The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1903-05-05
COWARD FIRED
FROM BEHIND
Another Dastardly Murder in the
Blue Grass State.
VICTIM A LEADING LAWYER
ASSASSIN ESCAPED WITHOUT
BEING RECOGNIZED.

/ 7 EXTINCTION. Ky. May AUST after
he had finished fling briefs open
ing the contested election case %
Breathitt county. James B. Marcum
was shot and killed by an unknown as
sassin- He fell IN his tracks at the
front entrance at the court house at
Jackson, Ky, and never spoke. death
being almost instantaneous He fell
within Il few yards of where Town
Marshal James COckreu was shot down
in July. the assassin being stationed in
the court house in each instance.
Was a Marked Man.
Marcum was counsel for the fusion
lists who are COntesting for the offices
Of sheriff and other places now held by
Democrat IS. As a result of his efforts
and his sympathy with the C0ckrell
faction in the Hargis- COckreu feud he
had, for year. been generally regard
ed as a marked man."
Various plots to ASA ssiuate him have
been reported and sworn to in Aft
davis For seventy-twO days last year
he was a prisoner in his own home, not
daring even to 80 out on his porch,
The bitterness Of the feud abated some
what, however. and the election cases
were allowed to sleep until Monday.
Despite warnings, Marcum felt safe in
resuming his Interrupted practice some
time ago, and felt secure in filing
motion TO reopen the cases which had
imperilled his life months before.
Shot in the Back
At 8 o'clock this morning he went to
the courthouse at Jackson and the papers
were filed He walked from the clerks
house and facing the street. engaged in
conversation with Benjamin Ewing, a
friend. The corridor at his back was fun
Of men. Ewing was half leaning on Mar
Gums shoulder. The men had been talk
ing about three minutes. and it was $50
clock, when a shot rang out in the rear
Of the corridor. Marcum staggered and
as he sank to the floor another shot was
fired. The first bullet entered the back
To the right Of the spinal column and.
after passing through the breast and
body. struck the door facing him. The
next shot passed through the ton of his
head and was aimed as he reeled.
Escape of Assassin.
The shots appeared to come from
doorway. or possibly from behind door
IN the corridor but. as the passage vas
cleared amid great confusion. one
seemed able to state accurately where
the assassin was located A telegram
$50 O'Clock tonight. stated that the as
sassin is still unknown. after a diligent
search. and no arrests as yet have been
made. even on suspicion
Marcum body lay FOR ten minutes I'M
touched Even his friends feared TO Up
DrOaCh the place or 10 touch the body
took it to a drug store opposite and from
there it was taken home. Some say they
saw the assassin run out of the rear
door, and it seems certain that he made
his escape that way during the confu-
sion. Tt IS generally believed that the
assassin was recOPnized by several per
sons. but no one has thus far had the
courage TO name him
No Cause for Foul Crime.
Marcum was . trustee of the Kentucky
state college and represented the I.exins-
ton x Eastern railroad and other large
corporations. and was also United States
Commissioner from his district He had
pracJCed law in BTcdthitt county for sew
enteen years. He had avoided feuds and.
until he took charge of the election cases
which involved the Hargis faction. had
heeu frierd of members OF both fac
tons. For three months. beginning last
July he did not leave his home. and aft
er that for months was always accom-
panied by his wife and women friends or
carried one of his children with him for
protection.