The Hartford herald. [volume] (Hartford, Ky.) 1875-1926, 1915-02-17
CALLED TO DOOR
AND SHOT DEAD
But Bullets Were Intend
ed For Another.
AN ESTIl[ COUNTY TRAGEOY
A Fearful State Of. Affairs
Exists and People Seem
Afraid To Talk.
SAY AssAssINs ARE BACKED

Lexington, Ky, Feb. ia band
Of ten men last night rode up to
the door of Houston Underwood, at
Irvine. and riddled his body with
bullets, after calling him to his door.
Telephone messages from Irvine
state that the police officials believe
that the killing of Underwood was
a mistake on the part of the band,
who intended their shots for anoth-
err man. a visitor at the Underwood
home at the time.
Capt. v. G.. Mullikin returned to-
night from Irvine, and gave some
interesting facts about the killing of
Underwood i'm that city and the gen.
eral conditions that prevail there
At the time of the tragedy Capt.
Mullikin and his bloodhounds were
on Millers creek, five miles from lr-
vine, in Estill county, tracing some
meat thieves who had been operat-
ing there. No effort was made to
start the dogs on the trail of the
murderers, as the spot where the
crime was committed had been
tramped and re-tramped by hun
dreds of people. There had been
no effort to keep the place clear sc
trail could be had.
"The people seem very much
afraid to talk about the matter.
said Capt. Muilikin tonight. ''It is
the. general opinion that the assas-
sination of Underwood came about
as result of the recent dynamiting
of the court house and other acts OF
lawlessness there. 1t was hard to
find any one who would talk about
the matter, and people who had
seen the men leave after the. shoot
ing could hardly be induced to tell
which way they ran after the shots
were fred.
Green Davidson was the man for
whom they were laying. The as
sassins came to the house and call
ed for him, but he suspected trou-
BILE and warned Underwood. with
whom he was stopping. not to go to
the door. But Underwood said he
would see what was wanted. TIL,
house was the second visit that
night in search of Davidson, who is
a bachelor, and who had just recov-
cred from the effects of a broken
| leg.
Three persons under suspicion
are believed to be the same men
who dynamited the court house
Davidson is said to have recognized
the three mems voices when they
Called for him to come out. These
men were still in Irvine to-day and
their arrest may follow soon.
"A man who formerly welded
much influence in Irvine is said t.
be backing the men in their lawless
ness.
"An effort was also made Friday
night to assassinate the Town Mar
shall. which failed for some reason
"a prominent physician OF the
town said that the reign of terror
had been responsible for many peo'
Pile leaving the city. and that prop
erty would hardly bring more thar
fifty per cent of its value six month;
ago.
Three Men Arrested.
Irvine, KY. Feb.14.-- Three men
who are said to have been In the
party OF six or seven who participate
ed in the shooting here Friday nigh
which caused the death of Houston
Underwood. have been arrested or
warrants charging murder, SWORN
10 by Green Davidson and Mrs
Houston Underwood. They are be
ing held under the care of officers
FOR the preliminary hearing.
The three men are T. q. Wallace
former postmaster here and prom
inent merchant, J. II. Kinds ant
frank CLANCY.
Unless additional facts arr
hrought out at the hearing 1t is mo-
thought that any additional arrest
will be made now. as neither David
son nor Mrs. Houston Underwoos
could furnish any clsw az to the res
of the party. w
According to the defendants