Courier-Journal/1909/BLOODSHED AND INCENDIARISM Features of the Election In Breathitt

by O. M. WASSON

BLOODSHED AND INCENDIARISM Features of the Election In Breathitt

Tilden Blanton Kills Demosthenes Noble. Wounded Before Firing Fatal Shot.

Residence Burned To Destroy Ballots. Mrs. Deaton Saves Them At Risk of Life.

Masked Mob Steals Box At Another Precinct. ARMED PEACE ELSEWHERE.

Jackson, Ky., Nov. 2.-(Special.)- Bloodshed and arson were the principal features of the election in Breathitt county today. While the theft of the ballots in one precinct and the closing of the polls another were added features, the most remarkable of all proceedings throughout the county was the fact that the day passed quietly in Jackson and Crockettsville, heretofore the scenes of the most daring murders and frauds against the ballot.

Judge Adams Uses Troops.

There is only one answer to this, and that is the fact that Judge James P. Adams took time by the forelock and had State troops on guard throughout the day and all night tonight in these two precincts, thereby spoiling the alleged well-laid plans of the more desperate on both sides to take the election at all hazards and thus foll the will of the majority of the voters of the two principal voting places in Breathitt county.

Residence Set On Fire.

While Crockettsville was prevented from assuming its usual election-day attitude due to the presence of the soldiers, it was not allowed to slip into the background because of lack of excitement, and the eve of the election witnessed the burning of the home of Mrs. Mary Deaton, where the ballots for the precinct had been housed for safe-keeping.

Woman Saves Ballots.

If the home was fired with a view of destroying the ballots, as charged by Mrs. Deaton and the Republicans, the plan failed, as the brave woman proved the hero of the hour, and without any effort on her part to save any of the contents, she rushed to the hiding place of the ballots in the face of great personal danger, and perhaps death, and carried the precious slips of paper safely on the outside, where they were later turned over to one of the officers of the election.

Second Woman Election Hero.

Mrs. Deaton was the second woman in Breathitt county who has proven herself a hero on the eve of an election by rescuing the ballots, as on a former occasion Mrs. Nancy Blanton, wife of Judge W. H. Blanton, sewed the ballots for the Crockettsville precinct in the folds of her under skirt and carried them to the voting booth on horseback after every man appointed to act as election officer had refused to take charge of the ballots and start on the perilous journey of twenty miles across the mountains.

In Fight of Four Years Ago.

This was in the election of four years ago, when the excitement was at high between the “Midnight” and pitch “Hog-back” tickets, with Jim Hargis candidate for County Judge on the the former ticket and Se well S. Taulbee the candidate on the latter ticket. At that time the sympathies of Judge Blanton and his entire family were with the “Hog-backs,” or the Republican ticket, This year the entire family were In sympathy with the Democratic ticket and did just as valiant service in the interest of that ticket, Judge Blanton being the candidate for County Attorney.

Demosthenes Noble Slain.

The Spring Fork precinct furnished the only real excitement of the day 1 in the way of serious trouble, and in less than five hours after the polls had opened Demosthenes Noble was dead, Tilden Blanton wounded and the voting booth closed and the clerk of the election en route to Jackson with the ballots, the unused ones as well 28 the ones that had been voted.

The trouble between Blanton and Noble occurred between 10 and 11 o’clock and started over the refusal of the Democratic officers of election to deposit the ballot of a former convict.

Blanton was the Democratic challenger of the precinct, but Noble not being an officer was devoting his time on the outside of the booth importuning voters to cast their ballot for the Republican ticket. only was Tilden Blanton on the inside of the booth in the interest of the Democrats, but his two brothers, Jim and John Blanton, were on the outside working in opposition to the efforts of Noble.

Noble Fired First.

According to eyewitnesses to the shooting, Noble fired the first shot, the bullet hitting Blanton in the wrist of the right hand. With his revolver already in that hand Blanton attempted to shoot his antagonist, but the trigger refused to work. because of the weakness of the hand, and quick as a flash he changed the weapon and pulled the trigger with his left hand. Only one shot was fired by each man and Noble fell dead in his tracks.

Charges As To Incendiary Fire.

The first news received by the people of Jackson this morning was of the burning of the Deaton home, and the first belief expressed by the citizens generally was that it had been fired by someone not in sympathy with the movements of Mrs. Deaton in her support of the Republican party, and that the house had been fired with a view of burning the ballots in order to destroy the elections in that precinct, which is one of the largest Republican precincts in the county.

In Ashes When Troops Arrive.

It was at first reported that the soldiers were at supper in the house at the time of the fire, but this proved untrue, and it was learned that the house was in ashes when the militia arrived. This information was furnished over the telephone tonight by one of the soldiers on guard at home of Berry Turner, where the ballots are being guarded tonight.

Mrs. Deaton stated to the soldiers on their arrival at the home last night that some one had saturated a rag with coal oil and thrown it on the roof and that when the fire was discovered the house was in flames. It was almost impossible for the inmates to save any of the contents.

Husband Was Murdered.

Mrs. Deaton is the widow of Jim Deaton, who was killed on the river twelve years ago by the Callahan forces and with whose murder Callahan has always been charged.

Since the murder the Deaton and Callahan forces have been at outs and immediately after the attempted assassination was made on Callahan recently he said he had been waylaid by henchmen of the Deatons.

Shortly before Callahan was shot Willie Deaton, a son of Mrs. Mary Deaton, was fired upon as he was riding past Callahan store at Crockettsville, and the mule he was riding was shot under him.

The soldiers were unable to learn sufficient facts In regard to the burning of the home to warrant an’ arrest and it is not likely that any will ever be made.

Daring Theft of Ballots.

The theft of the ballots in the John B. Lewis precinct, commonly known as Canoe precinct, was one of the most daring deeds ever witnessed in this county, but just which party was guilty of the theft has not been definitely learned as the followers of each emblem accuse the other. The ballots had been turned over on yesterday by the County Clerk to Ellhue Reynolds, the Democratic clerk of the election, and he took them to his home in the precinct and guarded them over night.

Taken By Masked Mob.

Early this morning, just at daybreak, a gang of masked men rode up to the house, all heavily armed, and demanded the ballots. Reynolds refused to turn them over to the mob and he was held and the box forcibly taken from him while a dozen or more rifles were turned on the house to prevent the interference with anyone from the Inside.

Ballots Thrown In River.

After securing the box the gang rode hurriedly away and threw the box and contents into the river and the box wen to the bottom of the stream. As the men were leaving the Reynolds home they were fired at by Reynolds and several of the mob returned the fire. but no one was hit in the skirmish and no serious damage done.

The theft of the ballots was immediately made known and Sam Callahan. brother of Ed Callahan, but who is against his brother and who has worked hard during the campaign to defeat Judge Redwine and the Democratic ticket, started his son, Sylvester Callahan, and Steven Little at breakneck speed on horseback to Jackson to report to Judge Adams to secure more ballots.

New Ballots Secured.

Callahan and Little reached Jackson shortly after 7 o’clock and were furnished another set of ballots by Judge Adams and securing fresh horses started on the return journey. Information received over the ’phone from Canoe tonight was to the effect that the new ballots reached the voting booth shortly after 10 o’clock and from then on the election proceeded quietly.

Counter Charges.

It is contended by the Democrats that the raid on the ballots was made by the Republican followers in the precinct, but this is denied by the Republicans, who contend that as the precinct was largely Republican it would be foolish for members of that party to destroy ballots, while on the other hand it would have benefited the Democrats to have destroyed the ballots and thus prevented the election, and that under the circumstances it must have been work of the Democratic workers.

This contention is borne out, according the Republican candidates, by the fact that the precinct gave more than 100 majority to the Republican party.

Young Blanton Tells of Tragedy.

Shortly after arriving in Jackson Blanton went to the home of his young father, Judge .W. H. Blanton, where he received medical aid, and while the physician was dressing the wound he made a statement, giving the details of the shooting and the incidents as leading to it. He said that he was acting as challenger for the Democrats and was inside the schoolhouse, where the votes were being taken, when Noble appeared at the door and began cursing election officers, or at least the Democratic officials for refusing to deposit in the ballot box the ballot of an ex convict who had been sent to the penitentiary for Illegal sale of liquor.

Blanton said he asked the Republican sheriff of election to quiet Noble and to order him away from the polls, which was done. Noble later returned to the window of the house, according to Blanton, and began to quarrel with John and Jim Blanton, who were also on the outside of the building and working in the interest of the Democratic party.

Revolver Leveled At Brother.

During the argument Blanton said he stepped up to the window and saw that Noble had a his pistol leveled at his brother, John Blanton, and that within an instant, he said, he turned the weapon and leveled it at Jim Blanton. At that instant, he said, he yelled at Noble not to shoot his brother, at the same time drawing his own revolver and threatening to shoot.

Noble turned in the direction of the window, he said, and quick as a flash fired, the bullet taking effect in his right arm. Just as he felt the touch of the bullet Blanton said he tried to pull the trigger of his pistol with his right hand and failed.

Killed Noble With Left Hand.

He Immediately switched the revolver to his left hand and fired and Noble fell to the ground fatally wounded, dying before anyone could reach his side.

Noble was a member of one of the biggest and strongest families In Breathitt county, being a cousin of Henry Noble, for years connected with the Hargis department store during the reign of the late Jim Hargis, and who was later one of the principal witnesses in the murder trials growing out of the killing of James B. Marcum and Jim Cockrell, having testified that saw Tom White fire the second shot into* the body of Marcum after he had fallen from the bullet fired by Curt Jett.

Dead Man Former Democrat.

The dead man, like all of his relatives, was formerly a Democrat in politics, but turned over to the Republican. party four years ago with his other relatives and fought for the downfall of Jim Hargis. Since then he has taken an active interest in the elections for the Republicans and was one of the strongest men in the Spring Fork precinct.

It was said that he was drinking heavily during the early part of the day and had become quite quarrelsome before the killing and had made threats against several of the Democratic workers. He was married and lived In the Spring Fork precinct, being a tenant on the farm of W. L. Fletcher.

Family Feud Feared.

Tilden Blanton, the wounded man who confessed to the killing, is a member of 8 strong and influential family In Breathitt county, and because of the strength of the two families it is feared further trouble will result over the killing.

Young Blanton is also married and lives in the Spring Fork precinct and has for years been Identified with Democratic party as a worker in• the campaigns, and this year took even a more active interest because of the candidacy of his father. He has always been known as a quiet, Inoffensive man, •but one who was fearless and would fight at the drop of the hat. This is also true of his brothers, Jim and John Blanton, who were first threatened by Noble.

O. M. WASSON.