The Hartford republican. (Hartford, Ky.) 18??-1926, 1910-08-05
Fresh TROUBLE
INLYON COUNTY
Hired Hand on Oliver Farm
is Killed.
More Soldiers From Co. H. Or
dered to Scene Of Dis
turbance.

Trouble broke out afresh in the
night rider section in Lyon County
last Saturday when Axiom Cooper a
tenant on the farm of Milton Oliver,
confessed night rider and witness for
the state was MORALLY wounded at a
barbecue about two miles from Oil
ver's home. Reports are somewhat
conflicting as to the cause of the
trouble, some accounts stating that
the trouble arose over a young lady
which resulted in the killing, while
other statements are those coming
from soldiers on guard there to the
effect that Coeper's death was brough
about by the same people who have
been endeavoring to kill Oliver, be-
cause young Cooper had worked on
the Oliver farm in defiance to threats
and orders for him to stop. Young
Cooper was removed from the barbe-
cue grounds to the home of Tom
Leitchfield where he died Sunday NOR
ing having given a statement few
hours before death duplicating five or
six young men, most of whom were
at once apprehended and arrested by
the troops. A telegram came to Hart
Z ford Saturday night ordering out
twelve more members of company H.
to report for duty in Lyon County.
They were gotten together by Lieut.
enant Woodward as hurriedly as pos
sible and left over the I. c. Railroad
at midnight. Those who went were:
first Sergt c. b. Shown, Sergts. Will
liam c. Lilies and Douglas Felix, Corp.
Ben H. Bennett, privates Joe Chapma
Estil wilkins. r. H. Lilies. Seymore
Bennett, r. w. Tinsley and Seth Ri
ley.
1t is reported that a conflict of au-
thority has arisen between comman-
der of the soldiers and the civil au-
thorities in Lyon county and that the
soldiers refuse to turn over their pris-
oners to the sheriff of Lyon County
and have even declined to do so after
having been directed by the governor.
1t is not known why this course is
not followed except that the soldiers
are afraid to trust the local authori-
ties with the prisoners, fearing that
they will be permitted to go on straw
bonds. Lyon county seems to be in
great excitement and it is feared that
many more people mey be drawn into
the trouble and that other lives will
be lost. Major Bassett upon being re-
quested to make statement, said.
II don't care to dicuss the matter.
but will say l always obey orders. |
told Sheriff Cash l was getting tired
of turning men over to the civil au-
thorities and having them released.
The shooting of Cooper was not tn
result of drunken row. Instead the
military officers state in positive
manner, a conspiracy actually exist
ed and they can produce evidence to
that effect and will act accordingly
when the time arrives for presenta-
ton of the case. They deny that the
murdered man had been used as a
militiaman.
Cooper was accompanied to the bar
becue by Noah Oliver son of Milton
Oliver, and the officers confirm the re
port of a statement being made by
one of the prisoners that Cooper and
Oliver were both quiet during the day
previous to the shooting.
Axiom Cooper in his dying statemen
made known that he had been warn
ed not to attend the barbecue. and
this warning was substantiated by an
affidavit made by one Of Cooper's
friends, who states he overheard tele-
phone communication on Sunday pri-.
or to the shooting. asking II Cooper
would be at the barbecue on the fol-
lowing Saturday, the day of the kill
ing or IL he or Noah oliver was at
the end of the line when the mes
sage was received. This was not
made known until after Cooper accus-
ed Aionzo Gray. Of striking him to
the ground, two others of holding
him down and four others Of firing
the shots.
He charged that Roy Merrick fired
the first shot of the four which off