Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1903-05-05
LAWYER ASSASSINATED.


he had finished filing papers reOpenlng
the contested election cases Of Breathitt
county, KY, JamesB. Marcum was shot
and killed yesterday by an unknown as.
sassin. He fell in the front entrance of
the courthouse at Jackson, KY, and
never spoke, death being almost in
Simultaneous. He fell within a few yards
of where Town Marshal James Cockrell
was shot down in July, the assassin be-
ing stationed in the courthouse in each
instance.
Marcum was counsel for the fusionists,
who are contesting for the offices of
county judge, sheriff, and other places
now held by democrats. As a result OF
his efforts and ibis sympathy with the
Cockrel faction in the Hargis- Cockrell
feud he had for year been generally re-
garded as a marked man." Various
plots to assassinate him have been report
ed and sworn to in afidavits. For sew
enty-two days last fall he was a prisoner
in his own home, daring not even to go
out on his porch.
Despite warnings, Marcum felt safe In
resuming his interrupted practice some
time ago, and felt secure in filing a mo-
ton to reopen the election cases, which
had imperiled his life months before.
Yesterday morning he went to the
courthouse at Jackson and the papers
were filed. He walked from the clerk :
Office to the front door of the courthouse,
and, facing the street, engaged in con-
versation with Ben Ewing, friend. The
corridor stretching out to his back was
full of men. Ewing was half leaning on
Marcum's shoulder. The men had been
talking about three minutes when 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 passing
through the breast and body struck the
door facing him. The next shot passed
through the top of his head, and was
aimed as he reeled. The shots appeared
to come from a doorway or possibly
from behind door in the corridor, but
as the passage was quickly cleared amid
great confusion no one seemed able to
state accurately where the assassin was
located. A telegram from County Judge
Harris last night states that the assassin
is still unknown, after diligent search,
and no arrests have as yet been made
zen on suspicion.
Marcum's body lay for ten minutes
untouched. Even his friends feared to
approach the place. The body was
finally picked up by friends and car
ried to drug store opposite, and from
there taken home Some say they saw
the assassin run out of the rear door,
and it seems certain that the murderer
made his escape that way during the
confusion. 1t is generally believed that
the assassin was recognized by some
people. but no one has thus far had the
courage to name him though this ques-
ton is no every ones lips.
Marcum was a trustee ofthe Kentucky
State College, was United States COM
missioner of his district, and represent
ed the Lexington and Eastern Railroad
and other large corporations. He bad
practiced law in Breathitt county for
seventeen years. Hehad avoided feuds,
and until he took charge Of the election
cases which involved the Hargis faction
had been a friend of members OF both
factions. For three months, beginning
last July, he did not leave his home, and
after that for months was always ac-
companied by his wife and women friends
or carried one of his children with him
for protection. The funeral will take
pace in Mount Sterling probably on
Wednesday.