The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1907-05-26

icle of the mountain feuds usually tells
of the net results, including the list
of victims, without throwing much
light upon the character of tho clans
man. Novelists have added falsity to
fiction by writing melodrama rather
than Greek poetry about the mountain
Ger yet in his true character the teud-
list is not unpicturesque.
''Bad Tom Smith was the only man
ever legally executed in Breathitt coun-
ty. Kentucky, where il is estimated
that 500 men have met violent death
since the Civil war. He bore little
malice or hatred in his heart, yet to
kill a man 10 accommodate friend
was no infraction of his code, and
shooting from ambush mover violated
his conscience Upon one occasion a
powerful elan leader decided that
prominent physician encumbercd the
earth. and bad Tom undertook his
elimination with a careful attention 10
detail that left little chance of mis-.
carriage of his plans With trusted
friend Smith visited the physician s
home and sought hls professional serv-
ices.
A careful examination of the pre-
tended sufferer rallied 10 reveal the
slightest cause for an affliction which
he insisted manifested itself in UNI
bcarable pains about midnight, The
physician s interest was aroused. lie
readily agreed to adopt the suggestion
of Smith that he should remain over
night so that diagnosis might be
made. AT the witching hour the doc
tor heard piteous groans coming from
the room occupied by the patient and
his companion. Springlng from his
bed, he rushed into the room. Smith.
who was sitting up with chip can
non in his hand, calmly shot the ply.
sician dead His companion testified
that the shot was fred IN resisting an
attempt upon the part OF the physician
10 commit robbery. The true story
did not become public until Smith un-
ravelled 4 great many mountain mys.
terIos by way of passing time between
the date of his conviction, for sub
sequcnt murder. and the date of his
execution.
Having contracted TO assassinatc
man who had been rendered somewhat
gun shy by having received warn
ing. ''Bad Tom hit upon the happy
plan of getting his intended victim
To attend funeral at an exposed Gem"
etery. He provided the funeral by the
simple expcdient of killing the man g
brother. Upon the morning of the OBJ
sequies he stationed himself upon
wooded bill overlooking the cemetery
and patiently awaited the conclusion
of the ceremonies. as he was church
member and disIihed TO disturb public
worship. AS the mournerS were turn
ing 10 leave the grave the report of a
rife was heard aud the man who was
"wanted fell TO the ground with n
bullet In his breast. In the confusion
attending the tragedy Smith slipped
quietly away through the bushes. lcav-
ing no clue TO his identity,
When ''Bad Tom was finally con
victed there was much speculation as
10 whether he would make a confes-
sion duplicating the men who had used
him as a tool. but those who had hoped
for sensational developments were dis
appointed He accepted his sentence
like n philosopher, dryly observing that
he saw no reason for drawing his life
long friends into the controversy. The
hanging of "Bad Tom was looked
forward to as a great event In the
mountains. Friends and enemies alike
anticipated the event with keen pleas
urc because of its spectacular features.
When the gallows was being erected
itinerant venders Of gingerbread, cider,
friend chicken and fish sandwiches
were busy building booths for the en-
topic of conversation was how Smith
would take his medicine.
Sunrise was the hour set for the
hanging. but in response 10 a popular
request, the sheriff put it off until 8
0 clock so that passengers arriving on
the morning train could he present.
The train was late and the sheriff
would have proceeded, but 'Bad
h. nd i
exchanging repartee with old friends
and with enemies who approached him
without fear for the first time, good
humoredly suggested that it would be
q shame to give the show before the
audience assembled. When the trap
was finally sprung the mortal remains
of bad Tom dangled ar the end of
Il rope that formed the center of the
largest concourse of mountaineers that
had ever gathered at Jackson.
Killings in the feud country arise
from trivial causes. Several young
men were seining a creek, and the man
dividing the fish was humorist. He
put all of the small fish In one mans
pile, and the crowd enjoyed laugh
at the expense of the victim of the
joke. Apologies and a new division
were made, but the man who had been
NuHllldten DroOued over the wrong
done him. A few days later the bu-
morist was found face downward upon
8 mountain road with a bullet hole be
tween his shoulders. Ten DAYS later
the man who could not see the humor
Of the practical joke was found in
somewhat similar position with some.
what similar hole between his shout
dcrs. In the course of time the origin
Of the feud was forgotten, but for
years the two families continued to ex-
change shots when occasion offered
and the aggregate results of the practi.
cal Joke grew 10 enormous and ghastly
proportions.
"A mountaineer who is "marked'
sometimes goes into his house and there
remains for an indefinite period. or up-
ill a friend succeeds in ambushing the
man who is looking for him. From
the time that DR.. B. D. Cox was as
sassinated until the Kentucky militia
occupied Jackson to restore order and
protect the court during an investiea.
tion by a special grand jury, Police
Chamberlain Colic, Cholera and