The Hartford republican. (Hartford, Ky.) 18??-1926, 1911-05-12
THOMPSON BOY
NOT GUILTY
Our Correspondent Gets
First Hand Information.
Clear Alibi Will be Established
for Both Thompson and
Benjamin.


s|''
. Editor Republican:-Sin return
ing from business "trip to Web
ster County. two weeks ago, l have
had so many inquiries about the much
advertised Thompson murder case
that have thought it would interest
Ohio County people, who knew both
, Henry Thompson and his estimable
wife (Nee Miss Mayme Childs) as for
mer residents of this county, to hare
an account of the unfortunate affair
from an impartial observer.
| was at both Providence, the scene
of the tragedy, and Dixon, the coun-
ty seat of Webster county, and after
careful inquiry from the most repu-
table citizens of both towns | believe
that / got about all the principal de-
tails of the case obtainable.
The principal facts that go to make
up the much heralded case as | gath
cred them from bankers, merchants
and professional men are: The morn
ing after Christmas Henry Thompson
left the store about 500 O'Clock re
4 marking that he was going out to
look for his son, Thomas, who had
spent the night with some friends in
town. Only one person claims to
have seen Thompson alive after he
Il. 80 in no N ff
the cemetery This witness says he
saw Thompson near the ice plant
about 1890 O'Clock, but since no one
else saw him it is believed the wit
ness was in error as to the date. Amy
way this evidence has no special bear
ing toward clearing up the mystery.
When Thompson had net returned up
until noon his family lbscame anxious
about him and thorough search
of the town was made. About 100
O'Clock Dick Thompson brother to
Henry Thompson told young Thorn
as Thompson, Henry Thompson's SON
to get horse and go out to the
Ot1ulOuciy W pOOh. IN haSAh9A'
Young Thompsop rode out to tina
Cemetery and found his fathers corpse
and it seems that this incident coup
led with the fact that Thompson had
ostansibly gone to look for the boy
gave rise TO sensational charges that
later led to the sons arrest upon the
charge of mur@ ping his father.
The elder Thompson was dead and
the rabble clamored for Victim.
The incidents mentioned above led
to whispered suspicion of the son.
The boy learned of this suspicion and
at once telephoned the county Judge
and County Attorney and these Of
ficials came over 10 Providence and
held am informal investigation. last
ing three days. and before which
more than thirty witnesses were ak
amined, and after which County Judg
Browning refused to hold the boy
for further trial Latur warrant was
issued for Young Thompson's arrest
and he was given a formal trial be-
fore County Judge Browning and
again the court found no evidence to
justify holding young Thompson and
he was released. At this juncture a
Nashville detective comes upon the
scene and swears out warrant for
Ksrney Benjamin. a chum OF young
Thompsons charging him with the
murder of Henry Thompson. There
being not even circumstantial evidence
to connect Benjamin with the murder
and his whereabouts baing accounted
for by a dozen witnesses at the time
Thompson must have met his death,
the court made short work OF Benda-
minis trial, aoquitting him.
Just when the prosecutors of young
Thompson and Benjamin had exhaust
ed their efforts at securing circumstan
ual evidence an accommodating eye
witness to the tragedy turns up. This
4ye witness. Mr.. Brown. who had
Kept his secret Tor four months now
goes before the grand jury. and II is
alleged swears he sat ON log few
feat away and saw Thomas n'homp-
Son and Ksrney Benjamin Stating ON
a log reading newspaper when
Henry Thompson came up and berat-
cd the boy for not coming home. The
hoy replied roughly when the IA her
slapped him 10 the ground. The
boy rose UP and fired shot. that