Waterbury evening Democrat., 1908-02-07
JUDGE HARG|S KILLED
Noted Kentucky Feudist Is Shot
Dead In Store by His Son.
MIXED UP IN MANY MURDERS
Victim Figured In Mountain Courts
For Years In Connection With tho
Assassnations of James 3. Mareum,
Jim Cockrill and DR.. Cox.

Jackson, KY, Feb. 7-Former Coun-
ty Judge James Hargis, for many years
member of the state Democratic ex-
ecutive committee, accused of COM
plicity in many killings and promi-
nent figure in the feuds which have
disrupted Breathitt county for several
years, was shot and instantly killed in
his general store here by his son,
Beach Hargis.
The son fired five shots in rapid
succession at his father, who fell dead
while his clerks were waiting on Gus
toners. The exact cause of the muir
der has not been learned, but it is sup
, posed to have been the result of differ.
ences which have existed between ia
| ther and son for some time. The two
men are reported to have had severe
quarrel several nights ago, when the
father, it is alleged, was compelled to
resort to violence to restrain his son.
Young Hargis, it is said, had been
drinking heavily Of late. He came into
the store and was apparently under
the influence of liquor. Judge Hargis,
it is said, spoke to his son about drink
ing, and quarrel resulted. Father
and son stepped behind counter in
the store, when the son after only a
few minutes conversation drew a re-
volver and fired five shots. Four took
effect, Judge Hargis falling dead. The
young lady stenographer and the Gus
toners in the store rushed for the
doors and fed in fright.
Young Hargis was arrested by Town
Marshal Goran Smith and Grover
Blanton and placed in Jail. He was
raving like maniac, and the officers
were compelled to drag him to jail.
Judge Hargis had been for years a
prominent figure in Kentucky in politi.
cal and criminal circles. He had fig
ured 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 politi'
cal leader of the Democrats in the
Tenth district and was the boss" OF
was not opposed but some years ago
Mr. Marcum had the temerity to op.
pose Hargis In law case. From that
date Marcum was n marked man.
He had been on trial at various times
for completely in the murder of James
h. Marcum. Jim Cockrill and DR.. Cox,
but had secured an acquittal on all the
charges. He was recently forced to
pay a Judgment Of $1,000 to Mrs. Mar.
cum in connection with the death OF
her husband. verdict having been
found against him in the circuit court
at Winchester.
From this time on the story of the
Hargis- -CockriIl feud was written in
blood. The next TO fall was Jim Cock.
rill, the town marshal. But shortly
after the murder of Cockrill, when in
terest had been mildly aroused, James
b. Marcum. the attorney for the Cock
rill boys, created tremendous sensa-
tion by going TO Lexington and pub
licly declaring that he was marked
man.
One morning in May five years ago
Marcum went TO the courthouse In
Jackson to transact some business. He
was standing at the door Of the court
house talking TO Captain Even when
a shot rang out. Marcum staggered
from the steps and fell dying, but the
assassin stepped up and TO make sure
shot him again through the back Of
the head. The assassin was Curt Jett,
the wild Dog" who has since con-
fessed his part in the tragedy and who
was accused Of the others. He and
Tom White are now serving life SEN
tences in tffe penitentiary.
Judge Hargis will be buried in a cas-
ket which he himself purchased about
O month ago.