Perth Amboy evening news., 1903-06-15
"A REIGN OF TERROR
Hotel Burned at jackson, KY,
Owned by Chief Witness.
SUPPOSED FIRE BUGS WERE CAUGHT
Trial of Jett and White For the
Marcum Murder Leads to Crime
For which Two Men Are
Under Arrest.


For Which Two Men Are
Under Arrest.
JACKSON, KY, June 15.-The City
hotel. a three story building, owned by
Captain B. J. Even, the principal wit
ness against Jett and White, now on
trial for the assassination of Lawyer
J. B. Marcum, has been burned to the
ground 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 the guests, is a
total loss.
Three men reported having seen Joe
Crawford and Ed Thap, wagoneers for
the Hargis brothers, come across the
bridge and return just before the blaze
was discovered, and Major Allen or
dered these men arrested. They were
taken into the military camp by the
soldiers and manacled in the guard
house.
There is no fire department, and the
citizens were awakened b. the firing Of
pistols and guns, and much excitement
| prevailed. A detachment of militia
came on the double quick from their
| camp across the river and rendered
valuable aid in assisting the guests to
escape and preventing the flames from
| spreading Captain Even has been
| kept at the camp of the militia since
he testified that he saw Curtis Jett fire
the shot which killed Marcum. No
body was seen to leave the hotel be-
| fore the fire broke out. 1t was only
| two days ago that Jackson was put
under martial law. The fire has caused
renewed apprehension.
The burning of Ewens hotel is not
only considered as incendiary but also
| as accessory to other acts of intimida-
| ton in connection with the trial of
| those accused of the murder of J. b.
Marcum, who was an attorney of the
contestants for county offices now held
by leaders of the faction with which
the defendants were identified. 1t has
openly been predicted that arson would
go along with assassination, as disci-
plinary measures might be needed in
Breathitt county. 1t is now stated that
other witnesses for the commonwealth
are not property owners, but that the
| jurors, who are farmers, and witnesses
who could not be found when detach-
ments 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 in
creased the general doubt of conviction
of either of the prisoners.
Captain B. J. Even was the chief
witness for the prosecution in the pend
ing trials of Curtis Jett and Tom
White He testified that he saw Jett
as he advanced with pistol in hand to
fire the last shot into Marcum's pros
trate body as it lay in the courthouse
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 known he
was first a prisoner in his home, and
then he fed the county until he could
have the protection of troops. His
house had been under the guard of sol
diers for several weeks, and as more
stringent precaution against assassina-
ton he slept in camp at the provost
marshals headquarters.
Several days ago a man visited him
at his home and made him propo
sition that if he would repudiate what
he had related on the witness stand,
saying that he testified to what was
HrxrO Of y.afk kN,, rrak
which he was under, he would be Civ
en- $4,000 by certain prominent citi-
zen and that if he I'D not accept this
offer he would be assassinated.
He encouraged his visitor to return
in the afternoon and stationed two
witnesses in a closet, who overheard
a repetition of the proposition and the
threat, which was accompanied by the
tender of five $1,000 notes. No one
has doubted that Even was in actual
danger, but few were prepared for
step so desperate as that which came
yesterday, and it is believed generally
that the incendiary fire was due to the
statement made to State Inspector
Hines about the attempted bribery as
we'll as to Ewens testimony.
Lost anything: A cent-a-word adj
4 "a