Man Killed, Bystander Wounded in Drunken Fight, 1903

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[April 8, 1903] -

TWO

FELL MORTALLY WOUNDED BY BULLETS FROM HEITON'S BIG PISTOL

SOMERSET, Ky., April 7.-- (Special.)-- A. M. Girdler, Coroner of Pulaski county, and County Attorney T. E. Wesley have returned from William's Siding, this county, where they held an inquest into the death of John King, who was shot and killed by Batie Heiton.

The killing was a fearful affair, and Joe Love, of this place, who was a bystander, was shot through the abdomen and is dying.  The trouble is thought to have been the climax of a former dispute between the men, and the evidence adduced at the inquest showed that the killing was about as follows:

King was standing in a crowd of several persons, when Heiton walked close to the crowd and began abusing King.  He drew his pistol, a .44 Smith & Wesson, loaded with Colts cartridges, and opened fire on King.  Two shots took effect in the back and passed almost through his body.  One shot struck Joe Love in the stomach and penetrated the intestines in several places.  Williams' Siding is a mining village in this county.

Heiton is still at large.

BOTH WERE KILLED.

SOMERSET., KY. April 7.--(Associated Press). A report from Barren Fork, this county, states that while a crowd of men were in a saloon kept by William Siddings, near there, a free-for-all fight occurred. [1]

Pulaski County Jailer Killed in a Blind Tiger, Pulaski, 1898

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[June 21, 1898] -

KILLING AT SOMERSET.-- A dispatch from Somerset says that John Perry Colyer, a farmer, shot and killed Jailer A. J. Catron in a blind tiger near the public square Saturday evening.  The men married sisters and had been friendly till Robert Colyer killed Jim Wickersham last December.  Catron espoused the cause of the latter and took considerable interest in the prosecution.  An ill-feeling between the two resulted and when they met in the blind tiger they reached for their pistols.  Colyer was the quicker and shot Catron in the left eye, the ball penetrating his brain.  He was arrested and guarded in the court-house till the first train and then taken to Danville.  There was a good deal of feeling and violence was expected as Catron was a very popular man.  He married a daughter of Hon. Stephen Tate, of Wayne, and she was on a visit to him when the tragedy occurred.  Catron as a cousin of County Judge W. M. Catron, who is well-known here. [1]

Policeman Kills Former Chief-of-Police Candidate, 1897

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[December 31, 1897] -

JAS. WICKERSHAM

Shot and Dangerously Wounded by Policeman Colyer in Somerset.

SOMERSET, Ky., Dec. 31.-- Jas. Wickersham, who was a candidate for chief of police at the November election, was shot and dangerously wounded by Policeman Robert Colyer in front of the depot Thursday evening.  The trouble leading up to the shooting grew out of an alleged disturbance raised by Wickersham and several companions who are said to have been drinking earlier in the evening, at which time Colyer warned them to desist.  It is alleged they threatened him and Colyer, who is a man of nerve, anticipating trouble, armed himself with a double-barreled shotgun for an emergency.  They met later in front of the depot, when it is alleged Wickersham called Colyer a vile name, at the same time pulling his gun and started toward Colyer, who claims he shot him in self-defense.  The shot struck Wickersham on the left side, shattering the bones of his forearm and entering the abdomen, which was badly torn.  The intestines being perforated.  The surgeons are doubtful about being able to save his life. [1]

G. P. Aderholdt Kills Robert Munsey, Pulaski, 1900

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[November 9, 1900] -

In a political row near Bronston, Pulaski county, G. P. Alderholt shot and killed Robert Munsey, whom he mistook for Green Flynn. [1]

William Stivers[?] Kills Charles Tarter, Pulaski, 1900

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[October 2, 1900] -

Will Sievers, who killed Charles Tarter in Pulaski, was held in $1,500 bond. [1]




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[November 13, 1900] -

The grand jury of the Pulaski circuit court returned three indictments for murder against the following persons: G. P. Adderboldt, for the killing of Robert Munsey; William Sievers for the killing of Charles Tartar; Nancy Hunley and Phoebe King, for the killing of Epsey Sellers. [2]

Man Kills Another Over Card Game, Rockcastle, 1908

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[January 7, 1908] -

At Livingston Sunday Dick Pike shot and killed Joe Mize, who three weeks ago shot his own brother to death at that place.  They were playing cards and were well filled with booze.  Pike shot Mize five times and he died instantly.  He gave himself up to authorities. [1]

Man Accidentally Kills His Brother in Gunfight over Craps Game, 1907

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[November 29, 1907] -

As a result of a crap game at Livingston last Saturday, one man lost his life and two more are slightly wounded.  As shown by evidence in the examining trial, some eight or ten had congregated in the back room of the barber shop to take a drink and two or three of the number engaged in a crap game, a difference arose between Ed Mullins and Joe Mize, when both parties went for his pistol and began to fire.  Mullins received a slight wound on the left side, but Mize escaped uninjured.  Greely Mize, an innocent by-stander and a brother of Joe Mize, who fell a victim, it is claimed, was by a stray bullet from his brothers pistol.  John Mounce received two rather painful but not serious wounds, one in the left hand and one in right arm.  George Mullins a brother of Ed Mullins another bystander, received a very slight wound on the head.  Joe Mize was permitted to attend the burial of his brother on Sunday, after which all the parties in charge of Marshall Henry Bulton[?] and Deputy Sheriff G. S. Griffin were brought here, where they had their examining trials Wednesday. [1]

Insulted Woman Kills Wealthy Man, 1911

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[April 13, 1911] -

WEALTHY MERCHANT KILLED BY A WOMAN

(By Associated Press.)

SOMERSET, Ky., April 12-- A sensational tragedy was enacted near Greenwood today when Mrs. Maggie Lewis shot and killed Dalt Meadows, a wealthy merchant and timber dealer.  Mrs. Lewis is alleged to have used a double-barrelled shotgun.  There were no witnesses to the killing which occurred in a room in Mrs. Lewis' home.

Mrs. Lewis declared that she had been compelled to fire upon Meadows after he had addressed insulting remarks to her.  The slain man leaves a widow and several children. [1]

Man Kills His Wife's Admirer, Pulaski, 1901

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[October 6, 1901] -

KILLING

IN SOMERSET FOLLOWED ALLEGED DOMESTIC TROUBLE.

SOMERSET, Ky., Oct. 5.--A tragedy was enacted here late yesterday evening.  James Davis was shot and killed by Harry Bishop in the latter's home.

Bishop says he returned home and found Davis and shot him.  He says he has repeatedly warned Davis to keep away from the Bishop home, and has himself left several times on this account.

Bishop fired five shots and Davis was shot through the heart, dying instantly.  Bishop is a brickmason, and was at work on a building here yesterday.

Bishop immediately gave himself up to the chief of police.  He was held without bond until Monday, when his examination will be held. [1]

Pulaski Farmer Slain By Tenant, 1905

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[July 2, 1905] -

PULASKI FARMER SLAIN BY TENANT.

SOMERSET, Ky., July 1.-- A tragedy which shocked the entire community occurred at Shopville, in the Eastern portion of this county, when Fount Randall, a prominent farmer, was shot and instantly killed by a tenant, who cultivates Randall's lands, living no great distance from Randall's residence.  The tenant, it is alleged, found Randall in the rear of his house, and a difficulty arose over his presence, when the tenant opened fire on him with a double barreled shotgun, killing him instantly. [1]

Man Kills Son-in-Law Over Mistreatment of Daughter, 1915

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[August 5, 1915] -

Rockcastle County Shocked

Rockcastle County people are in deep mourning because of one of the most tragic deaths in all its history.

Tuesday, August 3rd, at 9 a. m., about two miles below Wildie, Squire Abney, aged 48, met his son-in-law, William Shearer, and settled a family quarrel by shooting and killing instantly young Shearer. 

The trouble between the men originated in the alleged cruelty of the husband to his young wife Flora.

Abney is under guard and will be tried Friday of this week.

The slayed was buried Wednesday.

More particulars will appear in our next issue. [1]

Stolen Mule Precipitates Feudal Battle, Rockcastle, 1896-1908

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This post contains details about a 1896 shoot-out between the "Rowlands and Rigsbys." According to the articles below, Greely Lear was injured, Armp[?] Rowland was killed by Jack Rigsby, and Jack Rigsby was killed by Per Rigsby in the 1896 fight.  In 1908, Per Rigsby and Greely Lear shot each other--Greely died and Rigsby was seriously injured.

Also see this post on Rockcastle County KY Genweb that talks about these events but unfortunately has no sources listed.

[December 28, 1896] -

ONE MAN SHOT.

MT. VERNON, Ky., Dec. 27.-- In a general fight six miles north of this place yesterday afternoon two men were killed and another fatally shot.  The dead are Arm Rowland and Jack Rigsby.  The wounded man is Greely Lear.  The fight began at a Christmas merrymaking and was fought out on the highway in Kentucky feudal fashion between opposing factions. [1]

Robbers Decoy Man to His Door and Kill Him, Rockcastle, 1922

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[March 9, 1922] -

SLAYER OF ROCKCASTLE MAN CONFESSES, REPORT

Boys Discover Murder Thirty-six Hours After Crime---Three Suspects Arrested

[Special to The Herald]

RICHMOND, Ky., March 8.-- News as brought here today from Rockcastle county that a man named Cornett had confessed to the murder of Isaac W. Coyle last Thursday night at Coyle's home, three miles from Big Hill, Madison county.  "Uncle Ike," as he as called, was called to his door, shot to death and robbed of between $600 and $700.  News of his murder did not become known for almost 36 hours.

Boys playing crawled under the floor of his house.  One noticed blood dripping through a crack in the floor.  Investigation showed Mr. Coyle lying dead on the floor.  A pillow had been placed under his head and a blanket thrown over his body.  Blankets had been hung in front of the window.

The news that came from Mt. Vernon today was that three men had been arrested for the crime.  Their names were said to be McQueen, Cornett and Bowman, by William Coyle, of Indianapolis, who attended his brothers funeral and was in Richmond today.  He came by here, accompanied by his sister, Mrs. David Grady, and Miss Florence Coyle, a daughter of the dead man.  Coyle's widow and three sons, Nathan, Curtis and Isaac Coyle, Jr., all of Indianapolis, also survive.

The murdered man conducted a small country store near Big Hill on the Rockcastle side of the line.  He was a native of Madison county. [1]