The Hartford herald. [volume] (Hartford, Ky.) 1875-1926, 1913-07-23
Hand OF the Law Reach
ed Out For Him
AFTER LONG LAPSE OF Time
Prosperous Missouri Farmer
Convicted of Staying a
Deputy Sheriff.
SHERIFF T. H. BLACK GOT HIM

The Louisville Herald of Thurs
day says;
Behind the bars of the Jefferson
county Jail last night slept a pros
porous Missouri farmer who for
more than quarter of century
has been dwelling in fancied secur-
ity, filling his crops. rearing his
children, enjoying the confidence of
his neighbors, and walking in the
paths of peace. The MEMORABLE
hand of the law, after many years
of futile cropping. closed around him
on his Missouri farm last Monday,
and this morning he will continue
the brief journey which will end in
a Kentucky penitentiary.
Nearly twenty-seven years ago,
August 2, 1886. Richard Allen, then
aged 32 years, shot and killed Dep
uty Sheriff Charles Tucker at Lib
erty in Casey county, Kentucky
following a quarrel. Public senti-
for and against the slayer; but, any
way, Allen was indicted, arrested.
tried, convicted of manslaughter
and sentenced to spend two years
in the penitentiary.
Such was the decision of the law,
but the Fates, and Allen. ruled 9TH
erwise. Under the statutes the con-
victed man had sixty days in which
he might appeal to higher court.
In the meantime he was confined in
the county Jail under strong
guard to protect him from the pos
sible vengeance of aroused kins-
men of the man whom he had slain.
One morning when the jail at
taches were taking food to the con-
victed man, they found that Allen
had disappeared. Relatives of the
dead man spurred the officers of the
law to diligent. search. but all of
their efforts proved vain.
Last night. peering through the
bars of the jail. Allen, now an aged,
gray-haired man. told reporter
for the Herald his sudden fight
from Casey county and his indus
trious efforts to live entirely in con-
sonance with the sternest dictates
of the law.
After leaving Kentucky, Allen
said he went to Missouri. There he
remained one year. when the call of
his home State became too strong
and he returned. settling in a coun-
ty less than 800 miles from the
scene of the killing for which he
had been convicted. For fifteen
&. years. according to the halting story
he told at the jail last night, he re-
sided in Kentucky, daily meeting
officers of the law. Some of them,
he thinks, must have known that
he was a fugitive from justice, but
no attempt was made to deprive
him of his liberty.
Finally. Allen went back to Mis-
souri, with his family. Since then
he has been living on farm near
Madrid in that State. keeping. he
claims. within the strictest letter of
the law. the remembrance of his
trial and conviction growing yearly
DINNER In his memory.
Four sons and three daughters
were born to him. All he reared
ITO maturity until several of them
married and left the parental nest.
Busily engaged on his rich farm of
los acres. cultivated with the aid
of three of his sons, he has spent
the intervening years. respected by
his neighbors.
There II was. after twenty-seven
years, that Sheriff Thomas II.
Black. of Hartford. Ohio county.
KY, found him.
IL was blowing when Sheriff
Black. accompanied by several dep
uties whom | knew, came to my
farm" sold Allen. 81 left the pillow
In the furrow and went to meet
them. little suspecting that they
wanted me. We chatted a few min
utes, and then one of the deputies
said:
"'well Mr. Allen. I've got a writ
for YOU
For me?' Allen repeated In sur
prise. why haven't done any,
tking. 1t must<<be a mistake. I've !