The Big Sandy news. [volume] (Louisa, Ky.) 1885-1929, 1921-12-23


The Martin Circuit Court adjourned
| Saturday after being In session fol
| two weeks. The entire time was taken
up with the Commonwealth docket
which was larger than usual the
| greater part Of which was for viola
zion OF the s'liouor laws About
s205O in fines were assessed, the high
est penalty being 5000 and sixty days
| in the county jaii. This is the mrs,
term of court at which any convic-
tons OF any consequence have beer
had for moonshining and bookkeeping
hut In nearly every instance the fury
found the defendants guilty.
The case OF the Commonwealth
| AGAINST T. j. Mccoy. ED THOMPSON
| and Jno. .cornett. charged with the
murder of Judge Jno. J. Mccoy
created quite a sensation. in fact, Il
attracted more attention than any
trial ever had in the county unless Il
was the trial of H. d. Cassidy, charg-
ed with the murder of Joe Kirk The
prosecution was conducted by Com
monwealth's Attorney I. G. Rice,
County Attorney J. B. Clark Hon.
John NJ. Waugh Of Ashland and w.
r. Mccoy OF inez. The defense was
represented By Judge A. j. Kirk OF
Jenkins. NJ. G. Kirk OF Palntsvilie,
A. Copley and Earle Cassidy OF Inez
The defendants plea was temporary
insanity. The trial OF the case began
Monday and ended Thursday evening.
The contest between the Common
wealth and defense was spirited thru
out. There were only two arguments
made-the one for the defense by
Judge A. j. Kirk and for the prosecu-
ton by Hon. J. NJ. Waugh. The
speech of Mr.. Waugh was said to be,
argument ever heard In the Martin
Circuit Court and certainly was a
masterpiece, The Commonwealth
realized from the beginning that they
and their greatest hope was for a
hung jury, but the jury, after constd-
cradle deliberation. found the defend
ants guilty and fixed the sentence of
T. j. Mccoy at four years in the peni-
Tertiary and Thompson and Cornett. |
two years each The people Of the
were chagrined at the verdict |
Of the jury and II was to be heard on |
every hand that II was disgrace to
the fair name of the county,
After the Mccoy case closed, the
case OF the Commonwealth against
Frank Chairman charged with the
murder of Jas. Hensley, was heard.
The Commonwealth was represented
in this case by Attorney l, c. Rice.
County Attorney ]. B. Clark ard w.
Wheeler OF Prestonsburg and Hon. w.
T. Cain of Louisa From the evidence
his proved to be a very hard case.
rhe case was turned over to the jury
rbout 10 o'clock Friday night and
morning a verdict of guilty
vas returned, fixing the penalty at
for life.
Joe James died Monday morning. at
he age of 10 years. He was one Of
he oldest citizens OF the county and
vas highly respected. He had served
me term as Sheriff Of the county:
vas a large land owner and one Of
he county's wealthlest men. Uncle
oe had been in feeble health for the
'ast three or four years. having suf-
cred stroke of paralysis from which
e never entirely recovered. He is
uryiyed by his widow, Aunt Martha
ane James, who has been confined to
er bed for some time: also three
aughters and four sons, together with
host Of relatives and friends. Uncle
oe was grandson OF Jno. James, c
ne Of the earliest settlers Of the q
ounty IL