The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1903-05-10

II went back home at 10 o'clock. for II
was then getting close to my funeral time.
and stayed there.
ION another occasion I slipped away 10
visit my sisters house. On the way I met
q sympathizer of those whose enmity 1 had
incurred. l decided not to return, and sent
my two sisters and wife ahead.
They passed by a ravine on the way and
saw two men armed with guns.
Later they turned out the lights and saw
one man take his station in front of my
house and the other, at this time dressed as
a woman. took up a position below my win
dow in an adjoining garden.
MEN had ARRIVED
TO KILL HIM.
Recently a messenger came to my house
at daylight.
He had been sent by a party who did not
want me killed. He told me hat two men
had arrived the night before and were to
have taken a front room in a house near by
and from there ambush me.
THE next morning l observed a window
raised about four inches and the curtain
drawn. l dared not walk out on my front
porch for weeks
In coming to Lexington In November, 1907,
Mr.. Marcum walked to the depot by cutting
across several meadows and avoiding the
highway and going out of rifle range of the
Courthouse. He was accompanied by his
wife and two sisters.
When he came to Lexington fully n dozen
friends came to him on the train and ad-
vised him to return. no moro to Jackson. but
he was determined to return, and did go
back in a few days. II was born and raised
there and have an excellent practice" said
he in explanation. II have interests in
Jackson n four valuable tracts of land in
Breathitt County. 1 still have a large prac-
tice, though / can't attend to it now. 1t Is
hard for a reputable man to be forced to
leave his home because Of the threats of
assassins.
Then I believe right will finally prevail
and that peaceful conditions will be restored
to the county and my practice will be re-
sumed. Now that many have been driven
from the county, the faction will begin to
fight themselves. and l guess pretty soon l
will nave one OF them to defend. as I have
on occasions before
He said to the County Attorney on one oc-
casion: IF 1 have to fight I want to fight
at my own home, and IL / lave to die
want to die at my own home"
The affidavit of Moses Feltner. made No
vember 6. 1902, is as follows:
THE afiant, Nose Feltner. says he is
afraid to attend the present term Of court
or to appear on the Streets Of Jackson. He
says he came to Jackson at the last term
Of this court to attend his trial: that after
he got here two influential and wealthy
citizens. together with two others, tried to
hire affiant to assassinate ]. B.. Marcum,
They claim to have certain influence that
would be of great service TO affiant at his
trial, and afRant knew them to be men OF
wealth and influence. and was anxious to
| secure their aid in his trial. that they made
a great many promises and assurances to
| him in event he would do the killing.
| FELTNER FINALLY AGREED
TO SHOOT MARCUM.
.sThat he finally agreed to kill said Mar
| cum. hut went at once n told him of the
L plot. so that he could get out of the way
The parties furnished afiant with a gun
] and we all agreed on the plan by which Il
| was to be done, but a. Marcum had beer
warned Of it. this plan. of course. failed.
"A great many plans were agreed upon
from time to time dur,ns the court. but
! man vers to assist t the killing. and hs