Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-06-19
PULPIT DUEL FATAL
CIergyman's Throat Cut in
Contest With Successor.
FEUD May FOLLOW FIGHT
Dead Mans Kin Demand Hangine
OF Other 1inister-Threaten to
Act if Law Fails.
FEUD MAY FOLLOW FIGHT
Special Dispatch 10 The Star.

Special Dispatch to The Star
WILLIAMSBURG, Ky, June Is-For
the death Of Rev. DIR. Robert yanover,
who was killed last evening in a duel
with Rev. Isaac Perry I'm the pulpit OF
the Rock Creek Baptist Church, i'm
WHITLEY county. near here, Perry has
been arrested and is now in jail with his
cousin. Blaine Perry.
One hundred and nifty witnesses will, be
heard when the coroner's inquest IS held.
Monday. All these people were present
when the fight occurred. The majority
OF them are said to have stood I'D in their
seats and yelled for their favorite to beat
the other side down.
biaine Perry Ii said by many members
or the congregation to have stepped into
the pulpit before a knife had been drawn
and to have wrestled to get vanover
from the pulpit.
Vanover's Throat Cut.
Vanover was stabbed about the body
several times. His throat was cut in four
different places A slash OF the knife
across the Jugular vein caused death.
The trouble all arose over serious
charges registered with the trustees
against Hanover. which resulted In his
.>sS oSNS1 " ASoi8us ItfTy was DlQceQ
In his pulpit to have charge oc the con-
gregation until the trustees should select
another minister.
Hanover demonstrated. ana toli lie
members OF the board OF trustees that he
had right to his pulpit and would re.
main In the charge until the accuse.
tons were proved. But the trustees saw
the matter In different light
Last evening the board Of trustees held
a secret meeting in the church. vanever
was excluded. He beat upon the door
and demanded entrance but was tolA it
would not be given him.
Fight for Pulpit.
When the board Of trustees adjourned
and the compensation entered, vanover
came into the church. He walked up
to the pulpit occupied by Perry. and
started to speak to the congregation.
Perry turned to him and said he had
pest be I leave the church: Hanover said
bed Hanover and tried to force him out.
They wrestled about for q minute Then
Blaine Perry ran up to the pulpit to help
his cousin.
Knives were drawn instantly. In less
time than it takes to tell the story Van
over fell to the floor, his neck badly cut.
Two Yanover adherents I'm the congrega-
ton ran for q doctor. The minister ex-
pired before he could be reached
on charges Of cutting to kill. This morn
ing they were indicted by the grand jury.
Mark and Sam Perry and Hustler and
James Reed were all arrested by the
sheriff. but are At liberty under a guard
OF deputies. Eight others who were close
to the pulpit when the duel took place
are under suspicion. and will probably
be arrested in a day or SO.
Feud May Follow Fight.
Vanover's relatives have sworn
vengeance upon the Perrys for their
relatives death They say they saw
the way the fight was carried on, and
that Hanover was entirely innocent.
The Perrys. on the other hand. say that
Vanover first drew q knife. They then
drew their weapons to defend them
selves. they assert
The Vanovers say that unless the jury
both Perry and his cousin for
the killing. and sentences them to be
hung, they will take Q hand and
see that they die for the crime they
vanover was well known Throughout
this portion of Kentucky. He is sur
vived by his widow and their i've chill
dren.
He had held several charges in this
section, and was quite popular until the
were made against him. Then
the majority OF the people turned the
other way.
Vanoyer Was Circuit Rider.
After an Investigation of the fight the
authorities of Whitley county found ev-
dence duplicating eight other persons
besides the Rev. Isaac Perry and his
brother in the killing, according to later
reports from Williamsburg.
The authorities were not ready to an
nounce whether this evidence showed a
conspiracy to do away with Hanover or
whether the eight unnamed persons be-
came involved after the fight started.
Vanover was one of the most widely
known mountain preachers I'm the state
He rode circuit" for many years and
had acquires considerable reputation
h,, his sircc&sSion the remote communi-