"He that sheddeth man's blood, by man shall his blood be shed." This
threat was fulfilled to the letter in the cases of both Judge Hargis
and Sheriff Callahan. Both men died with their boots on.
Judge Hargis was shot and killed at his store in Jackson in the winter
of 1908 _by his own son_, Beach Hargis. The young man was indicted for
murder February 18th, 1908, tried and found guilty. He escaped the
death penalty, and received a life sentence, but is already at large,
having been paroled 1916.
The judgment of the court was appealed from and strenuous efforts were
made by the widow of the slain man to secure a new trial and save her
son from conviction for the murder of her husband. Hers was indeed a
pathetic situation. Mrs. Hargis employed the best counsel obtainable.
Senator William O. Bradley, a lawyer of national fame, argued the case
exhaustively before the Court of Appeals. The judgment of the lower
court was affirmed.
The case was one of widespread interest. The facts and circumstances
attending the murder appear at length and are commented upon in an
opinion of the Court of Appeals, written by Judge Hobson, and reported
in 135 Kentucky Reports.