Oxford eagle. (Oxford, Lafayette Co., Miss.) 1876-current, 1903-06-18
ENEN|S HOTEL DESTROYED.
Principal Witness Against Jett and
White Suffers a Financial
Loss.
APPREHENSION INCREASED AT JACKSON.
PriucipaI witness Against the Men
Who Are Charged With the MUIR
der of J. b. Marcum Is In Danger
of Being Shot and Sleeps With
Soldiers.


hotel at Jackson, Ky, three-story
building, owned by Capt. B. j. Even,
the principal witness against Jett and
White. now on trial there for the as
sassination of Lawyer J. B. Marcum,
was burned to the ground early Sun
dav morning. There were Is guests
in the hotel, but all escaped without
injury. There was no insurance on
the structure, and the hotel, together
with it's furnishings and the effects or
the guests, is a total loss. The origin
of the fire is unknown, but the belief
is general that the fire was of incen-
diary origin.
Capt. 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 it's citizens were awak-
ened by the firing of pistols and guns,
and much excitement prevailed. A de-
tachment of militia came on the
uOuDlc llOnl thCil NehhiP O~S
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 Jett fire
the shot which willed 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.
Arson and Assassination.
The burning of Ewen's hotel is not
only considered as incendiary, but as
accessory to the other acts of in
timidation in connection with the
pending trial of those accused of the
murder of J. B. Marcum, who was an
attorney of contestants for county Of
| fees held by the leaders of the fac
ton with which the defendants were
identified. it has been openly predict
ed that there would be the flashing of
incendiary warnings, that arson would
go along with assassination as dis
ciplinary measures might be needed
in Breathitt county.
Capt B. j. Marcum was the chief
witness for the prosecution in the
pending trials of Curtis Jett and Tom
White. Even is the deputy sheriff who
testified that he saw Jett as he ad-
vanced with pistol in hand to fire the
| last shot into Marcum's prestrate
body as it lay in the courthouse door
way. Through fears for his own safe
| ty 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 to the country until he
could have protection of troops.
House Under Guard.
Ewen's house has been under guard
of detail OF soldiers for several
weeks, and as more stringent pre-
caution against assassination he slept
in camp at provost marshal's head
| quarters. Several days ago party
| visited him at his home and made him
a proposition that if he would repudi-
ate what he had related on the wit
ness stand. saying he testified to what
was not true because of the excite
ment which he was under, he would
be given $1,000 by certain prominent
citizen, and that if he did not accept
1 4b;e offar ba would ba oSSocSinata cd
He encourag ged his visitor to return in
the afternoon and stationed two wit
nesses in a closet who overheard a
repetition of the proposition and the
| threat which was accompanied by the
tender of the five crisp $1,000 notes
actual danger, but few were prepared
for step as desperate as that which
| came Sunday, and it is generally be.
lieved that the incendiary fire was due
| to the statement made to Inspector
Hines about the attempt at bribery as
well as Ewen's testimony.
Even Family Now Dependent.
Mrs Even and her children are
/ poorly clad, and lost everything. The
| hotel and furniture had been insured
but only week ago. Capt. Even was
notified that On account of threaten
ing conditions the company had de-
| cided to cancel his policy. The house
and fixtures were valued at $4,000
They were the savings of lifetime,
and Even and family are to-day
homeless and dependent on the hos
Eitality of the troops in camp.
Joe Crawford and Ed. Thap, wagon.
eers for the Hargis brothers, are un-
der arrest at the military camp, and
the Hargis faction is making an effort
to obtain their release.
FAST MAIL TRAIN DITCHED,