The Hartford republican. (Hartford, Ky.) 18??-1926, 1922-03-17
less SUBLETT GIVEN
LIFE IMPRISONMENT
Plea OF Insanity Probably
Saves Accused From
Electrocution.

gulnent OF cOunSel IN the case vi the
Commonwealth VS.. Jesse Sublett.
charged with the murder of Lee II.
Pherson, Marshal of the town of
Rockport, some weeks ago, was had
Tuesday afternoon at near O'Clock.
Both the Commonwealth and defense
attorneys consuming two hours each
Smith of Greenville made the legal
fight for Sublett on a plea of insanity
and urged the commitment of the
prisoner to an insane asylum, while
Glover Carey, Commemorative At
torney. urged that the death penal
ty be given. The jury was given the
case and placed in charge of Deputy
Sheriff George p. Jones, but did not
arrive at n verdict until shortly be-
fore noon Wednesday, which was con-
finement In the Penitentiary during
the remainder of his natural life. The
verdict was arrived at by compromise
of opinions.->it being reported that
four or more of the jurors were for
inflicting the death penalty while
some were for 20 year sentence and
a few favoring even a lighter SEN
tence.
The prisoner is either insane or
has been making a pretty good job
of feigning insanity during the past
few weeks as he had for lays refus-
ed food and drink, being, to all APP
pearance wholly oblivious to every
thing and everybody. Not for once
during the trial proceedings taking
any notice OF what was going on,
sitting with his head down and al
most continuously twitching his
n Is and other parts OF his body.
The Insanity plea and general appear
ance of the prisoner evidently saw
ed him from going via the electric
chair.
On the date of the murder, Sublett,
who lived in Muhlenburg County. at
Martwick, or at least near Rockport,
came to the latter place. and asked
the slain Marshal to arrest his step
daughter, upon some sort OF charge.
but was informed that a warrant OF
arrest would be necessary and as the
alleged charge was committed out OF
Rockport, and Ohio County, no war
rant could be issued by the Police
Judge. Later It is said that -Sublett
decided he would have another par
ty arrested, citizen of Rockport.
and Marshal Pherson accompanied
the condemned man to the office of
the Judge to procure the necessary
warrant. and upon reaching the Of
flee Sublett. for reasons never
brought out in the trial, without
warning, drew gun and shot the
Marshal in apparent cold blood,
shooting in all, six times.
The fact that no motive for the
killing was decidedly shown, in all
probability helped the accused man.
. AT least it is safe to say that inability
TO show a clear motive and the in
sanity displayed, whether feigned or
real had quite bit to do with the
findings, and as usual in such cases,
verdict. Each side had experts ex-
anime the man and testify as to their
their testimony was almost entirely
different; as to the mental condition
of the accused.
no CnhIatt ayhihif cd
signs of coming-to after the verdict
was read to him, and he returned
to Jail. He also continued to show a
better fran of mind enroute to Bea-
yer Dam. He attempted to cut an
artery in one of his arms Tuesday
night, using piece of sharp tin. He
first tore his shirt sleeve off, sup
posedly to prevent it from becoming
saturdated with blood and the conse-
quent discovery by others.
No court proceeding in years
brought out such large concourse
of witnesses and the curiously inclin-
ed as did this. Daring most of the
time consumed in the trial the Court
house was packed and jammed to the
limit, at times standing room could
not be found.
Sheriff G. A. Ralph accompanied
by e. A. Barnard left with sublett
and another prisoner, viii Galloway,
for Eddyville. Wednesday afternoon.
The latter was convicted of breaking
into the Depot at Rockport at the
November term of Court and owing
to his alleged age was sent to the
school OF Reform but the officials
would not or could not take him and