Mexico weekly ledger., 1908-02-13
HARGIS
KILLED BY SON
FAMOUS RUED LEADER MEETS
FATE WHICH OVERLOOK
MANY OF his FOES.
Had Quarrslsd and it Is Thought This
Led to Death Of Principal in
Marcum. Cox and Cockrill
Assassinations.

Led to Death Of Principal in
Marcum. Coz and Cockrill
Assassinations.
jackson, KY, Feb. 7.-Former Coun-
ty Judge James Hargis, for many years
member Of the State Democratic exc
cutive committee, accused Of compli-
city In many murders and a promi-
nent figure in the feuds which have
disrupted Breathitt county for seve,
raj years, was shot and instantly kill
ed in bis general store here Thursday
afternoon by his son, Beach Hargis.
The son fired five shots In rapid sue
cesslon at bis father, who fell dead
while his clerks were waiting on Gus
toners.
The exact cause OF the murder has
not been learned, but 1t is supposed to
have been the result Of differences
which have existed between father
and son for some time. The two rlen
are reported to have had a quarrel
several nights ago, when the father, it
is alleged, was compelled to resort to
violence to restrain bis son.
Young Hargis, 1t is said, has been
drinking heavily Of late. He came in
to the store late in the afternoon and
was apparently under the influence Of
liquor. Judge Hargis, il is said spoke
to his son about bis drinking and a
quarrel resulted.
srEPPED BEHIND THE COUNTER.
Father and son stepped behind a
counter in the store, when the son, af-
ter only a few minutes conversation,
drew a revolver and fred five shots
Four took effect, the noted mountain
character falling dead.
The young lady stenograpber and
the customers 10 the store rushed for
the doors and fled in fright.
Young Hargis was arrested by Town
| Marshal German Smith and Grover
Blanton and placed In jail. He was
raving like a maniac and the officers
we're compelled to drag him to jail.
Judge Hargis has been for years a
prominent figure In Kentucky polit-
ical circles. He has figured in the
courts in the mountains for years on
account OF the murders OF DR.. Cox,
Attorney Marcum and Jim Cockrill,
Judge Hargis was the political leader.
| Of the Democrats OF the tenth dis
trict and was the "boss" leader OF
Breathitt county. For years his sway
was not opposed, but some years age
Mr.. Marcum had the temerity to op-
pose Harris in a law case. From that
date Marcum is said to have been q
marked man.
WAS TRIED FOR MURDER.
He had been on trial at various
times for completely in the murder Of
flames B. Marcum, Jim Cockrill anc
DR.. Cox, but had secured an acquitta
on all the charges. He was recently
forced to pay q Judgment Of $4,000 tx
Mrs. Marcum In connection with tbs
death Of her husband, a verdict hay
ing been found against him In thI
county court at Winchester.
Judge Hargis had just disposed 0
this, the last Of the cases in which b
had been involved by his connection
with the Hargis-C ockrill feud, Thel
he paid q check Of over s11,O0
to Mrs. Marcum. Mrs. Marcum hat
sued Judge Hargis and Others 70
s1OO, 900, alleging that they caused
the death of her husband. Thougl
Hargis was acquitted of the charge Q
baying murdered Marcum, the Win
chester jury awarded Mrs. Marcun
IS, 600 damages against him.
The Hargis-O ockrill feud, out o
which grew the almost innumerabl
tragedies with which Judge Hargis
name linked, had It's inception in
political contest. The Hargis famil
had long been dominant in Breathit
county, where they conducted a ger
, eral store, were engaged In the lum
Der business and were generally &C
, tive. The brothers, James, Alex an
Ebert, were good business men an
accumulated what In the mountain
Is a great fortune.
FEUD STARTED AT THE POLLS.
The trouble with the Cockrlll
! arose when Cockrills opposed the Hal
lgises at the polls. Feeling was bite
} when one day Ben Hargis, q youn
brother of Judge James Hargis, me
, one of the Oockrill boys In a bin
tiger near Jackson. There was a gu
play and Oockrilllkilled Ben Hargis.
i In the fall Of 1902 came the fir
murder In the feud. DR.. Cox, I'll
guardian OF the Oockrlll boys, was tt
victim. DR.. Cox lived on the GU
( skirts Of Jackson. He was called fro
his home one night to answer a pr
: fessional call. AS he entered his ga
7 on the way home he was shot |
!, ~assassins concealed across the wa.
s Afterwards John Smith, John Abn'
K and Others Of the alleged Harg
band OF assassins were accused Of Il
. crime and in a'confession made by Of
of them they asserted that JudgeHa
d gis hired them TO kill DR.. Cox.
From this time on the story OF Ha
gis-C ockrlll feud was written In bloc
d The next to fall was Jim Cockrill, +
town marshal.
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