The Hickman courier. [volume] (Hickman, Ky.) 1859-current, 1909-07-22
Shot Dead
J. w. Patterson Kills Ed Copeland,
ssturdsy-Trivsl Matter Led to the
Unfortuate Affair.

J. W. Patterson, residing on B.
G. Hale's place, 9 miles below Hick-
man, shot and killed Ed Copeland,
Saturday morning between and 6
O'Clock, at the latter's home.
The dead man was farmer, and
resided only a short distance from
Patterson. II seems that the two
men had had some trouble over the
possession Of house, and ill-feel-
ings sprang up between them lead
ing up to the tragedy. AS a climax
to their trouble, Copeland forbade
the Patterson family coming on his
place to get water from we'll.
Patterson's testimony, as given in
Judge MAYORS court Monday, in
substance, was about as follows:
"When came home Friday even
ing, my wife told me that ed Cope
land had been to our home and told
US not TO come to his we'll after any
more water. AS we had always
used water from this we'll, l went
over Saturday morning between S
and o'clock TO see him about getting
water there, taking with me my No.
II shot gun, TO defend myself in
case | needed it, knowing he had
threatened my life.
AS l approached the house, saw
Copeland through the window and he
saw me. He came out on the porch
and said, "you have brought that
gun over here for trouble and will
have it-but that gun won't do you
any good" told him l had only
come to see what he meant by not
letting US get water at the we'll. He
said, on show you what ! meant"
and started toward me with his hand
in his pocket. l thot he was going
to draw a revolver, l said, ed,
don't you draw a gun, or I'll kill
you-stop But be kept on coming,
and in threatening attitude. l told
him again to stop, but he did not,
and fearing he would kill me, shot.
He was 8 or 10 feet from me when l
fired. After shooting him, l told
my neighbor, G. F. Thompson about
it, and asked him to go and see that
no one bothered Copeland's body, as
1 was going to Hickman and give
myself up"
Patterson, of course, claims self
defense, and H. Lamastus and wife
testified that Copeland had made
threats to take his gun and kill the
"whole push"
Coroner L. D. Smith, who pre-
pared the body for burial, showed
the bloody shirt taken from Cope
lands body which had a hole in il
about the size of a silver dollar,
where the discharge from the gun
had passed. A similar sized hole
was torn in Copeland's left breast.
causing instant death.
Henry Hall, G. F. Thompson and
d. M. Keith testified alike as to the
position of the body when found.
Keith swore that after killing Cope
land, Patterson came by Keith's
home and told him about the killing
and would give Keith 2 weeks in
which to leave the neighborhood or
he would be done the same way.
The defendant denied this statement.
The evidence showed that Keith and
Patterson we're on unfriendly terms.
Patterson is a we'll known bottom
farmer, about IS years old and has
a family.
Copeland is a young man, and
came here last spring from Crump,
Tenn, He has a brother at that
place, and leaves a policy payable
to him for 81 600. in the w. o w.
Patterson was released without
bail.
o
With bacon selling at from 20 TO 40
cents per pound, eggs at 20 cents
per dozen. steak at 10 TO 80 cents
per pound and everything In proper