The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1903-05-06
And the Assassin's Bullet
Comes Kissing From Its
Shadow.
JAMES B. MARCUM SLAIN
Ne Had lust FiledPapers al Jackson, Kentucky
Reopening Contested Election Cases Of
Breathitt County When the Bull
lei OF The Unknown Struck
Him Down.
Him Down..
(By the Associated Press.)

Lexington, KY, May Aust after he
had finished filing papers reopening the
contested election cases of Breathitt
county. James B. Marcum. was shot aad
killed by an unknown assassin. He fell
in the front entrance of tho court house
at Jackson, Ky, and never spoke, death
being almost instantaneous. He. fell
within few yards of where Town Mar
shall James Cockrell was shot down in
July. the assassin being stationed in the
court house in each instance.
Marcum was counsel for the fusonista
who are contestiEg for the offices OF
county Judge, sheriff and other places
now held by Democrats. AS a result oi
his efforts and his connection with the
Oockrell 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 reported and sworn to in affidavits.
For seventy-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 motion to re-
open the election cases which had i'm
perilled his life months before. Alone
he went to the court house at Jackson
and the papers were filed. He walked
from the Clerks office to the front door
OF the court house and facing the street
engaged in conversation with Ben Ew-
ing, a 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, ard
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 assRsin was located.
A telegram from County Judge Harris
tonight states that the assassin is still
unknown, after dligent search and no
arrests have as yet been made, even 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 carried to a
drug store opposite the court house, and
from there taken home.
Some say they saw the assassin run
out of the rear door. and it seems GER
tain 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 question is on every
ones lips
Marcum was a trustee OF the Kentucky
State College, was United States Com
missioner of his district. He practiced
in Breathitt county for seventeen years.