The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-06-15
RESORT TO FIRE.
Kentucky Feudists Set Fire to a
Big Hotel
Belonging to Witness in the
Jett Murder Case.
MADE MARROW ESCAPE.
Fifteen Guests We're Sleeping
in the House.
Building and Contents Were a
Total Loss.
MADE NARROW ESCAPE.

Jackson, Ky, June 15.-The City hotel.
a three-story building owned by Cap
tain B. J. Even, the principal witness
against Jet and White, now on trial
here for the assassination of Lawyer J.
B. Marcum, was burned to the ground
early Sunday morning. There were IF
teen guests in the hotel, but all escaped
without injury. There was no insur-
ance on the structure and the hotel. to-
gether with its furnishings and the ct
fects of the guests, is 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 put up an
addition to the hotel This was just
completed and was as yet 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 awakened
by the firing Of pistols and guns, and
much excitement prevailed. A detaeh-
ment 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.
The Even hotel is at the end of a long
IOW u 1lA0GIS GOtldSt6s dki OL WHICH,
were in grave danger. When those in
the hotel were notified, the fire was un-
der such headway that the guests who
had not arisen had only time to save
part of their clothing The two grown
I daughters and Mrs. Even had been up
late, having visited Captain Even in the
/ military camp.
John Clarey Of Louisville, a telegraph
operator who was sent by the Postal
/ company to Jackson to handle the mat
I ter sent to the newspapers during the
teud trials, was asleep on the second
floor. In the excitement he was not
4 awakened until the flames had shut off
escape from the front stairway and he
was almost SufOcated when he got out
by the rear stairway and fell uncon-
scious and half dressed on the ground
I when he finally freed himself from the
danger. Mrs. Even and her children are
poorly clad and lost everything. The
hotel and furniture had been insured,
but only a week ago Captain Even
/ was notified that on account of the
threa tening conditions the company had
decided to cancel his policy. The house
and fixtures were valued at about Sl0.-
O0O They were the savings of a lifetime
1 and Captain Even and his family are
/ tonight homeless and dependent on the
hospitality of the troops in camp.
Gray and Jim Haddicks and Jerry
Luntz workmen at the Swami & Day
lumber yard. reported having seen Joe
Crawford and Edward ThaD, Wagoners
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 We're
taken into the military camp by the
soldiers and manacled in the guard
house
Gray I4addicks was retained by the
provost guard as a witness. Soon the
HargiS people We're very active They
sent Attorneys John D. O'Neil, of Gov
lngtOn, and B. B. Golden, of Barbers-
vile. defending Jett and White. and
swore out writs of habeas corpus before
Judge Redwine making them return
able at once. The Writs We're served
on Major Allen. and he sent the pris-
oners to the court house under strong
guard commanded by Captain Maddox
Commonwealth's sAttorney Byrd asked
Judge Redwine for time for Major
Allen to file a response. He asked thas
he be given till this morning but Judge
Redwine demanded that it be filed Ak
once.
This was done and the attorneys
argued the case before Judge Redwine
Two of the most interested spectators
were County Judge Hargis and Sheriff
Ed Callahan The attorneys argued
that the men We're being unlaWfuIly
held by Major Allen as they were Wit
nesses in the Jett and White cases for
the defense.
Attorney Byrd argued the cause for
the commonwealth and Major Allen
against whom the habeas corpus pro
ceedings We're brought. Judge Redwine
llidAfy Q6GtQeG 10 ADMIT the men to bail
in $4,000 each. County Judge Hargis
and Sheriff Callahan had bonds dra wn
up but after q consultation between
them and the lawyers they refused 70
sign the bonds. and the two men were
taken by the soldiers inside their lines
and manacled in the military guard
house. with heavy guard on watcl
ana strong OutDosts.
The grand jury meets today. and
Judge RedWlne said these cases would nc
taken before that body
Inc Haddicks boys and Luntze fully
identified the men and it is claimed
some members of the Even family saw
them come out of the house 1t is sun
/ posed they watched their opportllnitv
and, while the family were in the din
ing room rushed up the back stairs and
threw a lighted torch or ball of rags
saturated with oil into the garret and
then made their escape The men evi-
IDENTIFY knew the construction of lhe
house There was no fire in any of Tn
/ fues in that section of the building
Howard F'ulkes. a boarder. heard per
sons come up stairs hurriedly and rur
down again.
Crawford and Tharp have both stayed
: at EWen's hotel and were familiar with
the building and the habits of the fam
lily.
The burning of Ewen's hotel is moi
only considered as incendiary. but alse
as accessory to other acts of intimila-
tion in connection with the pend
ing trial of those accused OF
the murder of J. p Marcuin
who was an attorney of contestants fol
: county Offices now held by leaders oi
the faction with which the defendenis
were identified. tt has beer openly pre-
dicted that there would be the fashins
of incendiaiv warnings. that arsoi
would go along with assassination. as
: disciplinary measures might be needed
in Breathitt county. 1t is now stated
tha- other witnesses for the common
5 wealth were not property owners. bu
3 that the jurors who are farmers ans
witnesses who could not be found whef