Democratic Sentinel, Volume 3, Number 8, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 4 April 1879 — AN ATROCIOUS CRIME. [ARTICLE]

AN ATROCIOUS CRIME.

The Murder of Judge Elliott, of the Kentucky Court of Appeal*. The killing of Judge J. M. Elliott, of the Appellate Court of Kentucky, the highest judicial tribunal in the State, by CoL Thomas Buford, a litigant who was displeased at a decision of the court in which he was interested, appears to have been as cool and deliberate an act of cbwardly barbarism as ever led a ruffian to the gallows. The murderer is a membet of the well-known Buford family, a wealthy and prominent clan. A double-barreled shot-gun was procured, the intention being to kill two of the Judges, but the fortunate passing of a troop of children saved one of the intended victims. A letter from Frankfort, Ky., furnishes the following particulars of this sensational tragedy: Shortly after the adjournment of the Court of Appeals Judge Elliott and Judge Hines, his associate, were walking up Ann street on the way to dinner, the former at the Capitol Hotel and the latter to his residence in South Frankfort. They parted at the ladies’ entrance to the hotel. A few moments after they had separated Buford came up with a double-barrel shot-gun in his hand and a game-bag over his shoulder. Judge Elliott, being on very intimate terms with him, remarked that it was very pleasant and a fine day for snipe hunting. Buford replied: “ Y'es, Judge, come and take a drink with me,” Before Judge Elliott could reply Buford raised his gun and fired the contents of one barrel containing twelve buckshot into Elliott’s right side, killing him iastantly. When the fatal shot was fix jd Judge Hines was a few yards away ? nd immediately ran back and knelt be Ade and raised the murdered man’s Lead. While the lifeless body of Judge Elliott lay on the pavement, the murderer walked up and said: “Now, die like a man.”

Judge Elliott’s body was carried into room 4 of the Capitol Hotel, where a large circle of his friends had assembled, and the scene that followed beggars description. The grief and lamentations of Mrs. Elliott over- the remains of her murdered husband were heartrending. Buford surrendered himself to Deputy Sheriff Mace Williams and was taken at once- before Esquire Gwynn, who remanded him to jail. While in the magistrate’s office he took the gun from the hands of the officer and kissed the empty barrel. In an interview he said he did not regret his act, and that he had loaded both barrels of his gun with picked buckshot and intended to kill Chief Justice Pryor, but after considering the matter he changed his mind bn account of Judge Pryor’s, wife and children. He carried his game’bag to avoid suspicion. On seeing Judge- Elliott he followed him, fully intending to kill him, and was not sorry that he committed the deed. When taken to the jail he was searched, and a large five-shooter pistol found on his person*, which he intended to use until it was-emptied, on any person that came to Elliott’s assistance. Buford is about 55 years old, a brother of Gen. Abe Buford, of Woodford county. He talks freely about the murder, and exhibits no sorrow over the affair. He assigns ashis reason for the tragedy, that Judge Elliott had decided a case against him. Buford was involved in a heavy lawsuit amounting to a large sum of money, and the case was decided against him three times, once in the court below aud twice in the Court of Appeals. He says his intention was to kill the Judge who tried the case in the lower court, and also Judge Wm. Lindsay, who was Judge of the Court of Appeals when the case was first decided in that court. Buford, seeing that all hope to gain his case was lost, determined as a revenge to murder every one of the Judges. His victim was loved and esteemed by every one who came in contact with him. He was 59 years old. He had served in the Kentucky Legislature and also in Congress for several terms. He was elected Judge of the Thirteenth judicial district, and in 1876 was elected for a period of eight years as Judge of the Appellate Court.