The Paducah evening sun. [volume] (Paducah, Ky.) 1906-1929, 1910-11-14
He Was Arrested Saturday
For Beating His Parents
and Shooting at Brother..-
Neighbor Ends His Career.

Frank Purdom, who was arrested
for beating his parents and shooting
at his brother, met his death Sunday
Afternoon at the hands OF a neighbor.
AS a sequel to several days dis
turbance and trouble while on a
spree, Frank Purdon. Al years old.
was shot and instantly killed at 2
O'Clock at Massac, 10 miles from Pa
dncah, by his neighbor, r. A. (Bert)
Thompson. Thompson claims the
killing was in self-defense, and his
story is borne out by the facts. Rela-
tives of Purdom, who were afraid to
venture outside the house, were wit
nesses of the tragedy.
Purdom, who had been drinking
for several days, was armed with
revolver, and fired two shots at
Thompson, who was armed with an
old fashioned army musket shotgun
/ When two bullets whlzzed past him.
Thompson raised his gun and fired
both barrels. The shot struck Pur-
dom in the chest and face, one of the
small bullets penetrating his heart.
Purdom screamed "I'm shot" and be-
fore relatives could reach his side,
he was dead. Magistrate Charles w.
Emery, acting coroner, held an in
quest this morning ana a verdict, ex-
Generating Thompson, was returned
Thompson surrendered this morning
and was released on bond of $500.
Purdom had heretofore been re-
garded as a we'll respected citizen
of the county, but recently, he has
lbeen on a continuous spree, and
drink is said to have driven him in
sane. He was a merchant at Mas
Isac until a short time ago when fire
destroyed his store. and worry over
his misfortune is thought TO be one
reason for his drinking. Last Thurs
! day Purdom returned 20 his home,
J land it is alleged, whipped his father
and mother. and fired his pistol pro-
lmiscuously.
Warrants were issued from the
court of Magistrate C w. Emery and
Constable Frank Potts arrested Pur-
dom. He was brought to Paducah.
Purdom executed bonds of $500 for
his release on charges of assault and
battery and malicious shooting. He
returned to his home Saturday after
noon and promised to do better.
Thompson n Tenant.
Bert Thompson is a tenant of the
farm of B. F. Purdom. the father of
the dead man, and Sunday afternoon
the three men met at the barn OF
Thompson. and 1t is said that the
three were drinking. Some trouble
arose and Purdom pulled his re-
volver and fired one shot at Gene
Thompson. At the start of the shoot
, ling. Bert Thompson went to his
home and got his gun. He returned
to the barn, and here they settled
their trouble. Thompson and Pur-
ldom resided a short distance from
each other, and they separated and
started to their homes. Different
roads lead to the houses. and after
they separated few words passed.
While a distance Of about 20
yards, Purdom fired two shots at
Thompson, who raised his gun and
fired. The gun was loaded with No.
6 shot. and struck Purdom in the
chest. neck and face.
Purdom is survived by his parents.
Mr.. and Mrs. B. f. Purdom, who
RESIDE at Massac, and three sisters:
Mrs. T. ]. Ely, of Brookport, ILL.,,
/ Mrs. Frank B. Simpson, of Massac;
and Mrs. John w. Fry, of Melber,
and two brothers, Win and Joe Pur-
dom of Massac. He is survived by
wife and enc small child. The
, funeral and burial took place this
. afternoon at 2 o'clock at the Massac
a. cemetery
. Thompson is a married man, and
5 is well liked at Massac. Early this
morning he surrendered to Con-
5 stable Frank Potts. and was brought
to Paducah. He employed Attorneys
Hendr.ck & Crioe to defend him, and
, in county court a warrant was sworn
r out against him. Upon recon-
= mendation of County Attorney S. E.
Clay. County Judge Alben w. Bark
ley fixed his bond at $500, which
Thompson executed.
{ The Inquest.
Magistrate Charles w Emery, act
ing coroner. and Sheriff George
I Houser went to Massac this morning
in an automobile. The inquest was
held at 10 O'Clock. The verdict read
as follows.
1--WE, the jury, empaneled to in
quire into the death of Frank Pur-
" dom, whose body we have viewed
find that he came TO his death by a
gunshot wound, fired by Bert Thomp-
son in his necessary defense and that
the said shooting was justifable and
done in defense of his life. This
9 date. November IA, 1910.
. (SignedO
II L w. GRIMES.