The Hartford herald. [volume] (Hartford, Ky.) 1875-1926, 1913-04-23
In Which Innocent By
stander Was Slain.
JUDGE GOODNIGHT The VICTIM
Sheriff and Deputy, Father
and Son Engage in Ter.
rifle Encounter.
GOODNIGHT A PROMINENT MAN

--------
Franklin, Ky. April 20.-Police
Judge I. Fl. Goodnight, who was Sc
riously wounded last night during a
pistol fight on the carnival grounds,
in which William Taylor, keeper of
the Simpson County Poor Farm,
was killed, died at 10:45 O'Clock
tonight from his wounds. Small
hopes are entertained for James
Taylor, son of the man who was
killed last night.
DR.. ,McGannon, of Nashville,
Tenn, who has been here in consul
tation, has advised against opera
ton, as he considers Taylor mortal
~ wounded. Upon being Informed
of the seriousness of his condition,
Judge Goodnight made statement
in which he said that James Tay-
lor shot him. When the shooting
occurred, Judge Goodnight was
standing near Sheriff Gossett, and
the bullet aimed at the officer
struck the Judge.
The battle between William Tay-
Sheriff J. Robert Gossett and his
deputy, r. r. Nicely, on the other,
putty. r. R. Nicely, on the other,
started as result of Hobby Tay-
lor, s years old, using profane Ian
guage in the presence of women
when he failed to knock down a
doll by throwing a baseball and
getting a cigar as prize. The
Sheriff rebuked young Taylor for
his offense. whereupon the boy ap-
piled an epithet to the officer. The
latter replied by drawing his pistol
and striking the boy in the face.
At the time Taylor dropped the
fight but went in search of his faith
err. and brother, and told what
had happened. The three started
in search of Gossett and came upon
him in the midst of crowd of 500
merrymakers. There was no spo-
ken word, but the elder Taylor
drew revolver Before he could
fire, the Sheriff dropped his man in
his tracks with bullet from a As
caliber revolver.
A few minutes later James Tay-
lor pushed through the crowd and
was making his way to his dead
fathers side, when he was ordered
to stand back by the Sheriff. He
did not reply but began to shoot at
GOssett. The latter, together with
Deputy Sheriff Nicely, returned the
fire and the son fell with a wound
in his abdomen.
Flying bullets struck several of
the bystanders and panic ensued
when the crowd made break for
cover.
Two holes were shot through
Sheriff Gossett's overcoat and Depu-
ty Sheriff Wantland suffered a
slight wound in the chest.
The shooting has cast a pail of
gloom over the entire community,
and groups of men congregated on
the streets and the public square
during the day to discuss the affair
and express sympathy for all of the
persons concerned. Everything is
quiet and no further trouble is an
ticipated.
II is the concensus of opinion that
il was a case of Sheriff Gossett be-
ing killed or killing Taylor. The
latter. II Is said. had been drinking.
and he was considered o dangerous
man when in this condition. Tay-
lor is survived by his father, Shaker
Taylor; two brothers. James Tay-
lor, OF Paducah, and Charles Tay-
Tor, of Bowling Green; two sons,
James. who Is wounded. and Hobby.
Judge Goodnight was one OF the
most prominent citizens of Frank
lin. He was Police Judge. and
member of several fraternal organ
nations. and also the Presbyterian
church. He was a leading advocate
OF good roads. and II was through
his efforts that n sum of S10.000 to
go toward constructing the propos-
ed Lincoln and Jackson Way
road through this county was
obfoined from the Federal Govern
ment. HIS father was I. II. Good
nieht. who for many years repre-.
sented this district In Congress.