The interior journal. [volume] (Stanford, Ky.) 1912-1984, 1915-02-19
EPH LILLARD TAKES HIS
OWN LIFE AT DANVILLE
Boyle Representative Who Voted For
Bradley for Senator Shoots Him.
self In Head At His Home

The suicide of Col. E. W. Lillard
at Danville Wednesday shocked ev-
eryone in this part of the state. A
dispatch from Danville to the Courier
Journal Thursday morning told the
following story of the unfortunate
affair:
Col. E. w. Lillard, former Rep
resentative in the Legislature, from
Boyle county, committed suicide this
afternoon by shooting himself in the
head at his home on South Second
stereet. AS a member of the legisla-
ture he gained wide notice with three
other Democrats who refused to
vote for Gov. ]. c. w. Beckham for
United States Senator, and voted for
the late w. o. Bradley, who was
elected. He left nothing to indicate
what actuated him in his tragic act.
He used a 32-calibre revolver and
only one shot was fired.
After Senator Bradley took his
seat Col. Lillard was appointed his
private secretary and served in that
capacity until Senator Bradley's
death, some months ago. The resi-
dence in this city had been rented
and Col. Lillard and family had been
living with his brother-in-law, Prof.
Ripley, at Burgin since their re-
turn from Washington. They had re-
served the attic in their residence and
Col. Lillard took his life in the attic.
He drove to Danville today with S.
j. Nooe and spent the morning at
tending to business matters and call
ing on old acquaintance. About L 80
O'Clock he went to his residence and
told the occupants that he desired
to go to the attic. He had left word
for Nooe to call for him about 2 o.
clock.
Mr.. Nooe went at the appointed
time and waited an hour and then
drove up in town, waited a while
and returned.
Col. Lillard still had not come
down and Nooe made an investiga-
ton. He found Lillard seated upon
the bed with his spectacles in one
hand and revolver in the other hand
and a bullet hole in his head. No one
in the large house had heard the shot.
The deed must have been committed
as soon as he entered the room, as he
had on his overcoat and nothing had
been moved so far as could be detect
ed. Nooe spread the alarm and a
great crowd soon gathered. Coroner
Zimmerman Immediately took charge
of the body and held an inquest, the
verdict being that Cof. Lillard had
taken his own life by shooting him.
self.
Prior to his election to the Leg
islature, Lillard was a leader of To-
cal Democratic politics and had serv-
ed several years as a Colonel in the
Kentucky militia. After he voted
for Bradley, many of his old associ-
ates deserted him and since his re-
turn to Danville it had been observed
that he was very respondent at times
although it was not thought that he
would take his life.
Col Lillard was a natixe-ef Law
fenceburg, Anderson county, and, was
prominently connected in Central
Kentucky. Prior to locating in Dan
vile, about twenty years ago, he was
engaged in the drug business in Lam
caster. His wife was at the home of
Prof. Ripley, in Burgin, when the
tragedy occurred. She was notified
by telephone and came to Danville
at once. Col. Lillard is survived by
his wife and three children: Stout
Lillard, Orlando, Fla, Mrs. John
French, of Atlanta, Ga, and Mrs.
George Harrison Craddock, of Wash
ington City. He was about So years
old.
The other three Democrats who
with Col. Lillard voted for w. o.
Bradley in the memorable 1908 ses-
sion of the Kentucky Legislature, re-
sulting in the election of Bradley to
the United States Senate over ]. c..
W. Beckham, February % of that
year were H. S. McNutt and Albert
H. Charlton and Representative Chris
Mueller, all of Louisville.
Elected a member of the Legisla-
ture from Boyle county, strong pres
sure was brought upon Col Lillard by
Democrats of Danville in the hope of
inducing him to change his mind, but
he stood fast. Feeling against him
ran high in Boyle, and finally, after
he cast his vote for Bradley, he was
burned in effigy.
After Senator Bradley took office
as United States Senator he appoint
ed Col. Lillard his secretary, and the
later served in that capacity until
the death of Senator Bradley last
summer.
After he had returned to Danville
from Washington there was talk to
the effect that Col. Lillard intended
to return to Washington and engage
IN the drug business there. He denied
the rumor only recently assuring that
If he ever entered business again it
would be in his native State.
Although he voted for Senator
Bradley, and later served as his secre-
tary, Col Lillard always claimed to be
Democrat. He was appointed secre-
tary by Senator Bradley, it is said.
because of his cold reception he re-
ceived at the hands of his former
Democratic friends when he returned
to his home at Danville, following the
election of Bradley to the United
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