The Hartford herald. [volume] (Hartford, Ky.) 1875-1926, 1908-02-12
tHARG|S KILLED
: BY HIS OWN SON
Noted Mountain Charac-
ter Shot to Death
IN HIS STORE At JACKSON
Dead Man Had Only a Few
Days Before Ordered
His Own Coffin.

Former County Judge James Hargis
for many years a member of the State
Democratic Executive Committee, ac-
.cused of completely in many murders,
and a prominent figure in the feuds
which disrupted Breathitt county for
several years, was shot and killed
in his general store at Jackson, KY,
Last Thursday afternoon by his son,
Beach Hargls.
The son fired five shots in rapid
succession at his father, who fell
dead while the clerks were waiting
on customers
= Judge Hargis was killed with his
own pistol, Colts forty-five, which
Beach took the day before from a
drawer in the store, where 1t was usu-
ally kept. A few minutes before the
murder, Judge Hargis was walking
around in the store chatting pleas
antly with his customers, while at
the time his son, Beach, was In pool
room a block away down the street
playing pool.
Miss Mary Coffy, a clerk in charge
. of the women's dress goods depart
ment, says she noticed Beach Hargis
come into the front door of the store
where she was waiting on a customer,
and take a seat directly in front,
facing the door. She noticed that he
had been drinking and that in a very
few minutes he arose and walked over
next to the counter. At that time she
and the woman she was waiting on
walked OIL through the archway into
the other store, leaving Judge Hargis,
James Rrophy and another clerk, a
customer whomBrophy was waiting on
and Beech lIargis in the dry goods
department. She had scarcely reached
the other room until the firing be-
gan.
The others who witnessed the shoot
ing say that Judge Hargis walked to-
ward his son and said something to
him, and the boy at once drew the piss
toll and began firing, emptying the
contents into his fathers body. At
ter he drew the gun and began shoot
ing, Judge Hargis caught hold of him
and in an effort to disarm him the
young desperate threw his coat over
his fathers face and thus binding
him, pumped the contents of the re-
volver into his fathers body, one Of
the five shots taking effect below
the left nipple. three in the abdo-
men and one in the leg.
June Jet was at the desk making
an entry When he heard the re-
port he rushed in, reaching the wounC-
ed man in time to catch him just
as he slid down by the counter to the
Sloor. Judge Hargis said to him In
a deathly whisper, Mercy, am kill
ed" and called for aid. These were
the only words he spoke. DR.. Kash
arrived and directed removal of the
wounded man to his home. He expir-
ed as they were carrying him in, less
than ten minutes after the shooting.
Deputy Marshal Goven Smith and
Grover Blanton, WHO arrived on the
scene immediately after the shooting,
/, arrested young Hargis and took him 10
Jail. He fought like maniac on his
way and had to be taken by sheer
force. rrt
The cause of the murder is supposed
to have been the result of differences
which have existed between the faith
er and son for some time. The two
men are reportd to have had Sc
we're quarrel several nights before
when the father, it is alleged, was
compelled to resort to violence to re-
strain his son.
Young Hargis it is said had been
drinking heavily lately.
Beach Hargis has been very dis
sipated for some time, and so wild
his father had lost all control of him.
A few months ago he quarreled with
his father, left home and was put in
jail at Cincinnati after mad spree
His rather refused to go to his re-
lief, but after few days his moth
er appeared in Cincinnati, paid his
fine. secured his release and took him
home. Beach Hargis is twenty-three
years of age.
Judge Hargis was buried in al
casket which he himself purchased