The Big Sandy news. [volume] (Louisa, Ky.) 1885-1929, 1915-12-03
W. ]. DAVIS killed
By Webb HOLT.
BAD FEELING OF LONG STANDING
RESULTED IN A TRAGEDY
FRIDAY NIGHT.


on the evening OF Friday. November
20. near the store OF Mont Bussey. at
Buaseyville, some six miles west Of
Louisa, Webb Holt, a we'll known citi-
zen OF this county. shot and almost In
stantly killed William Davis, an oil
we'll pumper for the Venora oil COM
pany. The weapon used was a shot
Gun, and tho entire load entered the
throat OF Davis carrying away a por-
don OF his chin. Davis was in the au-
tomobile belonging TO Robert Shank. a
aon OF T. w, Shank. OF this city. Ply
siciana were summoned from this place
and DIR. Ira Wellman responded. but
his services were not needed. The body
was brought to this city the same ev-
eninK and was taken to the undertake
ing establishment OF Snyder Bros,
where, about one o'clock Saturday
morning an inquest was held by Police
Judge Billie Rife. The verdict of the
Jury was that Davis was killed by a
shot from gun fred by another, on
Saturday morning the body was en-
baimed and later was taken 10 the res-
idence OF Frank Plgg on Sunday a
brother Of the wife OF the dead man and
two of her brothcra- law arrived from
salem, West Va. They took charge. %
the remains and on Monday, on n 4
w. No. 2, they and Mrs. Davis end her
son, a lad OF about IL. left for IN" home
of MrH Davis.
The NEWS has been to some ,rvu-
BILE 10 get the details Of this tragedy.
and Il believes the following Is reliable,
Davis, whone home was about half a
mile from Busseyville. had been tn
Huntington on the day OF tha shooting.
lilo returned tn Louisa on tho afternoon
e. a O. train. about $3.50. and ,nEaRSd
Robert Shank. who had an automobile,
10 take him TO BuSseyville. When they
were ready To start Davis said there
vas a girl named Hail at the home OF
Mrs Romans, Who wanted 90 go too,
shank told him ''hll rlght--that he was
paying for the trip. They went 70
Romans residence. where the girl got
in, sitting on the back seat with Davis.
on the front seat. with Shank was n
friend OF hia. Emmett Callahan. of
Huntington, Not long after they left
town Davis, who was somewhat under
the influence OF liquor. began to dis
charge HIS pistol. not at any particular
object. but at the ground as they pass
cd along Shank demonstrated VITA
him. asking him TO quit and put np
the pistol.
IL w reported that one or more shots
struck MIR. Hollis residence.
Mr. Shank says he ~ sure that he
nrcd at no one or at any house on the
entire trip. when they arrived at Da-
Wis home all the occupants OF the car
got out and went into the house. soon
after they went In Davis announced
his intention 10 so back TO Louisa, say :
ing he was going 20 Huntington. Hts
wife begged him not to go, but he In
sisted. and the entire party got into
the car. Before they left the house
Davis put his pistol into holster
which he carried under his left arm.
Davis sat on the front seat 70 the right
or Mr.. Shank. the driver. The Hal girl.
Mrs. Davis, her son and Callahan, oc-
supied the balance of the car, The car
then started for Louisa When near the
Bussey store they saw another car,
which was said To be the one owned by
Henry Bussey. II bad all its lights
burning and faced the Shank machine,
shank stopped his car, when two per-
sons, one on each side OF the machine,
approached. and one OF them demand {.
I'd lis william Davis In the CARP Some
enc said "yes." Instantly there were
two shots fired. one by the holder OF
the shot gun. Webb Holt, the other by
william Davis fired so close together
that Shank was unable to say which
ras fred first. When the car was
kaited Mrs Davis. her son aad the
Hall girl had jumped out. Callahan
says "They hardly waited for The car
10 stop" Davis fell forward upon re-
seiving his death wound. almost cover
ing Shank with his blood. The body
vas not taken from the car. but II was
fastened with ropes and made so that
Il would not fall out, and Mr.. Shank,
Callahan and DR.. Joe Bussey brought
IL 20 Louisa about eleven o'clock.whcre
IL was disposed OF as told In the fore
going. Early on Saturday morning Holt
eame 10 Louisa and surrendered him
self to County Judge James Clayton.
Friday. December 3 was set as the
time for hoicing an examining trial
rhe defendant gave bond in the sum
ef $4,000 for his appearance. which ne
gave, with Mont Bussey, security
Davis came to this section from West
virginia two or three years ago as
we'll driIler. His first job was to drill
tho Tabor's creek well, and since that
time he has followed similar work
In this vicinity Webb Holt Is broth
er OF Mont Holt. OF this city, and holds
a position with the Busseyville OIL co.
Between him and Davis some hard
feeling had existed for some time anu