I'm running late this morning. The printer acted up, my mouse is acting up, a necessary hi-density lamp at my desk burned out and it's snowing! I do not have the puzzler up yet. I'll let you know. Now to Mr. Laswell. This is taken from my book "Blood Runs In the Barrens". The victim was George Seaver The accused: Frank Laswell Type: Duel Date: January 1887 No verdict found I had to turn to a newspaper article on this since the packet didn't show a verdict. Clarence Alcock wrote a column for the Glasgow Times in the 1940's; he referenced this murder twice. I quote: "One of the most vivid and startling events was the time, in passing through the courthouse yard, I noticed a commotion about the neighborhood of A(dolph) Rapp's store on Main Street and then saw George SEAVERS and Frank Laswell leave the pavement and hurry out to the middle of the street, facing each other with drawn revolvers, slowly advancing and firing as fast as they could trigger their weapons. Laswell scored the first hit and then I saw Seavers stagger and fall. He was removed to a store and a physician summoned. It was found that the bullet had entered his chest, causing death a few days later. It was a perfect a duel as one ever read of as happening in the days of the wild west, and both men exhibited a bravery to be expected from two Kentucky fighting men. When the firing began, I got behind a big tree and, not being in the line of fine, felt safe to watch the unusual spectacle of two real fighting Kentuckians advancing upon each other, firing at every step. Sorry I cannot give the date of the Laswell-Seavers Duel, but most like other eye-witnesses of the fight are living in Glasgow today. Full details of the tragedy can be secured by examining the files of the Times of that date." On February 13, 1947 Mr. Alcock wrote: "Many thanks to Mrs. Nathan Rutledge, of Glasgow, for a copy of the extra gotten out The Glasgow News, following the fatal fight of Frank Laswell and George Seaver, the extra printed on one side of a sheet 12 x 18, is mellowed with age, but still in good condition. It is dated Jan. 10, 1887, and gives full particulars of the fight and a sketch of the principals. Mrs. Rutledge says that her father worked for Mr. Seaver, who operated the Glasgow-Burksville Star Route, and, that, although she was very small at the time, she remembers the fatal fight very well. "The News belonged to my husband, who died in 1945, and I don't know of any one I had rather have it than you," writes Mrs. Rutledge ... "I witnessed both hangings and also saw the Laswell-Seaver duel to death." (The hangings were those of John Franklin and Bob Brown). So let's look at the court records - which will be continued for several weeks: 21 March 1887. Summons were issued by the Sheriff of Barren County for Emmitt Williams, Isham Lively, N. Darter, L. W. Carder, W. W. Pace, S. T. Purcell, W. A. McQuown, Jno. A. Murray, H. Bevil, Henry Coombs, Blan Read, J. C. Evans, B. F. Trabue, John Ritter, J. F. Price, Buford McCown and John Smith. (Note: W. A. McQuown made most of the coffins during this time period. Jno. A. Murray was "Old Reb.") Barren Circuit Court, the Commonwealth of Kentucky, Frank Laswell - Indictment. The Grand Jury of Barren County, in the name and by the authority of the Commonwealth of Kentucky, accuse Frank Laswell of the Crime of Willful Murder heretofore - to wit, on the (blank) day of January, 1887, in the said County of Barren and Commonwealth aforesaid, the said Frank Laswell did then and there willfully and Wickedly there murder (paper torn) - there shooting and (missing) said Seaver with a pistol, a deadly weapon which was then & there loaded with Powder and leaden balls or other substance and from the immutive [sic] effects of which ... (rest missing). Next week we'll look at all the witnesses called for both side - quite a list! Sandi Colonel Sandi Gorin President, South Central KY Historical & Genealogical Society Sandi's website: http://www.gensoup.org/gorin/index.html Sandi's puzzlers: http://www.gensoup.org/gorinpuzzles/index.php --- This email has been checked for viruses by Avast antivirus software. http://www.avast.com