The Washington herald., 1908-02-07

Jackson, Ky, Feb. 6-"Now that the
courts have failed, I only trust that Goa
VIII punish this man for the murder Of
my husband These were the words ut
tered by Mrs. Abrella Marcum, widow Of
the last victim of the Hargis-Cockrill
feud, after the acquittal of Judge James
Hargis for the murder Of James B. Mar
cum three years ago.
Since then Judge HaTgis had been tried
on charges Of having procured the assas-
sination of DR.. b. D. Cox and of James
Cockriu, and acquitted of both but had
been forced. i'm connection with Ed Calla-
han, to pay $500 to the widow of Marcum
by the civil court as balm for his murder,
and the heirs of Dr. Cox have in the
court a suit for $4,000 against Hargis
and others for the assassination of Dr.
Cox.
To-day Judge Harsis was killed in his
own store, and by his own son.
For the first time since the murderous
band fred upon the brilliant young attor-
ney James b, Marcm, while he was
standing in the front door of the court
house. the peace of the quiet little town
was disturbed with a murder.
Aided in GOebeIs Nomination.
This time the now famous feud leader
the one-time political power of the
mountains. the man who made Judge
BedWnc chairman of the famous Music
Hall convention which nominated Will
fam GoobcI for governor of Kentucky. ul-
Jimatoly resulting i'm his assassination ON
the capitol grounds us he was about to- Dee
declared the winner of a sensational cleo
tiou contest is the slain. Judge Harsis
was shot 1--WE times
The driuk-crazed son. Bcccher HarEis,
IS languishing in Jail. with a strong guard
about the premises. The parricide Is but
tweuty-one years old. lie is an only son.
the other child of Judge Hargis being a
girl, Evelyn. who was married only a
month ago 20 DIR. H0gg, a prosperous
physician of thc town.
Beecher H8ssis has for some years
been mruly, and has frequently run away
from home. lie was recently arrested
for vagrancy u Cincinnati. and bis
mother brought him back.
Several nights ago Beecher Hargis and
his father had dispute, and Judge Har-
gis restrained the boy from doing him
violence by sheer force. To-day the boy
was drunk About 3 o'clock ne walked
into his fathers store. and when the
father upbraided him for drinking he ran
behind the counter ard, securing a re-
volver, began firing at his father. AT the
first shot, which struck the parent in the
chest Judge Hargis fell. The boy then
ran toward him. firing as he approached,
until he had fired five shots.
Youth Having Maniac
There were in the store only James
Brophy and TWO women. Brophy grappled
with the young man after he had emptied
his revolver. and in a few minutes officers
arrived and Beecher was dragged to Jail,
where tonight he is apparently a raving
maniac.
Judse Hergis was county judge for
many years, and had built up a strong
friendship. becoming a political power
The Coekrius and CardwelIs and Mar
Gums stood in mis- way to perpetual pros
perity, and J. B. MarcUm, a fearless
Young attorney. headed a contest TO the
election of Hargis and Edward Gala
han, starting the Hargis-Cockrill feud,
which almost bankrupted Hargis in Grim
inal and civil prosecutions.
Upon examination. there were found
besides the bullet in the breast, which
was fatal, three bullets In the abdomen
and one in the left leg The boy, when
he began shooting. threw his overcOat
over his fathers face.