Dog Killing Allegedly Sparks Feud, Pulaski, 1920

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

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[May 26, 1920] -

THREE ARE SLAIN IN PULASKI FEUD

(By Associated Press)

Danville, Ky., May 26.-- Jack McKinney and two sons, George and Virgin, who were shot and killed yesterday at Ocala, Pulaski county, lost their lives in an argument over a dog according to word received here today.  The McKinneys, according to the report, killed a dog which belonged to John Hansford a month ago.  Hansford and his son met the McKinneys yesterday and discussed the dog killing.  Weapons were drawn and when the smoke cleared away the three McKinneys were dead.  Hansford and his son were arrested after they had gone to Somerset and surrendered to County Judge Tartar.

All the parties involved are prominently connected.  Hansford is a deputy sheriff. [1]

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[May 26, 1920] -

THREE DEAD 

Jack, George and John McKinney, of Pulaski County, Are Shot to Death by John Hansford and Son. 

(Special to The Advocate) 

SOMERSET, Ky., May 26. -- Pulaski county was the scene of one of the greatest tragedies in the history of the county yesterday when Jack McKinney and his sons, George and Virgil McKinney, were shot and killed by John Hansford and his son, Scott Hansford. The tragedy occurred on Hansford's farm near Ocala, twelve miles from Somerset. A month ago thee McKinneys killed a dog belonging to Hansford. When the five met yesterday, a quarrel ensued and they began to fight. There were no one present but the five men who were engaged in the fight. Hansford and son escaped injury. Both were arrested and are under guard in Somerset awaiting the action of the grand jury which is in session. [2]

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[May 27, 1920] -

THREE DEAD IN FEUD.

Somerset, Ky., -- Jack McKinney and his two sons, George and Virgil McKinney, are dead at Ocalla, Pulaski county.

Authorities report a pitched battle took place between Scott and John Hansford on one side, and the McKinneys on the other.  A feud it is said, has been brewing for some time.

The Hansfords surrendered after the shooting. [3]

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[May 28, 1920] -

FATHER AND 2 SONS

KILLED IN FEUD BATTLE

Somerset, Ky., May 25. -- A pitched battle took place near Ocalla, Pulaski County, today, between Scott Hansford and John Hansford on one side, and Jack McKinney and his two sons on the other.  When the smoke cleared away Jack, George and Virgil McKinney were dead.

The fight grew out of a feud that had been brewing for months.  All of the men involved were prominently connected.  John Hansford is a deputy sheriff.

The Hansfords came to Somerset immediately after the battle and surrendered to County Judge Tartar. [4]

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[June 11, 1920] -

The grand jury indicted Scott and John Hansford for killing Jack McKinney and his two sons.  The case will come up for trial on the 16th. [5]

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[June 18, 1920] -

Court Adjourns.  The summer term of Circuit Court adjourned yesterday after cleaning up all cases on the docket ready for trial.  The Hansford murder trial was postponed until next November.  The defense was not ready.  During the past week several cases of minor importance were tried.  The grand jury returned quite a number of indictments. [6]

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[November 5, 1920] -

The case against Scott and John Hansford for killing two McKinneys last year was called Thursday morning.  The jury was summoned from the western part of the county and yesterday was taken up in selecting twelve men to try the case. [7]

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[February 6, 1921] -

TRIPLE MURDER CASE IS ON PULASKI COUNTY DOCKET

 

Feud Case to be Tried at February Term

(Special to The Herald)

SOMERSET, Ky., Feb. 5. -- Judge B. J. Bethurum and Commonwealth's Attorney W. N. Flippin will go to Mt. Vernon Monday to call the regular term of the Rockcastle Circuit Court for a two weeks' session, after which the Pulaski Circuit Court will convene for a five weeks' term.

At this term in Pulaski county John Hansford and his son will be tried on a charge of murder for the killing of George McKinley and his two grown sons.  The murders occurred on a road which runs close to the Hansford's home, while the McKinley's were passing by in a wagon on their way to a field which they were preparing for cultivation, beyond Hansford's home.  Pistols and shotguns were used by the Hansfords an the three McKinleys were riddled with bullets and buckshot, and one mule pulling the wagon was killed.  The Hansfords are said to have fired from near a burning brush heap close to the road.

The murders is said to have been the result of bitter feeling which had existed between the two families for some time. [8]

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[February 25, 1921] -

Two murder cases are set for this term of court.  The Hansford case for killing the McKinney's which resulted in a hung jury last court, and the case of Stella Cato for killing a girl at Tateville.  The Hansford case was started Wednesday and the Cato case is set for Monday. [9]

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[March 3, 1921] -

ACQUITTED

Scott Hansford and Son Turned Loose After One Hour's Deliberation By Jury.

The past week of Circuit Court has been taken up with the trial of Scott Hansford and son, John, for the killing of Geo. McKinney and his two sons last year. This was the second trial of this case, a hung jury being the result of the first trial. Wednesday of last week the entire personnel of the two panels of the petit jury was exhausted and only two qualified to serve on the Hansford case. One hundred extra men were summoned from the western part of the county Thursday and the jury was completed as follows: Geo. Merrett, Geo. Carter, R. DePrato, D. C. Johnson, Sam Caylor, Fred Powell, G. A. Sloan, Fount Stigall, Cicero Davis, J. P. Cox, F. Garrett and Lee Hollers. The case was finished late Tuesday evening and was placed in the hands of the jury early Wednesday morning. After one hour's deliberations in the jury room a verdict of not guilty was announced. [10]

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[March 4, 1921] -

IS ACQUITTED.

Scott Hansford and Son Come Clear For The Killing Of The McKinney's. 

The entire time of Circuit Court since the opening last Monday has been taken up with the trial of Scott Hansford and son, John, for killing Geo. McKinney and his two sons. The killing occurred over a year ago. This was the second trial, the first resulting in a hung jury. Tuesday was consumed with speeches, three being made on each side. The jury was given the case Wednesday morning and after deliberating about an hour, they returned a verdict of "not guilty." The jury was composed of the following men: Geo. Merrett, Geo. Carter, R. Deprato, D.C. Johnson, Sam Colyer, Fred Powell, G.A. Sloan, Fount Stigall, Cicero Davis, J.P. Cox, F. Garrett and Lee Hollars. [11]

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[May 25, 1920] -

Death Certificates for Andrew Jackson McKinney, George R. McKinney, and Irvin B. McKinney (click to enlarge). [12]

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[1] "Three are slain in Pulaski Feud." Richmond Daily Register, Richmond, KY. May 26, 1920. Page 1. LOC. http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn86069168/1920-05-26/ed-1/seq-1/

[2] "Three Dead." Kentucky Advocate, Danville, KY. May 26, 1920. Page 1. Newspapers.com.

[3] "Three Dead in Feud." The Public Ledger, Maysville, KY. May 27, 1920. Page 3. LOC. http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn85038022/1920-05-27/ed-1/seq-3/

[4] "Father and 2 Sons Killed in Feud Battle." The Hartford Republican, Hartford, KY. May 28, 1920. Page 4. LOC. http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn86069313/1920-05-28/ed-1/seq-4/

[5] Excerpt from "Circuit Court News." The Somerset Journal, Somerset, KY. June 11, 1920. Retrieved from http://files.usgwarchives.net/ky/pulaski/newspapers/sj6_11_1920.txt

[6] "Court Adjourns." The Somerset Journal, Somerset, KY. June 18, 1920. Retrieved from http://files.usgwarchives.net/ky/pulaski/newspapers/sj6_18_1920.txt

[7] Excerpt from "Circuit Court." The Somerset Journal, Somerset, KY. November 5, 1920. Retrieved from http://files.usgwarchives.net/ky/pulaski/newspapers/sj11_5_1920.txt

[8] "Triple Murder Case is on Pulaski County Docket." Lexington Herald, Lexington, KY. February 6, 1921. Page 6. Genealogybank.com.

[9] Excerpt from "Court Opens Monday With All Officials At Post." The Somerset Journal, Somerset, KY. February 25, 1921. Retrieved from http://files.usgwarchives.net/ky/pulaski/newspapers/sj2_25_1921.txt

[10] Excerpt from "Acquitted." The Commonwealth, Somerset, KY. March 3, 1921. http://pulaskilibrary.advantage-preservation.com/

[11] Excerpt from "Is Acquitted." Somerset Journal, Somerset, KY. March 4, 1921. Retrieved from http://archiver.rootsweb.ancestry.com/th/read/KYPULASK/2002-12/1040099455

[12] Ancestry.com. Kentucky, Death Records, 1852-1953 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2007.

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