The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1908-02-12
SHOT BY HIS SON
Judge HargIs, Famous Figure in
Kentucky Political Annals.
DIES WITH BOOTS ON.

DIES WITH BOOTS ON.
Beach Hargis, Young Son Of th'
Judge, While Drinking Shoots Hi
Father Five Times in His Ow1
Store.-The Dead Man Was Nixet
Up in Many Scrapes and Had Beer
Tried for Murder.
At Jackson, KY, former County
Judge James Hargis, for many year:
member Of the State Democratic exc
cut!ve committee, accused of com.
plicity in many killings, and a prom
nent figure in the feuds which have
disrupted Breathitt County for sever.
al years, was shot and killed in his
store about $3.50 P. NJ. Thursday by
his son, Beach Eargis. The son fred
five shots in rapid succession at his
father. who fell deac while his
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 be-
tween father and son for some time.
The two men are reported to have
lad a severe quarrel several nights
ago, when the father, it is alleged,
was compelled to resort to violence
to restrain his son.
Young Hagris, it is said, had beea
drinking heavily Of late. he came
into the store Thursday afternoon
and was apparently under the indu-
ence of liquor. Judge Hargis, it is
said, spoke to his son about drink
ing and quarrel resulted. Father
and son stepped behind a counter
when the son, after a minutes con-
Eersation, drew a revolver and fired
ave shots Four took effect, Judge
Eargis falling dead. The young lady
stenographer and the customers in
the store fed. Young Hargis was ar
rested and placed in jail. He was
raving like a maniac and the officers
were compelled to drag him to jail.
Judge Hargis had been for years
prominent figure in Kentucky in po-
litical and criminal circles He has
figured in the Courts in the noun
tains for years on account OF the
murders Of Dr.. Cox. Attorney Mar
cum and Jim" Cochrill. Judge Har-
gis was present leader Of the DEM
ocrats of the 10th district and was
regarded as the boss" of Breathitt,
County.
For years his sway was not oppos-
ed, but some years ago James 5.
Marcum had the temerity to oppose
Eargis in law case. From that
day he was a marked man.
Judge Hargis had been en- trial at
various times for completely in the
murder of Marcum, jim Coekrill
and DR.. Cox, but had been acquitted
on all of the charges. He was re-
Gently forced to pay judgment OF
$4,000 to Mrs. Marcum in connec-
ton with the death of her husband.
Judge Hargis had Just disposed OF
this, the last Of these cases IN wnlch
he had been involved when be PAID
the Judgment of the Court. MTs.
Marcun had sued Judge Hargis and
others for 100000, alleging that
they caused the death Of her nus
band
The Hargis-Cockrill fued had its
inception in a political contest The
Eargises had long been dominant ID
Breathitt County, where they con-
Quoted general store, were engaged
in the lumber business and were gen
orally active. The brothers, James.
Alexander and Ebert, were GOOD
business men and accumulated for
tune.
The trouble with the Cockrllls
arose when the latter opposed the
the Hargises at the polls. Feeling
was bitter, when one day, Benjamin
Harsis, younger brother Of James
Eargis, met one Of the Cockrlll boys
IN a blind tiger, near Jackson, ana
was killed by his enemy.
Tn the fall Of 1902, Dr.. Cox, the
guardian of the Coclrill boys, VINO
lived on the outskirts OF JACKSON
was shot as he entered his home one
night by assassins concealed across
tbe Yav. John Smith, John Aonef
and others of the allasal hafs'S
hand were accused Of the crime, ano
IN a confession made by one OF them
Jndse Hargis was charged with nav
ing hired them to kill DR.. Cox.
From this time on the story OF the
garsis-Cockrill feud was written II
blood. The next to fall was jim.
cockrill. the town marshall. SHORTY
after the murder Of Cockrlli, james
2 Marcun, the attorney for the
cockrill boys, created a sensation D!
publicly declaring in Lexington lna'
hs was a marked man, and tnaI ne
had been doomed to death os tne
Hargis clan.
one morning in May, hve years
ago, Marcum was shot down WINE
standing at the door Of the Cour'
House at Jackson talking to Capt
Ewing. the assassin being Curtis Jett
"the wild dog" who had since con
fessed his part in this tragedy ane
who was accused to the other crimes
Ee and Tom White are no" seGV
ing life sentence in the penltenuaGs
Judge Hargis will be buried IN
casser costing 500. which ne ma
purchased a month ago Aooue 50
THURSDAY afternoon The fo!Io"'n'
message was sent: - J.,
express to-day casket selected Q
lanes Hargis as he is dead.
Mrs. Judge James Earg's.