Bettie Fish Kills Henry Alford, Lincoln, 1879

Previously:

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

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[August 1, 1879] -

A FATAL BLOW. -- Henry Alford, a well known colored boy of town [Stanford], died last Saturday under suspicious circumstances. Coroner James P. Goode was notified of the fact and an inquest held, which resulted in a verdict that Alford came to his death from a blow on the side of his head from a stick or stone in the hands of Bet Fish, a colored prostitute, with whom he had been intimate. The blow was inflicted two weeks before, and although a post mortem examination by Drs. Peyton and McRoberts showed that the skull was crushed in and pressing against the brain, he went about as usual up to the night before his death. The woman was arrested by Town Marshal W. T. Saunders, of Crab Orchard, and lodged in jail here. [1]






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[August 1, 1879] -

Bettie Fish (col'd.,) was indicted for the murder of Henry Alford (col'd.,) and her case set for trial next Tuesday. [1 ibid]



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[August 8, 1879] -

THE ACQUITTAL. -- Of Bettie Fish on the charge of the murder of Henry Alford, is a surprise to a good many persons. The jury were not satisfied that the blow at her hands caused the death, as that occurred fourteen or fifteen days prior to the time he died. The doctors who testified, said that there is no case on record of a person having lived two weeks after a fatal injury had been inflicted. [2]



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[August 8, 1879] -

Bettie Fish, on charge of the murder of Henry Alford, was acquitted. [3]



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[December 26, 1879] -

Aug. [July?] 24, Henry Alford, colored, killed by Bet Fish. [4]

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[1] Excerpt from "Local Matters." The Interior Journal, Stanford, KY. August 1, 1879. Page 3. LOC. http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn84038328/1879-08-01/ed-1/seq-3/

[2] Excerpt from "Local Matters." The Interior Journal, Stanford, KY. August 8, 1879. Page 3. LOC. http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn84038328/1879-08-08/ed-1/seq-3/

[3] Excerpt from "Local Matters." The Interior Journal, Stanford, KY. August 8, 1879. Page 3. LOC. http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn84038328/1879-08-08/ed-1/seq-3/

[4] Excerpt from "Local Matters." The Interior Journal, Stanford, KY. December 26, 1879. Page 7. LOC. http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn84038328/1879-12-26/ed-1/seq-7/

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