John Wesley Gooch Kills Constable Alex J. Killion, Lincoln, 1881

[January 7, 1881] -

SHOOTING AT KING'S MOUNTAIN. -- Wednesday John Wesley Gooch and George Mitchell got into a fisticuff in which it appears that A. J. Killion, Constable, took a hand. Gooch then turned against Killian, shooting him twice and knocking him down, when Henderson Gooch, father of Wesley, ran up and hit him on the head with a rock. A half a dozen or more Gooches came to the front and then Killian and Mitchell had to fall back. Killion is seriously wounded in the bowels, and strange to say nobody has been arrested. Judge E. W. Brown and W. E. Varnon, pro tem County Attorney because of the illness of Mr. Miller, will go out to the scene this morning and see that the law is perfectly respected. There seems to be but little attention paid it there at present. [1]






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[January 21, 1881] -

HELD FOR MANSLAUGHTER. -- The examining trial of Henderson and John W. Gooch for the murder of Constable Killion, occupied two days of this week and resulted in their being held for manslaughter in the sum of only $250 each. We were not able to attend the trial in person but the result surprises me. The bail would indicate that the Judge thinks there is but little in the case, while there are those who say it was far too low for the offense. Others say that they should have been acquitted. Killion's friends consider the trial an outrage on justice and virtually means an acquittal. [2]







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[April 8, 1881] -

The Grand Jury adjourned Monday, after having found 52 indictments, the smallest number for many courts. For some reason or other no indictment was found against J. W. Gooch, held by the examining Court for the manslaughter of A. J. Killion. [3]




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[November 11, 1881] -

The bondsmen of J. W. Gooch, charged with the murder of Constable Killion, delivered him to the Court and renewed their bond for his appearance at the next term of the Court. [4]




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[March 17, 1882] -

four are for murder: S. B. Conn, for killing McCoy, in Garrard county; Gresham and Reid, for killing Cam Rowsey; J. W. Gooch for killing Constable Killion, and James Mullins for killing another negro. [5]



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[March 21, 1882] -

The trial of John W. Gooch for the murder of Constable Killion, was set for the 13th day of the term, April 3d, and that of S. B. Conn, for the 8th day, March 28th. [6]

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[April 4, 1882] -

CIRCUIT COURT. -- The trial of J. Wesley Gooch, charged with the murder of Constable Killion, January 5, 1881, was called yesterday, when the following jurors were obtained from the regular panel after the Commonwealth had exhausted all its challenges and the defense one: Liberty Green, Michael Cloyd, M. B. Lytle, M. Elmore, John Anderson, W. B. Hawkins, G. S. McKinney, L. Wells, G. W. King, E. P. Woods, Alex. Traylor and D. S. Jones. Judge George Denny is assisting Mr. Warren in the prosecution, while Welch and Saufley, represented the defense. The case is familiar to our readers, who remember it as quite an aggravated one. The Commonwealth concluded her testimony by 3 P.M. and at adjournment last night, three witnesses for the defense had been examined. The case of Froman Minor was continued Saturday, till Wednesday. [7]



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[October 17, 1882] -

Circuit Court will convene here next Monday, and not yesterday, as many witnesses and others seemed to think, who came only to be disappointed. There are 337 cases on the docket, of which 118 are criminal. Of that number there are seven murder cases, as follows: Gresham and Reid for killing Rowsey; John W. Gooch for killing Constable Killion; Tate and McManama for causing the railroad accident, whereby five persons were killed; James Mullins for killing another negro, at the Crab Orchard circus; Froman Miner for killing John Ferrell; Mock and Faulkner for killing Policeman Simpson, of Danville, and one other case for indictment. The equity appearances number 33; motions, 7; common law, 30, and old equity, 107. [8]




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[October 24, 1882] -

The trial of J. W. Gooch was set for the 5th day of the term and Mock and Faulkner's for the 13th day, Nov. 6th. [9]




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[October 31, 1882] -

The cases of Froman Minor and Jas. W. Gooch, for murder, were continued till the next court. [10]

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[April 10, 1883] -

The case of the Commonwealth vs. J. W. Gooch was called yesterday about 11 o'clock and both sides answering ready, a jury was obtained in a short while. Gooch is charged with the murder of Alex. Killion, a constable at Kings Mountain, in January, 188[1]. This is the second trial of the case, the former resulting in a hung jury. [11]




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[April 13, 1883] -

CIRCUIT COURT. -- The trial of John Wesley Gooch for the killing of Killion, resulting Tuesday in his acquittal, it having been clearly proof, it is said, that the deed was done in necessary self-defense. The jury was in their room only after fifteen minutes. [12]




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[May 1, 1891] -

FATALLY SHOT. -- In a difficulty at Kingsville this week John Wesley Gooch was shot in the right side by a fellow named Lasley from Pulaski, the ball going clear through him. The origin of the difficulty is rather obscure. Mr. Gooch, it will be remembered, killed Constable Killion at Highland 10 years ago, but was acquitted on the ground that he acted under a misapprehension of the part Mr. Killion took in a fight he was having with another man. [13]

----------SOURCES----------

[1] Excerpt from Column 2. The Interior Journal, Stanford, KY. January 7, 1881. Page 3. LOC. https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn84038328/1881-01-07/ed-1/seq-3/

[2] Excerpt from Column 2. The Interior Journal, Stanford, KY. January 21, 1881. Page 3. LOC. https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn84038328/1881-01-21/ed-1/seq-3/

[3] Excerpt from "Circuit Court." The Interior Journal, Stanford, KY. April 8, 1881. Page 3. LOC. https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn84038328/1881-04-08/ed-1/seq-3/

[4] Excerpt from Column 2. The Interior Journal, Stanford, KY. November 11, 1881. Page 3. LOC. https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn84038328/1881-11-11/ed-1/seq-3/

[5] Excerpt from "Local Matters." Semi-Weekly Interior Journal, Stanford, KY. March 17, 1882. Page 3. LOC. http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn85052020/1882-03-17/ed-1/seq-3/

[6] Excerpt from "Local Matters." Semi-Weekly Interior Journal, Stanford, KY. March 21, 1882. Page 3. LOC. http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn85052020/1882-03-21/ed-1/seq-3/

[7] Excerpt from Column 2. Semi-Weekly Interior Journal, Stanford, KY. April 4, 1882. Page 3. LOC. http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn85052020/1882-04-04/ed-1/seq-3/

[8] Excerpt from "Local Matters." Semi-Weekly  Interior Journal, Stanford, KY. October 17, 1882. Page 3. LOC. http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn85052020/1883-10-17/ed-1/seq-3/

[9] Excerpt from "Local Matters." Semi-Weekly  Interior Journal, Stanford, KY. October 24, 1882. Page 3. LOC. http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn85052020/1882-10-24/ed-1/seq-3/

[10] Excerpt from "Local Matters." Semi-Weekly Interior Journal, Stanford, KY. October 31, 1882. Page 3. LOC. http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn85052020/1882-10-31/ed-1/seq-3/

[11] Excerpt from Column 2. Semi-Weekly Interior Journal, Stanford, KY. April 10, 1883. Page 3. LOC. http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn85052020/1883-04-10/ed-1/seq-3/

[12] Excerpt from Column 2. Semi-Weekly Interior Journal, Stanford, KY. April 13, 1883. Page 3. LOC. http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn85052020/1883-04-13/ed-1/seq-3/

[13] Excerpt from "City and Vicinity." Semi-Weekly Interior Journal, Stanford, KY. May 1, 1891. Page 5. LOC. http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn85052020/1891-05-01/ed-1/seq-5/

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