The Hartford herald. [volume] (Hartford, Ky.) 1875-1926, 1915-03-03
At Handy Station, Near
Dawson Springs.
TWO MEN FOUND MURDERED
1nlCountry St0re-Were Evi.
IDENTIFY Killed At Clos.
ing Up Time.
sHoTGuNs AND PISTOLS USED

jacksonville, KY, Feb. &C.
Hopkins county authorities working
on the theory that either personal
feud or enmity of the''possum hunt
ers" caused the death of Demmett
Z woodruff and Glover Hoard, found
slain in the Woodruff store near
Handy Station this morning, ex-
pect to make several arrests within
the next day or two.
Although practically twelve hours
elapsed after the tragedy before the
bodies were found, and the plentiful
use of red pepper by those who
committed the crime prevented
bloodhounds from taking the scent,
the officers believe they have enough
clews with which to unravel the
case.
Shots heard by the neighbors but
not Investigated at the time, indi-
cate that the crime was committed
at about 7 O'Clock Thursday night.
when Woodruff, the owner of
store at Handy Station. and Hoard,
his clerk, were closing up for the
night.
The assumption is that the two
men went to the rear of the store
to fasten up and that when they did
so the shots were fired which ended
their lives. Shotguns were the first
weapons used and two empty shells
in coal house not fifteen feet from
the back of the store show where
the assailants stood.
Woodruff, hit in the right shout
der by a full load of buckshot,
which penetrated his body, fell to
the ground. Hoard was wounded
in about the same way, but man
aged to make his way inside the
building, where he fell beside the
counter.
Evidence of the malice borne
against the two dead men by their
assailants Is shown, the authorities
say, by the fact that they were both
slain by revolver bullets fired into
their heads after they had fallen.
Both Woodruff and Hoard had
powder burns on their temples
where the weapons had been held
close to the skin and the force of
the shots carried the bullets entire
" through the brain and skulls of
both victims.
The bodies were not discovered
until this morning when Woodruff's
son went in search of his father. A
large sum of money. which the
storekeeper had on his person, his
watch and two revolvers he carried
were missing, but no attempt had
been made to ransack the store.
Coroner Stevens was summoned
Immediately. and he, with deputy
Sheriffs and County Attorney Sy-
pert, made thorough investigation.
The jury impaneled by the Coroner
returned a verdict of death lat the
hands of unknown parties"
Ode Laffoon brought his blood
hounds to the store. but the dogs
were unable to do any work at all,
as cayenne pepper had been sprink-
led all about the store and around
the bodies of the men, to interfere
with the work of the animals.
Statements made by the officers
tonight indicated that. they did not
think the crime was the work of
'possum hunters" whose operations
have been felt in this county lately.
1t was stated, however, by the
friends of the dead man that he had
received threatening letters from
some source in the past two months.
Application is to be. made to the
county authorities for a reward to
be offered for the arrest of the par
ties responsible for the crime. and
It is thought also that the State will
increase the amount.
II was stated tonight that the
officers think that the gang respon-
sible for the crime was a small one.
probably consisting OF three or four
men.
Woodruff was wealthy man,
and one of the most prominent cit
liens of the county. He was a
brother-in-law of Dick Salmon. a
we'll known Ilsley coal operator.
Mr.. Woodruff. cred 40. married