The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1903-06-15
BURNED HIS HOTEL
HOW JETT'S FRIENDS GOT EVEN
WITH EVEN.
THEY HAD 1T IN FOR HIM
AND so TOUCHED THE TORCH TO
HIS PROPERTY.

Time of the Fire-For safety from
Assassination He Was at the
Camp of the MiIitia-NObOdy Was
Seen to Leave the Hotel just Be-
fore the Fire Was Discovered.
There Were Fifteen Guests in the
HOuse-They All Escaped.
Jackson, KY, June 1.-THE City
Hotel at Jackson, three-story
building owned by Capt. B. ]. Even,
the princiapl witness against Jett and
White, now on trial for the assassina-
ton of Lawyer j. B. Marcum, was
burned to the ground early this morn
ing. Fifteen guests were in the hotel,
but all escaped without injury. There
was no insurance on the structure, and
the hotel, with its furnishings and the
effects of the guests, is a total loss.
The origin of the fire is unknown, but
the belief is general that it was of in
cendiary origin.
Capt Even recently had 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.
Awakened by Firing.
The town of Jackson has no fire de-
partment, and its citizens were awak-
ened by the firing of pistols and guns,
and much excitement prevailed. A de-
tachment 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.
Capt. Even has been kept at the
camp of the militia since he testified
last Monday that he saw Curtis Jet
fire the shot which killed Marcum.
Nobody was seen to leave the hotel
before the fire broke out. 1t was only
two days ago that Jackson was put
under martial law.
Arson Was Predicted.
The burning of Ewens hotel this
morning is not only considered as in
cendiary but also as accessory to other
acts of intimidation in connection with
the pending 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 ar
son would go along with assassination,
as disciplinary measures might be
needed in Breathitt county 1t is now
stated that other witnesses for the
commonwealth are not property own
ers. but that the jurors. who are farm
ers, and witnesses, who could not be
found when attachments 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 convic-
ton of either of the prisoners.
why Even Is DisIiI<ed.
Capt. B. ]. Even was the chief wit
ness for the prosecution in the pend
ing trial of Jet and White. He testi-
fed that he saw Jett as he advanced,
with pistol in hand, to fire the last shot
into Marcum's PROSTATE body, as it lay
in the Court House doorway. Though
fears for his own safety, he testified
that he did not dare to allow 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 soldiers for several weeks, and as
a more stringent precaution against
assassination, he slept in camp at the
provost marshaPs headquarters. Sew
eral DAYS ago man visited him at
his home and made him a proposition
that if he would repudiate what he had
related on the witness stand saying
that he testified to what was not true
because of the excitement which he
was under, he would be given $4,000
by a certain prominent citizen, and
that if he did not accept this offer he
would be assassinated.
Ewen's Danger Recognized.
He encouraged his visitor in the aft
ernoon to return and stationed two
witnesses in a closet who overheard
repetition of the proposition, and the
threat which was accompanied by the
tender of five 1000, dollar notes.
No one has doubted that Even was
in actual danger, but few were pre-
pared for a step so desperate as that
which came to-day. and it is believed
generally that the incendiary fire was
due to the statement to State Inspector
Hines, about the attempted bribery, as
we'll as to Ewen's testimony.
CIarey's Narrow Escape.
John Clarey of Louisville, a tele-
ond floor of the hotel when the fire
was discovered In the excitement he
was not awakened until the flames had
shut off egress by the front stairway,
and he had a narrow escape from
death.
Mrs Even and her children were
poorly clad and lost everything. The
hotel and the furniture had been in
sured. but only a week ago Capt. Even
was notified that on account of threat
ening conditions the company had de-
cided to cancel his policy. The house
and fixtures were valued at about &c.,
900. They were the savings of a life
time. and Even and family tonight
are homeless and dependent on the hos
pitality of the troops in the camp.
Arrested on Suspicion.
Three men reported having seen Joe
Crawford and Ed Thap wagoners for
the Hargis brothers, come across the
bridge and return just before the
blaze WAS discovered, and Maj. Allen
ordered these men arrested. They were
taken into the military camp by the
soldiers and manacled IN the guard
house. Gray Haddicks was detained
by the provost guard as "A witness
Soon the Hargis people were very ac-
live They sent attorneys and swofe
Qua writs OF habeas corpus before
Judge Redwine, making them return
able al once The wFits were served
on Maj Alien and be sent the prison
ers 10 the Court House under . strong
guerd commanded BY CAPT Maddox
AFTER a hearing, Judge Kedwine decid-
~ 90 admit the men 90 bail ln 81 600
each. County Judge HarEls and sheF-