December 26, 2017

David Dishon Kills George Austin, Garrard, 1877

Previously:

Click here for a list of my other Pulaski/Rockcastle/Laurel County KY articles

-----------



[January 19, 1877] -

It is also our painful duty to sully the page with a fresh murder in the annals of Garrard. On Saturday morning a man named Dishon met, and shot dead, George Austin, of this county, on the Crab Orchard turnpike, in front of Mr. John Lusk's residence. A grudge, of some months standing, seems to have made Dishon afraid to move about unprotected, and the affair culminated as above. He has not yet been arrested. Mr. Austin was united in marriage a few months ago, to Mrs. Belle S. Anderson. [1]







---

[January 19, 1877] -

FATAL SHOOTING. -- David Dishon last Saturday morning, shot, with a double-barreled shot gun, Geo. Austin, out on the Lancaster and Crab Orchard pike, near the residence of Jno S. Lusk. Austin expired in a few seconds after the shooting. The parties were near neighbors and both resided in a short distance of the fatal occurrence. It is said they have been mortal enemies for months past, and the affair of Saturday brought the feud to a tragic end. Capt. Singleton, Town Marshal, repaired with posse to the scene as soon as report reached town, but returned late in the afternoon without being able to capture Dishon. He is still a fugitive from justice, but it was reported on the streets last evening that he would come in and demand a trial in a few days. [2]




---

[February 2, 1877] -

On Tuesday of the present week David Dishon, who shot and killed George Austin a few weeks ago, and has since been a fugitive from justice, came in and surrendered himself up to the civil authorities, waived an examining trial, and was admitted to bail in the sum of one thousand dollars, to appear at the coming term of the Garrard Circuit Court. [3]




---

[March 2, 1877] -

The trial of the Commonwealth vs. David Dishon, charged with the murder of Geo. Austin, in January last, (particulars of which we gave your readers at the time,) was commenced Wednesday morning, and the testimony closed at 9 o'clock last night. He is the most important trial of the term, and the arguments to-day will draw a crowded house. The Commonwealth is represented by her Attorney, Mr. Denny, and R. H. Tomlinson, and the defendant by Hill & Alcorn, of the Stanford bar. [4]





---

[March 9, 1877] -

The jury, in the case of the Commonwealth vs. Dishon, charged with the murder of Geo. Austin, after hearing the arguments, last Thursday, returned into Court, in 20 minutes, a verdict of "not guilty." This was the most interesting criminal trial of the term and elicited from the counsel very fine speeches, notably that of Col. T. P. Hill. [5]




---

[March 9, 1877] -

The town is dull since Court closed. Messrs. Dunlap, Hopper and Noel, are at the Court of Appeals, at Frankfort. Others legal gentlemen are at Danville, attending Circuit Court. In the case of the Commonwealth vs. David Dishon, for the killing of George Austin, the prisoner was found not guilty. [6]





-------------------------------------



[1] Excerpt from "Garrard County News." The Interior Journal, Stanford, KY.  January 19, 1877. Page 3. LOC. http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn84038328/1877-01-19/ed-1/seq-3/

[2] Excerpt from "Our Neighbors -- Garrard County." The Kentucky Advocate, Danville, KY. January 19, 1877. Page 2. Newspapers.com.

[3] Excerpt from "Garrard County News." The Interior Journal, Stanford, KY. February 2, 1877. Page 2. LOC. http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn84038328/1877-02-02/ed-1/seq-2/

[4] Excerpt from "Garrard County." The Kentucky Advocate, Danville, KY. March 2, 1877. Page 2. Newspapers.com.

[5] Excerpt from "Garrard County." The Kentucky Advocate, Danville, KY. March 9, 1877. Page 2. Newspapers.com.

[6] Excerpt from "Garrard County News." The Interior Journal, Stanford, KY. March 9, 1877. Page 3. LOC. http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn84038328/1877-03-09/ed-1/seq-3/

.

No comments: