The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1908-02-12

tleships on the Pacific-Htchcock te
Manage Taft Campaign-Franco a
Fugitive - Caid MaeLean Released.
Extra Weeks Pay.
Former County Judge James Har-
gis of Jackson, KY, for number
of years member of the state Dem
ocratic executive committee, accused
OF completely in many killings and a
prominent figure in the feuds which
have disrupted Breathitt county for
several years. was shot and instantly
killed in his general store at jack
son 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
customers.
He came into the store apparently
under the influence of liquor. Judge
Hargis, is is said, spoke to his son
about drinking and quarrel resulted.
Father and son stepped behind a
counter, when the son, after only a
few minutes conversation, drew re-
volver ard fired five shots. Four took
effect, Judge Hargis falling dead.
Judge Hargis had long been promi-
nent in Kentucky political circles and
has figured in the courts in the noun
tains for years on account of the MUIR
ders Of DR.. Cox, Attorney James B.
Marcum and Jim" Cockrill. Judge
Hargis was the political leader of the
Democrats in the Tenth district and
was the boss of Breathitt county.
For years Lis sway was not opposed,
but some years ago Attorney Marcum
had the temerity to oppose Hargis in
law case. From that date Marcum
was a marked man.
Hargis had been on trial at various
times for completely in the murder Of
Marcum, Cockrill and Cox, but had
secured an acquittal on all the
charges. He was recently forced to
pay court Judgment 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 husband.
The Hargis-Cockrill feud, out OF
which grew the numerous tragedies
with which Judge Hargis' name Is
linked, had its inception in political
contest. The Hargises had long been
politically dominant in Breathitt
county, where they had large busi-
ness interests. The brothers, James,
Alexander and Elbert, accumulated
what is regarded in the mountains as
a fortune.
The trouble with the Cockrills arose
when the Cockrills opposed the Har-
gises at the polls. Feeling was bit
ter One day Benjamin Hargis. a
younger brother of Judge James Har-
gis. was killed in a pistol fight with
one of the Cockrill boys.
In the. fall of 1902 came the first
murder In the feud DR.. Cox, the
guardian of the Cockrill boys was the
victim. DR.. Cox lived on the out.
skirts of Jackson. AS he was enter
ing his gate one night he 7as killed
by assassins. Afterwards John Smith,
John Abner and others of the alleged
Hargis band were accused OF the
crime, and one of them confessed that
Judge Hargis hired them to kill DR..
Cox.
The next to fall was Jim Cockrill,
the town marshal But shortly after
the murder of Cockrill. when interest
had been mildly aroused, James B.
Marcum, the attorney for the Cock
rill boys, created a tremendous SEN
sation by going to Lexington and pub
licly declaring that he was marked
man. and that he had been doomed
to murder by the Hargis clan.
One day in 1903 Marcum was stand
ing at the door of the court house in
Jackson talking to Captain Even,
after noted as a witness, when shot
rang out. Marcum 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 Messed his part in this trag.
edy, and who was accused of the
others. He and tom" White are
now serving life sentences in the pen.
itentiary.