The Hartford republican. (Hartford, Ky.) 18??-1926, 1910-08-12
The Lyon County Situation

hentucky. DuTlIS pTdCtiCdiiy thc WhoiS
of that time, hundreds of militia
men were kept in the field at cost
to the State of some hundred thousand
dollars. Throughout that period, the
Governor delivered numerous preach
ments on the majesty of the law
made repeated assertion of his knowl-
edge of the personal and inside work.
ings of every night rider band, and
threatened the infliction of direful
penalties when the proper time came.
The Governors utterances were i'm
pressive. Night riding ceased when
the objects for which it was begun
were accomplished. Except for one
conviction and that by a Federal court
not one of the men who for two years
substituted anarchy for law, in order
further their economic interests, re-
ceived a prison sentence. The Cover
nor's mysteriously acquired informa-
ton has remained in cold storage.
The fullness of his righteous wrath
warned when most it was expected to
wax fat and kick.
In Lyon county the prospect of the
belated trial of night rider case set
for hearing in Christian county, has
led to return of conditions fully as
bad as any that existed in that part
of the State in the closing months of
1907 and throughout the year 1908. A
brief review of these conditions and
of the steps taken by the Governor
to remedy them, discloses the fact
that the administration at Frankfort
is continuing to meet with no better
success in causing the law to be OBJ
served if the observance OF it runs
counter to local prejudice.
Some months ago, Milton Oliver
confessed night rider and a witness in
the case set for trial so far violated
night rider ethics and the law of self
preservation as to announce his inten
ton of telling the truth when placed
on the stand. A few days later, when
standing in the doorway of his home,
load of bucllshot was inserted into his
person. The shot was fired by an ac-
cupant of a buggy which was then
driven rapidly down the road. The
identity of the man or men who DEM
onstrated so keen an interest in Mr.
divers home life may be suspected
it has not been disclosed. After the
shooting. a detail of militia was sent
to guard divers house and person.
Up to the present time, it has sue
ceeded in the performance of that du-
ty, although it has not succeeded in
preventing the insertion of dynamite
into his shocks of wheaet thereby caus
ing the process of threshing to be
looked on without enthusiasm; or the
posting on the public roads of the
following announcement:
Take notice ,one and all, not to
buy, sell or lease the property of H..
NJ. Oliver. Read this and live. Tear
it down and die. Yours. n. R."
On Saturday, Axiom Cooper, divers
tenant disregarded warning against
being present at the barbecue held at
Lamasco precinct, Lyon county. He
was shot and died two days later. Tw
of the men suspected of his murder
were arrested by the militia. Sunday
detachment of militia. under conf
mand of Lieut. Col Bassett, a con-
scientious and absolutely fearless Off
Ger, were sent as re-enforcements.
Acting under Col. Bassett't orders, tn
militia made a third arrest. The re-
lease of the three men was demanded
by the civil authorities and refused
by Col Bassett In explanation as his
action. Col. Bassett telegraphed the
Governor his belief that Cooper had
been killed solely because of his loyal
ty to Oliver, that the men arrester Were
the actual murderers, that the civil AL
thorities had shown no disposition to
arrest them and would release them OF
straw bonds if surrendered. He appeal
ed to the Governor lin the name of
humanity and civilization, to estab-
lish safety and law" by sustaining
him in his action.
The Governor declined to grant the
appeal and instructed Col. Bassett to
turn over his prisoners, adding the as
surance that Safety of the people viii
be maintained by all necessary lawful
measures" The Governors order has
been complied with.
That conditions in Lyon county are
not far removed from anarchy, appear
to be a matter of plain fact. That
they exist, because there exists nc
fear of the law, appears euqally plain
That the course now followed by the
Governor, which is in accord with the
policy pursued when night riding had