Former Deputy Sheriff Shoots Man in Head, Man Survives, 1908

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[April 27, 1908] -

FATAL SHOOTING IN ROCKCASTLE.

Former Deputy Sheriff David Clark shot Elza Langford four times at Mt. Vernon, twice in the head, once in the shoulder and once in the arm.  The participants had been enemies for some time.  A few months since they met at Orlando and emptied their revolvers at each other, doing but little damage.  They met in the office of County Judge Bethurum Saturday when hostilities were again opened.  It is not known who fired the first shot.  Clark surrendered.  Langford was a bad citizen and had given the officers and good people of Rockcastle much trouble. [1]

Wife Kills Drunk Relative, Husband is Killed a Year Later, 1907-1908

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[October 2, 1907] -

CAME TO BLOWS AND SHE FIRED THE GUN.

Mt. Vernon, Ky., Oct. 2. -- Lee Wiggins was killed near Broadhead last night by Mrs. Clell Smith. It is claimed that Wiggins, in company with Josiah Wiggins, a cousin, stopped at Smith's house intoxicated and came to blows.  Smith parted them and was knocked senseless with a pistol.

Mrs. Smiith fired a shotgun and almost instantly killed Wiggins.  Smith and his wife were arrested.  Before reaching Smith's house, it was said that one of the two men had fired three shots into the home of George Hopper and Hopper fired his shotgun at them.  Shortly afterward they carried Wiggins' body along the road by Hopper's house.  Hopper came to town early this morning and surrendered under the impression that he had done the killing and remains in jail awaiting investigation. [1]

Man On Trial For Murder Points Blame at Deceased Father, Pulaski, 1895-1897

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[June 18, 1895] -

A dispatch from Indianapolis says that A. J. Catron, the jailer at Somerset, Ky., created a scene on an I. & V. train, coming into this city this afternoon, by standing off the conductor with a revolver. Catron had come to Bloomfield, Green, county, with requisition papers for James Hollers, who was wanted at Somerset for murder, but his man escaped before he reached there. He claimed to have paid his fare, and that the conductor insisted on payment again. The conductor threatened to put him off if the fare was not paid, and then Catron drew his gun and invited the conducted to come, which he did not do. [1]

Moonshiner Kills Councilman, Wounds Town Marshal in Arrest Escape, 1913

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[August 19, 1913] -

FORMER MOONSHINER KILLS BURNSIDE MAN

Josh Tarter, a Desperate Character, Also Wounds Marshal and Escapes

BURNSIDE, Ky., Aug. 18.--Josh Tarter, a desperate character and former moonshiner, at this place shot and killed John Fitzgerald and wounded Town Marshal John Coomer in a pistol duel late this afternoon.  Tarter had been to Somerset with a friend and returned drunk.  When he stepped from the train he was arrested by Marshal Coomer, who started with him to jail.  On the way Tarter drew his pistol and shot Coomer inflicting a slight flesh wound.  Tarter then ran to the ferry, pursued by a posse of citizens.  He compelled the ferryman at the point of the [p]istol to set him across the river and as he was crossing opened fire on his pursuers, killing Fitzgerald instantly.

The posse could not return the fire effectively for fear of killing the ferryman.  When Tarter stepped ashore the posse opened fire and he was  wounded as he ran away.  A great crowd of angry and excited citizens gathered at the river and there was talk of mob violence.  Tarter is still in hiding.  Officers have been summoned from Somerset and the fugitive will be surrounded and captured at once.

John Fitzgerald was one of the most respected citizens of Burnside.  He leaves a wife and ten children.  One of his daughters recently won a scholarship at Georgetown college. [1]

Man Kills Brother-in-Law Over Land Disagreement, Pulaski, 1910

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[February 18, 1910] -

Jack McKinney, Wednesday shot and fatally wounded George Harper, from the effects of which Harper died yesterday morning at three o'clock.  Jack McKinney is a son of Mr. Dave McKinney and a brother-in-law of Harper, the man he killed.  Mr. David McKinney owns quite a boundary of land in the southern part of the county and Harper had been living on his father-in-law's, Mr. David McKinney, land and wanted to rent the land for another year, and over this the trouble started.  McKinney shot Harper four times with a 38 pistol, but as to further particulars we have been unable to learn, as the trouble occurred in Pulaski county and McKinney was arrested and taken to Somerset.  Both men were married and we understand Harper had several children. [1]