The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1907-12-12
IN OUR own STATE
lob eco Society Outrage Destroys
Property Worth S2OO,ooO Francis
Fountain Finished.

property worm S&OO,OOO - Francis
Fountain Finished.
The war between the tobacco grow
ers and the trust has at last broken
out. as had been feared, in an cut
rage which is disgrace to the state
that will not be forgotten in years
and Will always be black mark
against her fair name. Last Friday
night a band OF about 500 riders
mostly masked, went from Trigg coun-
ty to Hopkinsvile the county seat
Of Christian County, and practically
sacked the town. They took posses
sion OF the police and fire depart
ments, and Of the telegraph and tele-
phone stations, so that no help could
be- brought to the buildings they in
tended to destroy, and men with rifles
} ept up a constant fire. terrifying wo-
men and children, so that no citizens
would come out OF their homes. The
mob then went TO work and burned
down a number Of buildings, some Of
them full of tobacco. causing damage
amounting to between $4,000 and
5000 900. Like other mobs they showed
ne ither deceacy nor kindness to wo-
men, made the telephone girls stand
out in the cold night air. and shot a
railroad brakeman who tried to save
his train. which they had no reason
for wanting to burn.
Several OF the men were not masked
and ware recognized. Militia men
were put on their trail, and for a
while there we're good hopes that they
cculd be caught and punished. Gov.
Beckham. however. who at first talked
as II he WIS ready to punish the raid
crs. chansed his mind when there was
3 chance to do something, and refused
Is Hend more troops at the time when
they were most needed. 1t is not
known yet whether he has succeeded
In preventing all prosecutions.
Steps have been taken at winches-
ter to declare forfeit the bond OF F.
b. Feltner, and to collect 1t from his
bondsmeD, A. II. and Judge Hargis,
and b. F. French. The amount is
about 81 800.
The fountain given by David r.
Francis to Richmond was finished
Saturday. when A. ]. Zolney, a noted
architect Of st. Louis. went there with
a bust Of a frontiersman which he
placed on the handsome granite foun-
tain. The bust is made of bronze, and
the total cost of the fountain is about
$4,000. Ex-Governor Francis Of Mis-
souri,, who makes the gift, is a ma
tive OF Madison County and is expect
ing to come with his family to Rich
mond in the spring. when the foun-
tain will be dedicated.
The drill continues to pound in the
oil section Of Kentucky in spite Of the
cold and unfavorable weather, but in
several sections little is doing. One
good well was brought in in Wayne
County, and the week showed good
results.
An attempt was made TO blow up
the jail at Williamsburg Friday night,
and three men have been arrested on
the charge. The deputy jaller was
thrown down. but no one was injured.
II. e. James OF Leitchfield will be
appointed Assistant State Treasurer
under Edwin Farley. II. P. Num- hav-
Ing declined the place on account OF
private business.
Kentucky jallers in session at Frank.
fort last Thursday decided to have a
bill introduced at the next session of
the General Assembly providing for
electrocution instead of hanging for
capital punishment.