Freeman Farris Kills Robert Land, Garrard, 1878

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[May 29, 1878] -

LANCASTER.

Robert Land, of Madison County, Shot and Killed by Freeman Farris -- Farris Taken to Boyle County Jail. 

(Special Dispatches to the Courier-Journal.)

LANCASTER, KY., May 28. -- An unusually lively County Court day yesterday culminated last night, about nine o'clock, in the shooting and killing of Robert Land, a citizen of Madison county, by Freeman Farris, a negro of this place. Whisky had been flowing freely all day, and Land, together with several friends, had imbibed considerable. On leaving town the party encountered a lot of negroes quarreling in the suburbs. Land stopped and held some discussion with them, the rest of the party proceeding homeward. The negro Farris, who did the shooting, addressed some insolence to Land. He replied to him, when the negro struck him across the face with a stick. Land then drew his pistol and fired at him, but missed his aim. The negro fled out of sight. He returned in a few minutes with a gun, and observing Land seated on his horse, fired upon him, killing him instantly. He then fled, but about 12 o'clock last night he came and surrendered himself to the Town Marshal. By order of the County Judge he was taken to the Boyle county jail this afternoon for safe-keeping, violence from the deceased's friends being apprehended. The deceased, Robert Land, bore the reputation of being a bad man when in liquor. He had killed several men, and was generally regarded as dangerous. The negro was also a bad character, coming from Madison county about three weeks ago. He had been in the workhouse during the greater part of that time, and was only released therefrom the day before the shooting. It is reported he too had killed his man previously.

Another Report of the Affair.

(Special Dispatch to the Courier-Journal.)

DANVILLE, May 28. -- Freeman Farris, who killed Robert Land at Lancaster yesterday evening, was brought here at 3 o'clock P.M. to-day by Town Marshal Singleton, Jailer Eason and others and committed to the Boyle county jail for safe-keeping. This was done by order of Judge M. H. Owsley, of the Eighth Judicial district, because of reasonable apprehension that Land's friends and the indignant citizens would assemble and hang Farris. The murder was a foul one, and the particulars are about as follows: Land, who was a good citizen and a peaceable man, was in Lancaster yesterday, and had started toward his home, about ten miles in the country, out the Sugar-creek pike. He had been drinking a little during the day, and when he reached the edge of town, he stopped and engaged in a conversation with a colored man, who was trying to persuade him to go on home, when Farris came up and advised the colored man to let the son of a --- go where he pleased. Land made some appropriate reply to this suggestion, when Farris struck him violently over the head with a stick. Land retorted by shooting at his antagonist with a pistol, the shot not taking effect. Farris then ran to a negro cabin about fifty yards distant, and seizing a musket returned and shot Land, the latter falling from his horse and dying in twenty minutes. Farris immediately fled, but probably knowing that his chances for escape were rather slim, returned and surrendered to the officers last night about twelve o'clock.

Farris is a mulatto about twenty-five years old. He was raised and formerly owned by Charles Gentry, of Madison county, and has made a record as a desperado, Robert Land being his fourth victim. He had escaped from the work-house, where he was serving a term for a misdemeanor, at the time he killed Land. [1]

Father and Son Murder Witness Against Them, Hanged by Mob, Boyle, 1866

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[April 12, 1866] -

FOUL MURDER OF AN OLD LADY NEAR PERRYVILLE. -- We yesterday received the startling information that Mrs. Polly Bottoms, and old and highly respected lady, residing near Perryville, in Boyle county, was foully murdered on Tuesday night last, by a man named Bill Taylor. Our informant states that some time ago the murderer and two other men committed a robbery at the house of Mrs. Bottoms, for which two of the perpetrators, having been caught, were tried and convicted and are now undergoing sentence at the Frankfort penitentiary. Taylor, the guiltiest of the wretches, made his escape at the time of the robbery, and has been at large ever since. Recently he was recognized as one of the robbers by a little daughter of Mrs. Bottoms, whereupon he visited the house about 10 o'clock Tuesday night, and deliberately murdered the old lady. He could have had no other object in perpetrating this cold blooded deed than to silence an important witness against him. We fervently hope that speedy and terrible justice will overtake the unmitigated demon. [1]

Men on Drunken Spree Kill Two, Injure One, Boyle, 1873

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[January 24, 1873] -

Murder in Boyle County.

On last Saturday evening, about two o'clock, a most brutal murder was committed at Shelby City, in Boyle county, about eight miles west of this place, on the Knoxville Branch railroad, the particulars of which are about as follows: Two men, Bill Wilson and Clay Drye -- the former a notorious desperado and outlaw -- rode into Shelby City and stopped at the drug store of J. B. Williamson, where the proprietor and his two sons, John and Robert, were sitting around the stove engaged in social converse. The two men were exceedingly boisterous and insulting in their conduct, demanding liquor, which Mr. Williamson declined to sell them, saying that it would be a violation of law. Young Drye drew his pistol and threatened to kill elder Williamson, who grasped the weapon and a struggle ensued. J. B. Williamson attempted to assist his father, when Wilson drew his pistol and fired, the ball taking effect in the head of the young man. Drye, being released, also shot young Williamson. The two men were total strangers to the Williamsons. The first shot killed young Williamson instantly. It is reported that the two murderers also shot a negro man on the road from Shelby City to Hustonville, after leaving the store of Williamson. A party of men are out in pursuit of the murderers, and, it is hoped, will be able to secure their arrest. We have no sympathy for the dastardly villains who committed this brutal murder, but deeply sympathize with the bereaved friends of the murdered man and the relations of young Drye, who are among the most respectable families of our county. This is another case to swell the terrible docket against the traffic of ardent spirits. [1]

Man Kills School Teacher; Arrest Leads to Police Shootout, Pulaski, 1911

Post updated July 5, 2021.

I received the following message regarding this case:

"Members of the Phelps family believe the newspaper article in error identifying James Phelps as the shooter of Riley Price. We believe the actual shooter was Andrew Marion (Dude) Phelps, James Arthur’s brother. We believe James Arthur Phelps was the person shot in the shootout described in the October 20th article. James Arthur Phelps’s tombstone states October 20, 1912 as his date of death. Andrew Marion Phelps served a prison sentence and lived to be an elderly man. The family would interested in any articles or court records and/or hearing, trial, and sentencing of Andrew Marion Phelps. This is [sent] by the great niece of both Andrew Marion (Dude) Phelps and James Arthur Phelps." 

If anyone has any additional information or documents regarding this case, please reach out to Bill at bsimon1875[/at]gmail[/dot]com.

The Findagrave entry for James Arthur Phelps who died on October 20, 1912 is here.

 

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[August 11, 1911] -

 

THIRD KILLING IN A MONTH

 

Somerset, KY., Aug. 10. -- Pulaski county had another killing Wednesday, which makes the third in a month, and another good citizen is gone. J. A. Phelps, it is alleged shot and instantly killed Riley Price Wednesday afternoon near Price's home, about fifteen miles east of here [Somerset]. 

Price was a school teacher, and was shot while on his way to school. Little can be learned of the killing, as the officers have not brought Phelps here, yet it is known that the two men have been at outs for some years. About a year ago Price shot Phelps in the arm, and Wednesday was the first time the men had met since that time. 

Price was County Assessor four years ago, and was one of the leading citizens of the county. His reputation was that of a quiet and peaceable citizen, and the killing has caused much excitement. 

Mr. Phelps is also one of the county's leading citizens, being a farmer in excellent circumstances. [1]