The Monmouth inquirer. [volume] (Freehold, N.J.) 1865-1933, 1924-06-19
WlFE'S VISIT TRAPS
! HUNTED kENTUCkIAN
Accused of Hiring Out to
Shoot His Cousin.

Bairdstown, Ky. 49, "Cherchez La
eemmei" say the French. And because
q woman talked too much Kelly How
ard, thirty, mountain feudist, has been
tracked 10 this bluegrass country and
captured
The capture caused echoes to sound
concerning a fatal shooting on a lonely
creek bed In the isolated section Of
Floyd county one day last January,
when. q was claimed, Howard shot to
death his first cousin and one-time best
friend, Morgan Shepherd, thirty-fve.
Howard was going under the name OF
Kelly Arnett when caught
Howard was arrested at a small
house On the farm of his brother, Reu-
ben Howard, near Deatsviile, this coun-
q. Howard had been working with
his brother after fleeing the mountains.
Ha was sitting at window when he
saw two Floyd county officials APP
preaching. Howard had known both
men for years and he knew his arrest
impended. So, without arguing with
them, he ran The officer saw How
ard, however. and when he did not
heed their demands for surrender, they
opened fire. Then Howard gave ny.
Aftermath OF Party.
According to Jerry and 7. G. Allen,
the Floyd county officers, the noun
tain murder was the aftermath Of a
TiOtous family party back in the hills,
during which a woman, Mrs. Moots
Allen, was shot to deah. Shepherd,
tia man afterward killed by Howard,
was tried and convicted Of the wom-
ana killing. but had been granted a
new trial.
According to the officers, the COM
nsonwealth charges that others who
wore suspected In the killing, afraid
Bhepherd would go free, hired How
ard, said to be dead shot," to kill
the accused man. One day In January,
while Shepherd and a neighbor, David
Wilson, were riding a mule along a
mountain trail in creek bed, with
Howard and Bruce Shepherd, broth
or 20 the man later slain, on another
mule. Howard drew his pistol and shot
Shepherd from the lead animal.
While IN jail here awaiting transpor-
tation' back to Floyd county the pris-
oner declared the shooting was an ac-
cidomG.
wife Disclosed Retreat.
the location of the escaped man
was learned by the mountain officers
when Towards wife paid him visit
and when a friend talked too much"
to another. The Floyd county authori-
ties expressed apprehension as to the
possibility Of getting their prisoner
home safely. Jerry Allen, the younger
Of tho two officers, exhibited his back,
In which he said 157 shot entered three
weeks ago when he was wayiaid while
riding through the mountains. An as
aassin had hidden In an ambush near
the trail and Opened up" ON the young
0Giew es ha rode past. Allen, how
ever, said the attempt on his life must
have been made "in fun"
Howard, of course. was In this coun-
q w4en the attack was made, but he
had many relatives and friends In the
mountains who may have known Allen
was about 70 come here after the al
legged slayer. However, there Is moth
ing to attach suspicion to any Of these
people, and as Allen has been active
against various forms Of lawbreaking
others may have felt the need of re-
moving him. He expressed no fear Of
going back to the hills where he has
the reputation of being a "go-getter."