The Big Sandy news. [volume] (Louisa, Ky.) 1885-1929, 1908-09-25
KILLED..
Will Rutherford, Of Pike County
Shot to Death 10 W. Va.

The NEWS Is indebted to the
Mingo Republican for most Of the
facts of his bloody story,
Last week VIII Rutherford, who
was born and reared In Pike coun-
ty, was shot and killed in a reyol-
yer battle with policemen at Rich
wood, Richie county.
According to reports, two police
men at Redwood and placed Harve
Elliott, also from this section under
arrest and Rutherford, who was his
son-in-law, interferred in his behalf.
1t is said that Rutherford was drink
ing and demanded of the police that
they release Elliott, A few hot words
were exchanged and Rutherford drew
bis revolver and began firing, The
chief OF police was shot in the right
ann and another policeman was 90
badly wounded that he has since
died. One of the balls from Ruther-
ford's revolver also struck his
iatheT-in-Iaw and Inflicted a serious
wound. ,h.r .ts..s.r
Reports sent out from Redwood
say that the chief Of police fired the
shot which killed Rutherford, After
being wounded In the right arm he
crew his revolver with his left and
fred, the ball striking Rutherford in
the forehead. Elliott tells that the
shot was fired by some unknown man
who was a witness TO the affair.
With the death of VIII Rutherford
the last scene was enacted in the
tragic history of Kentucky family,
At the farm house on Pond creek
the friends and relatives have gather
ed around the remains of the father
joe Rutherford, and his two sons
John and VIII, all three of whom
we're victims of the deadly revolver
A third son is now in An asylum, hi
mind demented and his sight gone
Mrs. Joe Rutherford, the mother o.
John and WIN, died some years be-
!, fore her husband was killed.
S About 25 years ago Joe Ru herfort
, was shot and killed by Bill Adkins
OF Martin County, Kentucky. TIL,
4 shooting occurred at the mouth o
o Sycamore reek, now the casterI
q limits Of Williamson. The two lnel
, we're riding along the county roat
: ard engaged in a dispute over poll
a tics. Adkins, Il is charged, but wit
very slight provocation, drew his y
: yolyer and shot Rutherford dead
- He succeeded In making his escap
p from the country and has not sine
been heard Of.
II About six years ago John Ruthei
"a ford was shor and killed in Kentuck
"a ly Ephraim Hatfield. It will be rC
10 called that Rutherford and Harr
u, Watts went 10 the home of ThomI
y Hatfield, father of bad Eph," .
b, Blackberry creek in Pike county,ft
ia the purpose of arresting him. 1t
= said that the two men rushed int
~ the Hatfield home, drawn revolver
:, IN hand, while old man Hatfield an
s- his family were sitting around II
,e fire place. Eph was lying on the be
a but raised with his trusty revolvt
9 in hand, when the two men rusht
@ into the ROOM John Rutherford
. IL said fired the first shot, killil
. cid man Hatfield who raised from h
chair in front of his son. Wat
10 began firing and although mortal
a wounded, Eph did not err In his ail
> Rutherford was shot dead, Fatal
, wounded Watts ran from the lou
Il and was found few hours later
= sitting position in a fence corn
., dead Eph was young man wi
10 frequently got into trouble but o
:, man Thomps was law-abiding Al
peaceful citizen.
Joe Rutherford was considered OF
Of the best citizens Of this sectic
y. and It is said that his murder w
cold blooded and uncalled for. Jol
u aud VIII Rutherford were of wi
n disposition and were considered da
L. gerous when under the influence
re, whiskey and 1t is told that they {
B. their father, with their boots on
rs. thir fathr, with their boots on
he viii, 1t is said, had killed four nj,
W. in his wanderings in West Virginia.
re