Richmond daily register. (Richmond, Madison County, Ky.) 1917-1978, 1920-07-01
HUSBAND WOUNDS
WIFE, KILLS SELF
James Lawson, Near Paint Lick,
Asouses Neighborhood By
Committing Crime

James Lawson, 48, is dead at his
home on the Walnut Meadows pike
near the double toll gate, near Paint
Lick, and his wife, As years old, is
lowering between life and death al
the hospital at Berea, as the result
of partial Intellectual attempt upon
the part of Lawson to kill his bride
OF six months. While a % calibre
rifle was the weapon used, two bull
lets, fired into his own body, lust
above the heart, resulted in almost
instant death. The first bullet, fired
at Mrs. Lawson, may add another
death to the tragedy which aroused
the southwestern part of Madison
county shortly before Wednesday
midnight.
Should Mrs. Lawson recover she will
owe her life to her 9-year-old son,
who, after his mother had ESCAPED
the home, having been shot, followed
her almost quarter of mile away
from their home, where she fell from
the loss of blood, then went for aid.
which was found at the farmhouse
of "Billy" Jones, half mile away.
The child raised the alarm, after max
ing his way to the farmhouse, and
the unconscious body of his mother
was soon lifted with tender hands
and hurried to the hospital at Berea,
where an operation was performed
Thursday morning in an effort to save
her life. The bullet had not been re-
covered
After the escape of Mrs. Lawson,
who, it is believed, was shot through
the window of her home, after getting
away from the house, Lawson turned
the weapon upon himself and fired
two shots in his left breast a few
inches above the heart 1t is believed
he was IN the yard, searching for his
wife, and finding her gone, decided to
Kill himself. The body was found by
searching party about o'clock on
Thursday morning in a patch of weeds
in the yard Of his home. Lawson's
body was lying face upward with the
rifle across his left arm. He was ap-
not injured otherwise. This
statement is made as the result of
reports emanating from the Lawson
and which are borne out
to certain extent. Mrs. Lawson has
been in such serious condition that
she has been unable to give any YER
sion or account of the tragedy what |
ever.
Coroner E. H. Bfhncy was called by
County Judge W. K. Price, who was
informed of the tragedy by residents
Of the neighborhood, who did not
know what authority to give infor-
nation to, and he sent the coroner
direct to the scene. Mr. Muncy. ac-
by w E. Richards, of the |
Muncy company, arrived at an early !
hour Thursday morning, but found !
that the body of Lawson had been re
moved from the yard and taken into
the house and was being prepared for
burial.
An investigation developed that a
jury was not necessary and it is ex-
pected the funeral services will be
conducted at the instigation of the /
children Of Lawson, comprising sever
al grown sons as well as . grown
laughter, all of whom are married, /
and were absent from the Lawson
nome.
A brother of the dead man, from
Georgetown, who happened to be Wis
ting at the Lawson home at the time,
stated there were no witnesses to the
as far as is known, but he
vas of the belief that his brother had
oeen having trouble with his wife. .
Another member of the family is
;redited with having made a state
nent that "they had not been getting /,
along well lately" A 13-year- old |
laughter of Mrs. Lawson. who was
Mrs. c. S. Bolton, is said to have |
,erday afternoon for the night, indi-
Eating that Lawson contemplated the |
Iced. Mrs. Lawson is said to have |
displayed severe bruises on her arm
and wrist, but the manner in which |
hey were received is not known. !
Mrs Laswon is the owner of the farm
lpon which she and her husband were
wing, which adjoins the Parker An
lerson farm and near the Thompson
s. Burnam farm. Mr.. Lawson is said
% have been an industrious and ap
progressive farmer. Since
heir marriage few months ago
children of both, by former marri
ages, have been absent from their
home, with the exception of the little
girl and boys, children of Mrs Law
son. The latter has been unable to
ally sufficiently to give any details
If the crime.
One of the bullets passed entirely