The times and democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1881-current, 1908-02-11
SHOT BY HIS SON
Judge nargis, Famous Figure in
Kentucky Political Annals.
DIES WITH BOOTS ON.

Beach Hargis, Young Son of tn
Judge, While Drinking Shoots Hi
Father Five Times in His Own
Store.-The Dead Man Was Mixed
Up in Many Scrapes and Had Beer
Tried for Murder.
1t Jackson, KY, former Count!
Judge James Hargis, for many year!
member of the State Democratic exc
cutive committee, accused of com
glicity in many killings, and a prom
snsnt figure in the feuds which have
disrupted Breathitt County for sever
NJ years, was shot and killed in hi!
asore about $3.50 P. M. Thursday by
lis son, Beach Hargis. The: SON fired
Eve shots in rapid succession at hi:
father, who fell dead while his
clerks were waiting on customers
The exact cause Of the murder has
0ot been learned, but it is supposed
10 have been the result OF
differences which have existed be-
tween father and son for some time
The two men are reported to have
had a severe quarrel several nights
ago, when the father, it is alleged
was compelled to resort to violence
to restrain his son.
Young Hagris, it is said, had been
drinking heavily of late. he came
into the store Thursday afternoon
and was apparently under the influ-
,ence Of liquor. Judge Hargis, it is
said, spoke to his son about drink
Ing and a quarrel resulted. Father
and son stepped behind counter
when the son, after minutes con-
versation, drew a revolver and fired
Eve shots. Four took effect, Judge
Hargis falling dead. The young lady
stenographer and the customers in
the store he'd. Young Hargis was ar
rested and placed in Jail. He was
raving like a maniac and the officers
were compelled to drag him to jail.
Judge Hargis had been for, years a
prominent figure in Kentucky in po-
litical and criminal circles. He has
figured in the Courts in the noun
tains for years on account of the
murders of DR.. Cox, Attorney Mar
cum and "Jim" Cockrill. Judge Har-
sis was present leader Of the Dem
ocrats of the 10th district and was
regarded as the "boss" Of Breathitt,
County.
For years his sway was not oppos-
ed, but some years ago James B.
Marcum had the temerity to oppose
Hargis in a law case. From that
day he was a marked man.
Judge Hargis had been on trial at
various times for completely in the
murder of Marcum, Jim" Cockrill
and DR.. Cox, but had been acquitted
on all of the charges. He was re-
Gently forced to pay judgment OF
$4,000 to Mrs. Marcum in connec-
tion with the death Of her husband.
Judge Hargis had Just disposed OF
this, the last Of these cases in which
ne had been involved when he paid
the judgment of the Court. MIS-.
Marcum had sued Judge Hargis ana
others for 100000, alleging that
they caused the death of her hus-
band.
The Hargis-Cockrill fued had its
inception in a political contest. me
Hargises had long been dominant IN
Breathitt County, where they con-
Quoted a general store, were engaged
in the lumber business and were gen
erally active. The brothers, James,
Alexander and Elbert, were good
business men and accumulated q lot
tune.
The trouble with the Cockrills
arose when the latter opposed the
the Hargises at the polls. Feehng
was bitter, when one day, Benjamin
Hargis, younger brother OF James
Hargis, met one Of the Cockrill boys
in a "blind tiger" near Jackson ana
was killed by his enemy.
IN the fall of 1902, DR.. Cox the
of the Cockrill boys VINO
lived on the outskirts of Jackson
was shot as he entered his home one
night by assassins concealed across
the way. John Smith, John Aoner
and others Of the alissS l hafE!s
hand were accused Of the crime ana
in a confession made by one or them
Judge Hargis was charged with nav
,ng hired them to kill DR.. Cox.
From this time on the story OF tne
Hargis-Cockrill feud was written III
Mood The next to fall was Jim
Cockrill, the town marshall. ohor'is
after the murder of Cockrill, James
r Marcum, the attorney lot tne
cockrill boys, created sensation oy
nubllcly declaring in Lexington tna'
he was a marked man, and thaI he
had been doomed to death by the
.Hargis clan.
One morning in May, FIVE years
900 Narcum was shot down while
standing at the door of the Cour'
House at Jackson talking to Capt
Ewing, the assassin being Curtis Jet'