The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1934-03-24
LYNCH VICTIMS
AvENCER SHOT,
is NEAR DEATH
Kentucky Legislator Sent
Threatening Notes in
Justice Fiqht.
By scripps-Hooord Newspaper Alliance

By Scripps-HOa1drd Newspaper Alliance
PRINCETON, KY, March "a
John w. Taylor, member of the
Kentucky legislature, is fighting fol-
his life in a hospital here, bullet
hole through. his left lung, because
he sought to bring the lyncherS OF
Walter Merrick to justice. He was
held up, shot and robbed at a
bridge just outside Of town by
three men.
Threatening notes received a few
days ago at the state Capitol and
other circumstances in the assault
made it apparent the robbery was a
blind or an afterthought.
One of the trio held a gun over
Mr.. Taylor's heart and pulled the
trigger. Mr.. Taylor lurched away
and the bullet missed the vital or
gan. AS he lay on the ground the
trio searched his pockets, taking
500 and valuable papers. Their
one man put the gun against his
heart again and prepared to finish
him, but another pushed him back
and the trio fled. Mr.. Taylor
crawled 400 yards to farm house
and was brought to the Hospital
on truck.
No Indictment Returned
Mr.. Taylor, Kentuckian with a
little private detective experience
in Chicago and New York, gained
support of the American Civil Lib
critics Union two years ago in his
crusade to avenge Merrick's death
Merrick, farmer, was arrested
after store at Hopson, small Cald-
well county town, was bombed. He
was thrown into jail, though later
evidence showed he was in another
part of the county at the time OF
the bombing. Several weeks later
a mob raided the jail at night and
hanged Merrick.
Reward had been offered by the
state for the bomber, but none was
offered for the lynchers.
Thee Civil Liberties Union sue
ceeded in getting Governor Ruby
Laffoon to put up a reward. A
grand jury investigation was held
without indictments. The jailer was
removed, but his wife was put in his
place by the Governor.
Elected as Republican
Unable to get action in the courts
Mr.. Taylor carried the case to the
voters, running last fall for election
to the legislature as a Republican
in a county where only Democrats
normally have the slightest hope of
election. He won by 300 votes, anc
most OF the county officials in office
at the time of the lynchings were
voted out.
When Mr.. Taylor went to Frank
fort for the legislative session he re-
ceived letters warning him he would
be killed if he returned to Caldwell
county.
He had been home only three
days when the shooting occurred.
Opposes Governor Laffoon
In the legislature Mr.. Taylor be-
longed to faction opposed to
Governor Laffoon. On the floor of
the house he denied he was the
author of the psalm of Politics." a
letter published in the Louisville
Courier-Journal criticising the legis-
lature.
The house lobby investigating
committee tried to put Vance Ar
mentrout, acting editor of the
Courier-Journal, in Jail when he re-
fused to name the author of this
letter, reputed to be a member of
the legislature.
Mr.. Taylor introduced a bill ask
ing that the lobby investigating
committee be reprimanded and the
letter writer be commended. When
it was not acted upon, he threatened
to write sequel" to the letter.