Jasper County Democrat, Volume 9, Number 11, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 16 June 1906 — RULE OF THE SAVAGE [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

RULE OF THE SAVAGE

Seems to Have Obtained Among Men Down in Breathitt County, Old Kentucky. IT WAS “KILL YOUR ENEMY* No Show for Defense Given, AMaoui*atlon Beinjc the Method—Confession and Testimony in a Fend Case. Jackson, Ky., Jtme 14.—A state of affairs that is more appropriate for a land of savages than for a land where churches dot the country side, the schoolmaster Is abroad, and the boast

Is made that the civilization Is of the most advanced brand exists In thus section of Kentucky, if the confession of Curtis Jett, who has been convicted of murder himself, is true. In this confession Jett gives the alleged truth as to a series of assassinations in Breathitt county that was brought to a climax when .Tames B. Marcum fell l>efore the assassin’s bullet. Tells Who Did the Murders. Jett says that ns the result of a conspiracy entered into between Elbert Hargis, James Hargis (a judge). Ed Callahan, J.esse Spicer and Bid Britton James Cockrill was killed by John Smith and John Abner; that he (Jett) murdered Marcum, at the instance of James Hargis and Ed Callahan (a sheriff), declaring that the pistol with which he did the shooting was given him by Callahan for the pun*ose. Jett closes his confession by relieving Alex Hargis of any complicity in the Cockrill and Marcum murders. Accused Men Are Arrested. Ex-Sheriff Ed Callahan and Elbert Hargis were <n rested on the charge of murdering Dr. Cox. The warrant was issmsl by Judge Taiilix-e on an affidavit by Tom Cockrill. Hargis and Callahan were immediately brought before the court and were put iu custody of Sheriff Crawford. There is intense' excitement over the arrests, and some profess to fear an outbreak. Judge Hargis was brought Into court on n motion for bail. He held a consultation with his brothers Alexander and Elbert and Callahan's wife and daughter, ami attorneys. There is a great crowd in Jackson, attracted by the appearance there ns n witness of Curtis Jett to testify against HargH, and on account of the confession. HOW A MURDER WAS DONE Witness Tells the Story of the Foal Taking-Off of Dr. Cox. At the court session Asbury Spicer said that shortly before the killing of Dr. B. D. Cox Hargis sent him word by Bob Deaton to come to Jackson. Spicer then resided about ten miles away. He went to Hargis' residence, where he found Judge Hargis, Edwartl Callahan, Elbert Hargis, John Smith, John Abner and Jesse Spicer. The kui.ng of Cox was discussed. Judge Hargis, according to the witness, said that Cox was a dangerous man, and was the cause of the killing of his brother Benjamin Hargis. He said that Cox must be killed or he would destroy all the Hargises. Hargis then told John Abner, John Smith and Asbury Spicer that if they would kill Cox he would give them SIOO each. They agreed, and after discussing the details of the plot about a week it was decided that Cox be shot from the shed near the Hargis residence on the night of April 13. Abner Smith. Asbury Spicer, Jesse Spicer and Elbert Hargis went to the shed at the appointed time, and there Elbert Hargis and .Jesse Spicer furnished guns to the other three men and then went away. Spicer said that be had dozed off half asleep when be heard a shot. He looked up and saw that Smith had just shot Cox, and Abner Smith was shooting nt random. Spicer said that he did not himself fire a shot. At this point he was admonished by the court that he need not incriminate himself. Con tlnulng he said he heard Cox say: “Oh. Ixwd, have inercy on me." Then all the men left, going to the rear yard of Judge Hargis’ residence, where they left their guns. They then crossed the river and went home. Spicer said he saw Hargis and Bill Britton in the Hargis yard after the murders. Two weeks later Hargis gave him SIOO and a cow. Curtis Jett was the next witness, and he gave substantially the same testimony as in his confession. Anse White testified tl;at James Hargis gave him a pistol and told him to go to tho court house and kill McKinley Cockrill, W. W. Vaughn and Dr. Cox. The bearing was not concluded when court adjourned for the day.

CURTIS JETT.