Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-12-26
G OF MOB SOUGHT
IN JAIL ST0RM|NG
Bullet RiddIed Victim Gives
Names of Attackers for
Jury Action.
By the Associated Press.


JACKSON, KY, December 26.-Six
warrants charging malicious shooting
and wounding were sworn to today by
Chester Fugate, in the hospital here
with bullet wounds received from pistols
Of a mob yesterday. Those named in
the warrants are all relatives either by
blood or marriage to Clay Watkins,
whom Fugate shot and killed last week.
A special term of court already has
been called for January 6, and Circuit
Judge Chester A. Back said today that
the Christmas day mob action would be
investigated by the grand jury at that
time. It was indicated that warrants
would be sworn out today for several
men whom Fugate said he recognized in
the masked mob.
Taken Out and Shot.
Fugate, tenant farmer, held for
the Staying of his landlord, was taken
from the Breathitt County Jail yester-
day morning, shot half a dozen times
and thrown over q cliff, where five hours
later his prayers and groans attracted
help.
Fugate was brought to a hospital here
and when it was learned that he was
not expected to live his signed statement
was taken. He was said to have stated
that he recognized several of the mob,
but county officials declined to. give any
ntimation Of their names pending ar
rests.
The mob that revenged the death of
Clay Watkins. lawyer and wealthy land
owner, worked quietly. Five men, about
am. slipped into the bed room of
Sollie Combs. the TALLER, in his home adj
joining the jail. Combs said that before
he was fully awake his arms and feet
had been bound. He woke to a warning
to keep quiet II he valued his life.
The men did not harm the Is other
prisoners in the jail, but sought out
Fugate'S cell, hustled him out into the
snow and drove away.
Cries Attract Farmer.
It was five hours later when a farmer
heard man praying and groaning. He
summoned help and Fugate was brought
to the hospital here. It was not believed
that he could survive the wounds and
exposure. He had been shot in the
head, body and limbs and had suffered
greatly from lying in the snow. He had
been hurled some 20 feet from the road
way also.
Fugate, who is Is years old, was not
married, but lived with his aged father
and several brothers. His quarrel with
Watkins was said to have occurred over
his claim that the latter failed to pay
him for some coal that Fugate had dug
Tor the lawyer. Watkins and Fugate
met week ago In a country store near
here and the quarrel was renewed,
IN GtN Id
who was IS, was married and had two
children.
Second Of Family Seized.
Chester Fugate was the second mem
Der Of his family to be taken by a
mob from the Breathitt County Jail,
where seven years ago two women and
child were killed In another outbreak
of violence.
Fifty years ego Fugate's grandfather
and a negro were taken by a mob and
hanged in the court house yard. They
were charged with waylaying and kill
ing man named Thrope.
The bloody battle of 1922 at the JAIL
the last previous attempt to remove q
prisoner by force, found the jailer, Al
fred Smoky Allen, away, but his son
Louis opened fire on three men who
attempted to force entrance. The jail
er'S daughter, daughter-in-law and
grandson were killed in the exchange
Of bullets before the members of the
mob learned that Noble Hargis, the man
they sought. had been secretly removed
to Winchester for safekeeping.
There previously had been trouble be-
tween the Fugate and Watkins families
and in 1925 Green Watkins, a deputy
sheriff and brother of Clay Watkins,
was waylaid and shot to death by Amos
Fugate. cousin Of Chester. Amos Flu
Deputy Watkins came upon him In the
mountains.