.
The prisoners, who have been greatly
alarmed over the arrest and detention of
Crawford and Thorp on the charge of
burning the Even hotel, were brought into
court by the militia and turned over to
Elizor Jones.
The mothers of both the alleged as
sassinS were In court as was Miss Sarah
Hargis, the young daughter Of Judge Har-
gis, who has all along been very atten-
tive to the interests of the prisoners.
There was much excitement about the
court house and those entering the court
room were not only searched but also
closely watched
Town Is TerrorIzed.
= This feud-ridden town is to-day the
same timid place it was before the state
militia arrived. When the troops were
first sent here there was a feeling of re-
lief and the people said that some Of the
wrongs would be righted because the in
Inundated citizens would now talk out.
Since the burning yesterday of the large
hotel Of B. J. Even, the principal witness
against Jett and White, and the rally of
the Hargis faction to the aid of the
men suspected of having burned
it, even sanguine citizens say the state
can render no relief.
l
The Even family, including seven chill.
dren, in the military camp. presented {
console his heart-broken wife and daugh
tiers, but their distress was too great
The two daughters had escaped in theil
wrappers and the smaller children in thei
night clothes. Kindhearted citizens, altht
in, doing SO, they risked their lives ant
property, have sent them clothing AND
bedding. They were breakfasted by thu
soldiers, Quartermaster Casey providing
for them an especial bill Of fare.
Scores gathered near by to look at them
Major Allen, in charge of the troops, or.
dered the crowds dispersed, and the guart
lines set back so that the distressed fam.
lily might not be annoyed
The jail last night was under a heavy
guard and the prisoners subjected Of
burning Ewen's house were detained in the
camp.
Altho this place has become accus
| toned to assassinations and to incend
larry fires during the feud of the past three
years. it never experienced such a nigh
Of terror as last night. Mer
| spent sleepless night Of vigil
ance, not as members of any Wig
| lance committee patrolling the streets
but within their own doors as many arr
expecting the torch to be applied to thei
houses next.
| Fourteen residences and stores, owned
by those known as Cardwell- Cockril
sympathizers have been burned in Jack
son since 1900 and the list of lives los
greatly exceeds that number.
| One week ago to-day the trial Of Jet
and White began Many witnesses fec
and the commonwealth had to close 1T
| case because witnesses could not be Sc
cured. The fate Of B. j. Even, one o
the witnesses who did not run away
shows that the approximations of othe
witnesses were well grounded.
Story of the Burning.
The City hotel, a three-story buildin:
owned by Captain B. J. Even, the prin
cipal witness against Jett and White, nov
Ion trial for the assassination of Lawye
j. B. Marcur1, was burned early yester
day morning.
| Fifteen guests were in the hotel, blu
all escaped without injury. There was NJ
insurance on the structure, and the hotel
with its furnishings and the effects O
the guests, is a total loss. The origin o
the fire is unknown, but the belief is gen
eral that the fire was of incendiary origin
The town of jackson has no fire de
I'artment and it's citizens were awakene,
by the firing Of pistols and guns and mucl
excitement prevailed. A detachment Q
militia came on the double quick from
their camp across the river and rendere
aid in assisting the guests to escape an
preventing the flames from spreading
Captain Even has been kept at the cam
Of the militia since he testified last Mon
day that he saw Curtiss Jet fire the sho
which killed Marcun.
The burning Of the hotel is considere
not only as incendiary, but also as acces
sorry to other acts OF intimidation, in con
nection with the pending trial Of thos
accused of the murder Of Marcum, VIII
VATI.EV CIV