The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1908-02-11

NAAb@ III L. N~N a
c4tive committee, accused II compli
city III many killings and a prominent
figure in the feuds which have disrupt
ed Breathitt county for several years,
w4S shot and instantly killed in his
general store here about $50 O'CLOCK
today, by his son, B-acl Har"is The
son fred five shot in rapid succession
al his father, who fell dead while lis
clerks were waiting on customers.
The exact cause OF the murder has
not been learned, but it is supposed
to have been the result Of differences
which have existed between 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 Iio?cEce to re-
strain his SON.
drinking heavily of late. He came IN
to the store this afternoon and was
apparently under the influence of IL
quor. Judge Hargis, it is said, spoke
to his son about drinking and a quar-
rel resulted. Father and son stepped
a few minutes conversation, drew a
revolver and fed five shots. Four took
effect, Judge Hargis falling cead. A
young lady stenographer and the Gus
toners in the store fled in fright.
Young Hargis was arrested and
r1ano1 In Toll IIo To rauino MA q
maniac and the officers were colnpell-
ed to drag him to Jail.
Judge Hargis has been for years a
prominent figure in Kentucky in poll
tical and criminal circles. He has fig
ured in the courts in the mountains for
years on account Of the murders Of
DR.. Cox, Attorney Martin and Jim"
Cockrill. Judge Hargis was the politi-
cal leader of the democrats of the
Tenth district and was regarded as the
81 oss'' of Breathitt county. For years
his sway was not opposed, but some
years ago James B. Marcum had the
temerity to oppose him in a law case
and from that date the latter was a
marked a
Judge Hargis had been on trial al
various times for completely in the
murder Of Narcum, Jim" Cockrill and
DR.. Cox, but had been acquitted on nlI
the charges. He was recently forced
to pay a judgmen. OF $4,000 to Mrs.
Marcum in connection with the death
of her husband.
Mrs. Marcum had sued Judge Hargis
and others for 100000 alleging that
they caused the death of her hus-
band.
The Hargis-Cockrill fued had it's in
ception in a political contest. The
Hargises had long been dominant In
Breathitt county where they conduct
ed a general store, we're engaged in The
lumber business and were generally
active. The brothers James, Alex and
Gilbert were good business men ard
accumulated a fortune.
The trouble with the Cockrills
arose when the latter opposed Hargis
at the polls. Feeling was bitter, when
G41e day Benjamin Hargis, a younger
brother of Judge James Hargis, net
OAo vi IuO NOthllll UOyo III " Dilhu
tiger" near jackson and was killed
by his enemy.
In the fall of 1902 DR.. Cox, the guar
dian of the Cockrill boys, who lived in
the outskirts of jackson, was shot as
he entered his gate on his way home
one night by assassins concealed
across the way. John Smith, John Alb
ner and others of the alleged Hargis
band. were accused of the crime, and
in a confession made by one of them,
Judge Hargis was charged with having
hired them to kill DR.. Cox. From this
time on the story of the Hargis-Cock-
rill feud was written in blood. The
next to fall was Jim" Cockrill, the
town marshal.
Shortly after the murder Of Cock
rill, -ames B. Marcum, the attorney for
the oockrill boys, created a tremen-
dous sansation by publicly declaring in
Lexington that he was a marked"
man, and that he had been doomed to
death by the Hargis clan.
One morning in May five years ago,
Marcum was shot down while stand
ing in the door of the court house at
Jackson talking to Captain Even. The
assassin was Curt" Jett, the wild
dog" who has since confessed his part
in this tragedy, and who was accused
Of other crimes. He and Tom" White
are now serving life sentences in the
peniter tiary.
Judge Hargis will be buried in a
casket costing $500 which he him
scelf purchased about a month age
About 4:30 O'CLOCK this afternoon
the following telegram was received
by The casket company: Express to-
day casket selected by James Hargis,
as he is dead"
(Signedl.
MRS. JUDGE JAMES HARGIS."
BRYAN IN JERSEY CITY.