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MURDER OF JAMES B MarcuM 

And The Feud INVOLVING 

SPICER-Hargis-JETT-WHITE

BREATHITT-JACKSON COUNTY

MARKED FOR DEATH

Lawyer Shot Down in the Door of a Courthouse

The Washington Post May 5, 1903

ASSASSIN IN THE BUILDING

The Killing Was the Outcome of a Feud in Kentucky

The victim had made affidavits that a conspiracy had been formed to kill him-despite warnings he had resumed his law practice and had filed a motion in a contested election case only a few minutes before the shooting.

Feared To Touch The Body

Marcum’s body lay for ten minutes untouched. Even his friends feared to approach the place. The body was finally picked up by friends and carried to a drug store opposite, and from there was taken home. Some say they saw the assassin run out the rear door, and it seems certain that the murderer made his escape that way during the confusion. It is generally believed that the assassin was recognized by some people, but no one thus far had the courage to name him though this question is on everyone’s lips.

Marcum was a trustee of the Kentucky State College, was United States commissioner of his district, and represented the Lexington and Eastern Railroad and other large corporations. He had practiced law in Breathitt for seventeen years He had avoided feuds and until her took charge of the election case which involved the Hargis faction had been a friend of members of both factions. For three months, beginning last July, he did not leave his home, and after that for months was always accompanied by his wife and women friends or carried one of his children with him for protection. The funeral will take place in Mount Sterling probably on Wednesday.

Corridor Was Full of Men

This morning he went to the court house at Jackson and the papers were filed. He walked from the clerk’s office to the front door of the courthouse, and facing the street, engaged in conversation with Ben Ewing, a friend. The corridor stretching out was full of men. Ewing was half leaning on Marcum’s shoulder. The men had been talking about three minutes when a shot rang out in the rear of the corridor. Marcum staggered, and as he sank to the floor, another shot was fired.

The first bullet entered the back to the right of the spinal column, and passing through the breast and body struck the door facing him. The next shot passed through the top of his head and was aimed as he reeled. The shots appeared to come from the doorway or possibly from behind the door in the corridor, but as the passage was quickly cleared and great confusion no one seemed able to state accurately where the assassin was located. A telegram from County Judge Hargis to-night states that the assassin is still: unknown, after diligent search, and no arrests have yet been made on even suspicion.

Lexington, Ky., May 4, 1903

Just after he had finished filing papers reopening the contested election cases of Breathitt County, Hon. James R. Marcum was shot and killed to-day by an unknown assassin. He fell in the front entrance of the courthouse at Jackson, Ky., and never spoke again, death being almost instantaneous. He fell within a few yards of where Town Marshal James Cockrell was shot down in July, the assassin being stationed in the courthouse in each instance.

Marcum was counsel for the fusionists who are (missing letters) for the offices of county judge, sheriff, and other places now held by Democrats. As a result of his efforts and his sympathy with the Cockrell faction in the Hargis-Cockrell feud he had for a year been generally regarded as a “marked man.” Various plots to assassinate him have been reported and sworn to in affidavits. For seventy-two days last fall he was a prisoner in his own home, daring not even go out on his porch.

Despite warnings, Marcum felt safe in assuming his interrupted  practice some time ago, and felt secure in filing a motion to reopen the election cases, which had imperiled his life months before.

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