The Hartford republican., 1910-12-30
OHIO COUN7|AN
MURDERED
Mystery Concerning Death
of Henry 7. Thompson.
Lifeless Form, With Bullet Holes
in Head, Discovered in
Desolate Woods.

The following dispatch from Provi-
dence, Ky, concerning Henry T.
Thomson, a native of Ohio County,
, will be read with saddsned interest
by many in this city and county. He
was quite we'll known here. and was
cousin of Sheriff T. H. Black, who
left Monday for Providence, and re-
turned wednesday morning.
Providence KY, Dec. 27.-Henry T.
Thomson, president of the Provid ence
department store and one Of the
wealthiest and best known merchants
In Western Kentucky, was found muir
dered and robbed in desolats wooded
hillside at 4 o'clock yesterday after
noon. The killing is the most mys-
|. terious that the officials here have
ever had to deal with. There are two
bullet holes in the back of his head
and one in the right eye. DR.. A. o.
Williams in testifying before the
magistrate said that it would have
been impossible for Thomson to have
killed himself because any of the three
I shots would have been instantly fatal.
The only clue so far developed is
that of Mrs. Mamie Bsrton who
heard the shots and saw three men
} lAgoing toward the cemetery alongside
fthe woods. The killing is supposed
to have taken place yesterday morning
about 9 o'clock. The body was found
by searching party.which started out
: at noon when Thomson's absence from
his store and home was noticed.
=, He was AZ years old and was said TO
&hve good habits. He has wife two
sons and two daughters.
Thomson left home at about
O'Clock yesterday morning and went
to his store, where he inquired for
his son who had spent the night with
a boy ohum. Magistrate B. G. Sigler
was one of the several people who
saw Thomson in the store and talksi
with him yesterday morning: The
magistrate says Mr.. Thomson looked
at papers and pronounced them cor
r rect He appeared normal in all re-
spects
Thomson is said to have left his
store about s o'clock and startsi
through town. 1t is said he was
seen going toward the cemetery, north
of Providence by Lige Williams,
negro livery employe.
About o'clock Mrs. Manniet Ben
ton, who lives 200 yards from the
wooded bluff where Thomson's body
was found heard shots, but did not
make any Investigation. 1t is said
that she and another woman saw
1 three men, none of whom was recog-
nized in that vicinity at that time.
At noon Thomson could be found
neither at his store nor his hume. He
mad promised to be home for dinner,
the occasion being a spread in. honor
L. OF Mrs. Thomson's birthday. When
he could nowhere be located search
ing PARTIES were formed and hunt
started -
At o'clock Will Langley and Tom
Baker the later bslnng Thomson's
son-in-law. Discovered Thomson's
lifeless body lying face downward on
the rocky bluff beyond the down hill
from the cemetery. which is on top Of
the hill. The place Is thickly wood I'D
1t Is accessible only from the csme-
terry side. The burial ground Is en-
tsi ed from the south the side near
est the city, by road. It was on
this road that the women say they
saw three men walking between
and 8 o'clock.
Thpmson's hat was pulled down
\axer his face. The ground was tramp |
Vsd over. giving tvidepce of strug- !
Ne, There were thresbullet holes in
As head, two from behind 1t Is said
tfRk when last seen in the store he
h9 about 800 in his pocket This :
Wa missing when his clothing was
!. seenhed last night and less than IS
wee found. His trousers were pulled
up knee high as II his slayers had
seached his hose and shoes for mon I
ey.
Magissate Sigler took the testimony
Of Wal .IAnsiy, Tom Baker and DIR.
A. o. Williams. All said there was
every evidence Of murder. Town Mar