Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1903-06-17
APPLY TORCH
IN KENTUCKY
Feudists Burn the Hotel OF One Of the
Principal Witnesses Against
Curtis Jett.
MARROW ESCAPE FOR GUESTS
Act Perpetrated Despite the Soldiers
Who Have jackson Under
Rigid Martial Law.

Louisville, KY. June 1.-THE City
hotel at Jackson. KY, three story
building owned by Capt. B. J. Even,
the principal witness against Jett and
White, now on trial for the assassina-
ton of Lawyer ]. B. Marcum, was
burned to the ground early this morn
ing. Fifteen guests were in the ho-
tel, but all escaped without injury.
There was no insurance on the struc-
ture and the hotel, with it's furnish
ings and the effects of its guests, was
a total loss.
The origin of the fire is unknown,
but the belief is general that the fire
was of incendiary origin. Captain
Even had recently built an addition
to the hotel. This was just completed
and was unoccupied. 1t was in this
part of the hotel that the fire was
discovered.
The town of Jackson has no fire de.
partment and its citizens were awak-
ened by the firing of pistols and guns.
and much excitement prevailed. A
detachment Of militia came on double
quick time from their camp across
the river, and rendered valuable aid
in assisting the guests to escape, AMI
preventing the flames from spreading
Captain Even has been kept at the
camp of the militia 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 caus
ed renewed apprehension.
An Act Of intimidation.
Jackson, KY. June 1.-THE burn.
ing of Ewen's hotel this morning is
considered not only as incendiary, but
also as accessory to other acts of in
timidation in connection with the trial
of those accused of the murder of !.
B. Marcum, who was attorney for the
contestants for county offices now
held by leaders of the faction with
which the defendants were identified.
1t had been openly predicted that
arson would go along with the assassi.
nation, as disciplinary measures might
be needed in Breathitt county. 1t is
now stated that other witnesses OF
the commonwealth were not property
owners. but the Jurors who are farm
ers, and witnesses who could not re
found when detachments of troops
were trying to bring them into court
are property owners.
The burning of Ewen's property not
only has caused renewed fear for both
life and property. but also has caused
increased doubt of the conviction o.
either of the prisoners.
Capt. j. B. Even was chief witness
for the prosecution in the pending
trials of Curtis S. Jett and Tom
White. He testified that he saw Jett
as he advanced with pistol in hand
to fire the last shot into Marcum
PROSTATE body as 1t 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 become k nown
he was first a prisoner in his home
and then he fed the county until he
could have protection Of troops. His
house had been under guard Of a de-
tail of soldiers for several weeks AMI
as more stringent precaution against
assassination he slept in a camp at
the provost marshal's headquarters.
Several days ago man visited him
at his home and made a proposition
that il he would repudiate what he
had testified on the witness stand,
stating that he testified to what was
not true because of the excitement
he was under he would be given $5,-
900 by a certain prominent citizen
and IL he did not accept this offer he
would be assassinated. He encoura5-
ed his caller to return in the after
noon and stationed two witnesses in
a closet who overheard repetition
of the offer and the threat which was
accompanied by five $1,000 notes.
No man has doubted that Even was
in actual danger, but few we're pre-
pared for a step as desperate as that
which came today and IL is generally
believed that the incendiary fire was
due to a statement made TO State In
spector Hines about the attempted
bribery as well as TO Ewens tesG'
moHy.
At 6 o'clock this morning. Joe Red
man, watchman at the lumber yards
of Swami & Day, discovered flames
issuing from the roof of Ewen's hotel.
situated on the mouHtainside, 300
yards from the depot. An alarm was
given and Lieutenant Kinnard, with
the provost guard, turned out to rem
der assistance. Soon hundreds of pep
pie were on the scene. Heroic work
on the part of the soldiers and citi-
zens saved possibly the entire south
side OF the town.
Ewen's hotel is at the end of long
row OF miners cottages. all of which
were in grave danger. When those In
the hotel were notified the fire was
under such headway that the guests
who had not arisen had only to save
part OF their clothing. Two grown
daughters and Mrs. Even had been
up late, having visited Captain Even
In the military camp.
John Clarey. OF Louisville, q tele
graph operator. who was sent by the
Postal company to Jackson 10 handle
matter sent to newspapers during the
feud trials. was asleep on the second
floor. In the excitement he was moi
awakened until the flames shut of es
cape from the front stairway and he
was almost suffocated while coming
out of the rear stairway and fen un
J conscious and half dressed on the